Racing: Beau Ideal looks one of the better each-way bets on Ellerslie card

When jockeys drop their whips they tend not to do it on the same horse next time.

In fact, they never do.

The greatest bet at Ellerslie this afternoon is that Chad Ormsby will hang onto his whip on Beau Ideal (No8, R3). And Beau Ideal himself looks one of the better each-way bets on the Ellerslie programme.

Ormsby dropped his whip when Beau Ideal was beaten a short head and a long head at Tauranga when resuming from a mid-summer break last start. That was at 1400m and Beau Ideal looks better suited to today's 1600m now he has had the fitness run at Tauranga. There are a few chances in this race, but Beau Ideal should give a great sight.

O'Reilly Express (No6, R1) is never a punt horse - how can he be with 41 straight beaten performances - but after a third in last week's open class Te Aroha Cup he must surely go close in a one-win race today. Ellerslie is perhaps not an ideal leaders' track, but David Walsh is an ideal leaders' jockey and if the combo get beaten today, well, it's just one of those racing mysteries.

Race 2 is going to be a beaut. There's form everywhere, and from everywhere, and the tote might help point you in the right direction.

El Torro (No5) has been down south and came back with a fair third to Nightime Jockey on this track last start. He jumps back up a class for this, but drops from a tough 58kg to a much more comfortable 54.5kg here. Not an easy race with Calatrava (No1) claiming 2kg down to 56kg, but El Torro each-way will not be the worst bet. At the weights, Calatrava is the one to beat again.

There is a risk about Lion Tamer (No1, R4) in the Champagne Stakes, but it might be worth taking. Things didn't go right in the Manawatu Sires and he was left with an impossible task at the 600m in a race where nothing made a lot of ground. There is a sense the filly Lady Carolyn (No11) might be pretty good. This is a massive step up from the field she beat at Paeroa, but it was one of the easiest victories lately. Hoofit (No2) is a big chance in an interesting race.

Pennacchio (No9, R5) goes well fresh and with just 51kg on her back she's going to give the sprinters something to think about. These are better horses than she's been used to overall, but she's on the rise and up to beating them at the weights. You can make a case for and against many of the opposition and Pennacchio each way makes sense.

Aspinal (No2, R6) is a filly of substance. Many sprinting fillies have limited bottom to them where the strongest part of Aspinal's races is the last 200m. If she runs the final stages of this like she did when winning at Tauranga last start, she wins again. She's classy and tough and that's a huge combination for a filly. The only issue is the 5kg weight differential between Aspinal and Rio Fortune (No1). Rio Fortune, second to Aspinal at Tauranga by one length, drops 4kg through being ridden by apprentice Shafig Rusof and Aspinal goes up 1kg. There will be many eyes on Rusof.

Firebolt (No7, R7) was beaten last start, but don't lose sight of the fact that was in the group one Thorndon Mile. His previous form had been wonderful and fresh as he sometimes likes to be, he's going to give a good sight today. He has the ability to go further. The Heckler (No6) and Back In Black (No8) are dangers and Copybook (No9) is the best roughie.

The $200,000 Land Pride Easter is certainly not a punting race. These big metric miles at Ellerslie at this grade are difficult affairs. At the weights, La Etoile (No14, R8) is perhaps the best value, but any one of eight can win the race with the right run. And that includes Culminate (No4) despite the issues against her. She has real class.

Take some multiples on this race, but don't put your last on it unless you're desperate, in which case you probably won't have any left by Race 8.

Race 9 is one of the great betting races on the programme. Hollows (No4) is something special, but he has to adjust to the right-handed way of racing. If he does he might just be a bit too good. I'm A King (No5) and Tanalised (No3) are super competitive. Don't leave any of those three out of multiples.