A show-stopping clash between track specialists Catch The Thief and Gypsy Yankee will headline Thursday night racing at Sandown Park.

Along with multiple G1 finalist Catch The Thief (5 from 9 Trk/Dst – 29.21sec PB) and Gypsy Yankee (6 from 14 Trk/Dst), The Watchdog’s Must Watch Race also features Riccarton Rick (7 from 17 Trk/Dst – 29.27sec PB) and G2 Cranbourne Cup winner Jax Bale.

In another highlight, superstar Gippsland speedster Dr. Tucker has an appointment with ultra-consistent Papi Go Fast.

Dr. Tucker (15 from 25 – 29.28sec PB) has been near unstoppable since returning from a spell, winning six from nine, and will make his first appearance at Sandown since the G1 Melbourne Cup heats last November.

G1 placegetter Papi Go Fast (24 from 42 – 3 from 3 Box 2) is surprisingly still looking to open his Sandown account after five attempts.

Meanwhile, Immunity (15 from 22) steps up to 595m after winning 4 from 8 over 515m with a scorching 29.13sec PB, while another Jason Thompson runner that bears close watching is Collinda Patty (3 from 8).

At Warrnambool, Hennessey (6 from 12 – 3 from 3 Box 1) is striving to continue his excellent form since relocating from NSW.

Here’s an extensive analysis of tonight’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

? MUST-WATCH RACE: TAB – Long May We Play FFA

RICCARTON RICK ? JAX BALE ? CATCH THE THIEF ? GYPSY YANKEE

? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? 515m ⏱ 8:52pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: Impressive line-up and the box draw has made things very interesting. Surprisingly, RICCARTON RICK (1) has gone up as the top elect with the TAB and, from the inside draw, he will be looking to recapture some form. He comes into this having had six weeks off after finishing fifth in the Speed Star series, however it is worth noting he did carve out a scorching 29.19sec in that event. Connections should have him primed and, with a clean getaway he is expected to run a big race. CATCH THE THIEF (4) is the headline act and although poorly drawn, he should get some cover from the wide running ASTON CADE (5), and he has turned in some scintillating performances of late. Would love to see him land in front and, if the track is in good condition, a sub-29.10sec run could be on the cards. GYPSY YANKEE (8) is my top elect, and that is because he is a near faultless beginner and, if they happen to bunch underneath him, he may be off and gone at the first bend. He owns a slick 29.37sec PB here and he can probably go a length or so better and that would be enough to get the cash. JAX BALE (4) is a country cup winner, and he has continued to improve with each run from a spell, so he must be respected, whilst EAGLES NEST EGG (2) recently lit up The Meadows and, with a clean getaway he can figure prominently. It should be a thrilling affair throughout and expect them to test the semaphore board.

Selections:  8 – 4 – 2 – 1

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Thursday 15 July

? $2 Win – DR. NEEKI
? Sandown ? Race 1 ? Box 5 ? 515m ⏱ 6:12pm
TAB fixed odds: $6 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/1

The Watchdog says ? : DR. NEEKI (5) has turned in some handy performances to date and with the abundance of early speed with MINK LAKE (4), she should get a nice cart across early and take advantage of some bunching underneath as they tackle the first turn. I think she can get down to around the 29.60sec mark and that should be enough to score.

? $5 Multi

First ?: Bundle Bet – 1,3,4,6,8
? Sandown Park ? Race 2 ? Boxes 1,3,4,6,8 ? 515m ⏱ 6:37pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.30 Win (any one of the five selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/2

Second ?: Bundle Bet – 1,4,5,7
? Sandown Park ? Race 3 ? Boxes 1,4,5,7 ? 515m ⏱ 6:58pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.31 (any one of the four selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/3

Third ?: Bundle Bet – 1,2,3
? Sandown Park ? Race 9 ? Boxes 1,2,3 ? 515m ⏱ 9:13pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.44 (any one of the three selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/9

Fourth ?: Bundle Bet – 2,3,4,7
? Sandown Park ? Race 11 ? Boxes 2,3,4,7 ? 515m ⏱ 9:55pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.25 (any one of the four selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/11

The Watchdog says ? : CARRY ON LIAM (2) is well under the odds in Race 2, so we have gone with a mix of strength and speed in that leg. ZACHARY (2) is likely to get crowded by YOHAN BALE (3) in Race 3, so I am expecting CARRY ON MAXWELL (5) and COLLINDA PATTY (7) to get the fly, however we have thrown in a couple of extra runners to be safe. Expect the inside division to dominate Race 9, whilst Race 11 is incredibly open, so we have included a couple of on-speed runners along with a couple of run-on types. I think we have covered all bases, so hopefully it will be a stress-free ride.

Multi price: $3.06

? $3 Quaddie – 4% (75 combinations)
? Sandown Park ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 7:43pm             ***includes Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666541467/race/5

?: 1,2,3,5,6

? ?: 1,3,4,6,8

? ? ?: 7

? ? ? ?: 1,4,8

The Watchdog says ? : The first leg features a lot of mixed form, so we have gone wide in the hope we can snag some value. MAJOR SACRIFICE (5) is a short-priced favourite in the second leg, but he is colossal unders, so we have left him out and hopefully we can land some more value there. DR. TUCKER (7) is too skinny at $1.85 in fixed odds markets, however I do think he will go extremely well, so happy to anchor him in our Quaddie. CATCH THE THIEF (4) and GYPSY YANKEE (8) should dictate the terms in the final leg, however RICCARTON RICK (1) is fresh, and he has the inside draw, so we’ll throw him in to be safe.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Wednesday 14 July: $9.40 (-6%)
Tuesday 13 July: $19.74 (+97%)
Monday 12 July: $20.30 (+103%)
Sunday 11 July: $10.90 (+9%)
Saturday 10 July: $6 (-40%)
Friday 9 July: $0 (-100%)
Thursday 8 July: $0 (-100%)

Past 7 days: $66.34 for $70 invested (-5%)

Past 14 days: $185.22 for $140 invested (+32%)

Past 28 days: $331.78 for $280 invested (+18%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

June 2021: $324.38 for $300 (+8%)

NOTE: June was the first full-month of the new-look Daily Mail, in which The Watchdog has a $10 daily spend.

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