Joao Moreira is back and although he takes up his usual station as odds-on favourite in the Jockey Challenge and looks hard to beat, better value is available about his main rival Zac Purton.
Moreira returns from a three-day careless riding ban for the first Valley meeting of the season with a full book of 10 rides and oddsmakers made him a $1.50 top pick in early betting.
The Brazilian seems to have a strong start to the day with rides on Helen's Choice, Yat Ding Win, Real General and Lucky Day making up the first half of the meeting. Even though all of those rides were single figures in betting early on, they all represent a risk.
Purton is the biggest threat to Moreira, and with a good group of nine rides and fresh from his Caulfield Cup success aboard Admire Rakti, he was a clear $4.50 second pick. Floral Man's early quote seems over the odds in the Class Five opener, as do some of his later rides.
Purton's day continues from race two with Caspar Fownes-trained Jetso Delight, followed by Hei Hei Posh, Family Interests, Kokoda and likely race favourite Precision King. Purton doesn't have a ride in race seven, but his last three rides - after betting has closed - seem under-bet in early markets; Starting Over, Pleasure Gains and My Name Is Bond all with better chances than their odds suggest.
Check Douglas Whyte's odds after race one - he was $6 last night, but his day begins with a well-drawn odds-on favourite in race two, Longwah Amber, followed by three solid each-way chances in the form of Activism, Excel Oneself and One Of A Kind.
Of the other outsiders, Matthew Chadwick might be worth consideration at $40.