Kepal – triumphant in six successive races before finishing third in the Pink Diamond Champion Short Course Final on June 17 – lines up in a Great Eight 385m event at Shepparton tonight.

Prolific winners Handsome Jack and Body Hack, plus Masked Avenger – racing for the first time since May 6 – are considered the biggest threats to Kepal claiming his 20^th victory at start 32.

Group finalists Zigzag Cabang (won 19 from 40) and Ultimate Avenger face Whiskey Road, Conroy (top-two in his past five starts) and Kraken Stinger in a Great Eight 450m race.

G1 Australian Cup finalist Orlando, dual G3 finalist Black Avenger (won three of last five) and Master Avenger – victorious at Ballarat last Monday night in his first race since May 21 – are contesting a Mixed 4/5 450m event.

Today’s Racing

Ballarat: 11:03am start
Form     Tips     Key stats

Traralgon: 2:47pm start
Form     Tips     Key stats

Warrnambool: 2:54pm start
Form     Tips     Key stats

Shepparton: 6:52pm start
Form     Tips     Key stats

Today’s Drawcards

KEPAL

Trainer: John Barbara
? Shepparton ? Race 6
? Box 3 ? 385m ⏱ 8:29pm

Claim to fame:
– Pink Diamond placegetter
– Won 6 of last 7

TAB fixed odds: $2.40

The Watchdog says: Yes

ORLANDO

Trainer: Lee Moore
? Shepparton ? Race 7
? Box 1 ? 450m ⏱ 8:51pm

Claim to fame:
– Group 1 Australian Cup finalist
– Won 3 from 7 Box 1

TAB fixed odds: $3.50

The Watchdog says: No

ZIGZAG CABANG

Trainer: Greg Berry
? Shepparton ? Race 8
? Box 7 ? 450m ⏱ 9:09pm

Claim to fame:
– Group 3 finalist
– Won 7 of last 11

TAB fixed odds: $3.10

The Watchdog says: No

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Monday 27 June

? $5 Multi

First ?: Win – HOT SCOTCH
? Shepparton ? Race 2 ? Box 5 ? 450m ⏱ 7:13pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.45 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538736/race/2

Second ?: Win – STUDLEY
? Shepparton ? Race 4 ? Box 2 ? 385m ⏱ 7:49pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.95 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538736/race/4

Third ?: Place – ORLANDO
? Shepparton ? Race 7 ? Box 1 ? 450m ⏱ 8:51pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.60 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538736/race/7

The Watchdog says ? : HOT SCOTCH (5) is a star prospect, and he will be carving out time. STUDLEY (2) has a great record here and he will appreciate the slight drop in class, so he should be leading throughout. ORLANDO (1) is a class act and from the inside draw he should be in the top two from the outset.

Multi price: $4.52

? $2 Place – GUNAI REBEL

? Must Watch Race ?

Great 8 Event

? Shepparton ? Race 6
? Box 5 ? 385m ⏱ 8:29pm

TAB fixed odds: $4 Place

The Watchdog says ?: GUNAI REBEL (5) is taking on an elite line-up including Pink Diamond Champion Short Course placegetter KEPAL (3), but she is armed with a slick turn of foot, and she likes to race middle to wide. She may struggle to win but she goes well here and at the price, she appears to be value.

‘Must Watch Race’ Preview ?:

Elite provincial speedster KEPAL (3) has won a staggering seven-of-eight here and he will be looking to atone for his luckless third in the Pink Diamond Champion Short Course Final. His box manners can be a little risky, but he has breathtaking pace once balanced and he should get a nice run through behind the inside two runners. BODY HACK (2) has gone four-of-five here and he owns a scorching 21.38sec PB. He normally comes out running and he could lead for a long way. HANDSOME JACK (1) has been impressive since resuming and he has a good record from this draw. FASCINATE AUSSIE (8) recently captured the Healesville Puppy Championship and he must be respected.

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538736/race/6

The Watchdog’s selections: 3 – 1 – 2 – 5

? $3 Win – ULTIMATE AVENGER
? Shepparton ? Race 8 ? Box 8 ? 450m ⏱ 9:09pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.40 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538736/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : ULTIMATE AVENGER (8) has won two-of-three here and although he doesn’t have a great record from this draw, there will be plenty of pace from ZIGZAG CABANG (7), so if he can step away cleanly, he will get a nice cart across, and he may be too strong in the run home.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Sunday 26 June: $18.12 (+81%)
Saturday 25 June: $10.40 (+4%)
Friday 24 June: $15.60 (+56%)
Thursday 23 June: $3.58 (-64%)
Wednesday 22 June: $9.80 (-2%)
Tuesday 21 June: $8.50 (-15%)
Monday 20 June: $22.40 (+124%)

Past 7 days: $88.40 for $70 invested (+26%)
Past 14 days: $102.56 for $140 invested (-24%)
Past 28 days: $205.68 for $280 invested (-27%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

May 2022: $331.68 for $310 (+7%)
April 2022: $307.92 for $300 (+3%)
March 2022: $392.18 for $310 (+26%)
February 2022: $288.97 for $280 (+3%)
January 2022: $302.53 for $310 (-3%)
December 2021: $384.82 for $300 (+28%)
November 2021: $300.47 for $300 (Even)
October 2021: $311.40 for $310 (Even)
September 2021: $220.69 for $300 (-27%)
August 2021: $262.63 for $310 (-15%)
July 2021: $309.18 for $300 (+3%)
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.

*Please gamble responsibly