Our Bairnsdale best bets are provided by expert form analysts and tipsters, and a preview of Tuesday's racing is below.
The Sign Shop Maiden Plate Tips (Race 4)
Bairnsdale Value Bet - Race 4 No. 11 Sunset Missile
The mare has shown ability in her seven starts to date, including when narrowly beaten into second in a 1600m maiden at Pakenham back in March.
While she has been unable to challenge for the win since then, Sunset Missile was beaten just over two lengths in finishing fifth when contesting a 1760m maiden at Geelong in May.
The daughter of Fiorente hasn’t been at her best in two starts over shorter this time around, including most recently when ninth over 1600m at Seymour last month.
A number of the beaten horses that day have performed well since, while the mare shapes as if the step up in distance will suit.
Having been freshened since her latest start, Sunset Missile looks value to salute under Joe Bowditch.
GBM Contractors Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Bairnsdale Best Bet - Race 5 No. 1 Cable Dancer
The gelding broke his maiden at Mornington in a 1500m contest in December last year and has shown solid form since, including when third in the Tasmanian Derby.
Cable Dancer resumed with two starts in metro contests, delivering respectable efforts at Moonee Valley and Morphettville before a Seymour tenth.
The four-year-old has been in much better form since then, winning by a length when racing at this Benchmark 58 level at Wodonga a month ago and a third over 2000m at Mortlake followed.
The Good 4 surface is in Brad Rawiller’s mounts favour here and trainer Charlotte Littlefield has her string in good form at present.
Jumping from barrier seven, the top weight looks up to saluting with a visor replacing the blinkers worn in his last two starts.
Bet365 – Odds Drift Protector Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Bairnsdale Next Best Bet - Race 7 No. 6 Hillcrest Moses
While you have to go back to May last year to find the gelding’s most recent success, he has registered several solid placed efforts since then.
Those include a two-length second when tackling a Benchmark 58 handicap over this trip at Seymour in September.
The seven-year-old blundered at the start and had to race wide throughout, having jumped from barrier eleven that day and has registered a couple of good efforts since.
The most recent of those saw him finish four-and-a-half-lengths fourth when racing at this Benchmark 58 level over 1212m at Kilmore.
Hlllcrest Moses came from off the pace in a race that saw the winner make all the running that day and while barrier 13, he is versatile.
Merry Christmas East Gippsland Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Bairnsdale Roughie - Race 8 No. 4 Bishop Rock
The seven-year-old has shown a liking for this venue in the past and he arrived here fresh before saluting by just under a length in a Benchmark 52 handicap over the course and distance.
That victory came two weeks ago, with Bishop Rock taking out a Sale barrier trial over 1400m at the start of this month in preparation for that contest.
The drop back in distance appeared no issue on that occasion, with his last prep efforts including multiple placed efforts over 2200m including when racing at this level here.
His latest success has already produced a winner, with the well-beaten Pieropan saluting at Balnarring four days later while the third home placed second in the same contest.
The gelding has a good barrier here and while this is a tougher affair, he may prove capable of springing a surprise.