Melbourne Cup winner Anthony Azzopardi described McCooly’s Lad’s sensational return from injury as the highlight of his training career and he’s hoping the former boom sprinter can make it two from two since resuming at Horsham on Tuesday.

After 9 months on the sidelines, McCooly’s Lad (6 from 10 – 29.09sec Sandown Park PB) was back with a bang last week.

This afternoon’s clash with in-form Handsome Jack (15 from 48 – 7 of past 10), Westar Aileen (9 from 35) and classy stayer Aston Ulysses (13 from 36) is not surprisingly form expert The Watchdog’s ‘Must Watch’ race.

Azzopardi’s G3 finalist Aston Titan (15 from 38 – 2 from 4 Box 2) has won his past 3 and his clash with the prolific Rilynn Bale (34 from 70 – 4 from 6 Trk/Dst), which is also on a 3-race winning streak, should be a beauty.

One of the highlights of today’s racing will come at Healesville with the return of Aeroplane Eric (10 from 21), which won the G2 Warragul Cup in January but hasn’t been seen in action since the Shepparton Cup series in March.

Healesville’s meeting will also feature track specialist Jordanville Jet (8 from 22 – 7 from 9 Trk/Dst) striving to enhance his imposing straight track credentials.

Meanwhile at Warragul, Adele Powell has two excellent chances in Smart As Jack (18 from 47 – 4 from 5 Box 5) and You Fugitive (12 from 31 – 3 from 3 Box 3).

Other Warragul standouts include Massimo (11 from 31), which has won 5 from 6 over 400m and is drawn to open his 460m account, and Incendio (6 from 12), which creates plenty of interest returning to the circle off impressive Healeville form.

The 400m FFA clash duel between Callum Ari (15 wins – 6 from 23 Trk/Dst) and My Faith (18 wins– 7 from 18 Trk/Dst) is also not to be missed.

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

? MUST-WATCH RACE: GRV Vic Bred Series Final Grade 5

MCCOOLY’S LAD ? HANDSOME JACK ? WESTAR AILEEN ? ASTON ULYSSES

? Horsham ? Race 8 ? 485m ⏱ 5:35pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538497/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: MCCOOLY’S LAD (1) made his long awaited return to the track here last week and he was able to deliver the goods with a top 27.35sec heat win. He didn’t show a lot of early speed in his heat, but he really got going mid race after copping an early knock and he really powered to the line. He comes up with the gun draw and he should be able to get a nice sit in the early stages and he will be there to pounce as they turn for home. HANDSOME JACK (4) has been racing with tremendous confidence having won five of his past eight and he is expected to set a cracking pace today. He managed to carve out a smart 27.45sec in his heat in what was his first look at the track, so I’m expecting him to take a length or so off that time. ASTON ULYSSES (8) is another who returned from a spell here last week and he was far from disgraced when narrowly beaten in his heat. He took a while to get balanced, but he did get into his work in the closing stages and from his favourable draw today, he should get enough room early to balance up and he may be a little closer than normal as they negotiate the first bend. WESTAR AILEEN (7) should set the pace with ‘Jack’, and she will be much better for her heat run, so she needs to be respected, whilst the strong TALTARNI BLACK (5) turned in a handy performance in his heat and may represent value for the place.

Selections:  1 – 4 – 8 – 5

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Tuesday 24 August

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – ROCKABYE BEAR
? Healesville ? Race 6 ? Box 4? 350m ⏱ 1:49pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Place (top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538495/race/6

 Second ?: Win – JORDANVILLE JET
? Healesville ? Race 8 ? Box 3 ? 300m ⏱ 2:24pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.45 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538495/race/8

 Third ?: Win – AUNTY MARY
? Horsham ? Race 1 ? Box 3 ? 410m ⏱ 3:20pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.60 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538497/race/1

The Watchdog says ? : ROCKABYE BEAR (4) is a serious prospect and with the smaller line-up, he should get a clear crack at them mid race and test AEROPLANE ERIC (1) throughout. JORDANVILLE JET (3) is a track specialist, and he is expected to make every post a winner. AUNTY MARY (3) has been impressive to date, and she won’t get a better chance to break through.

Multi price: $3.60

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – KINLOCH BLAZER
? Healesville ? Race 11 ? Box 5? 300m ⏱ 3:24pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.45 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538495/race/11

 Second ?: Place – IRONCLAD
? Warragul ? Race 6 ? Box 8 ? 460m ⏱ 8:25pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.22 Place
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538498/race/6

 Third ?: Place – GOLDEN SKYROCKET
? Warragul ? Race 10 ? Box 8 ? 460m ⏱ 9:48pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.80 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538498/race/10

The Watchdog says ? : KINLOCH BLAZER (5) will have trouble beating WESTERN BLAZER (2), however he did show a lot of early speed before finding trouble on debut, so if he can show similar early speed today he should lead them up and finish in the money. IRONCLAD (8) is well drawn out wide and he should assume control at the first bend and a top three finish looks likely. GOLDEN SKYROCKET (8) trialled well here over 400m, and she is expected to be on the pace throughout tonight.

Multi price: $3.18

? $2 Multi

First ?: Win – WEBLEC GEM
? Geelong ? Race 5 ? Box 1? 460m ⏱ 4:10pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538496/race/5

Second ?: Place – SPEARHEAD JOE
? Geelong ? Race 7 ? Box 8 ? 400m ⏱ 4:52pm
TAB fixed odds: $3.40 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538496/race/7

The Watchdog says ? : WEBLEC GEM (1) has continued to improve with each run, and she is drawn to lead throughout today, whilst SPEARHEAD JOE (8) is never far away in this company and from the outside draw, he should be in the mix from the outset.

Multi price: $5.27

? $2 Quaddie – 16.66% (12 combinations)
? Horsham ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 4:42pm           ***includes Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538497/race/5

?: 1
? ?:    6
? ? ?: 2,3,8
? ? ? ?: 1,4,7,8

The Watchdog says ?: MYSTERY ROAD (1) has been brilliant since resuming and should be leading throughout in the first leg, whilst RILYNN BALE (6) continues to win for fun and she should have enough pace to cross at the first bend and score today. The third leg sees three highly promising types do battle, so we have included all three runners. MCCOOLY’S LAD (1) looks drawn to figure prominently in the final leg, however we have included some of the other big guns just in case he misses the kick.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Monday 23 August: $9.60 return (-4%)
Sunday 22 August: $23.30 (133%)
Saturday 21 August: $8.40 (-16%)
Friday 20 August: $0 (-100%)
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Wednesday 18 August: $16.28 (+63%)
Tuesday 17 August: $0 (-100%)

Past 7 days: $65.98 for $70 invested (-6%)
Past 14 days: $123.56 for $140 Invested (-12%)
Past 28 days: $244.93 for $280 Invested (-13%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

July 2021: $309.18 for $300 (+3%)
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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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