The Early Oil: Herald Sun form analyst Matt Stewart gives his extended preview of Saturday’s Moonee Valley meeting

BEST BETS: THE Robert Smerdon-trained Oak Door gets form analyst Matt Stewart’s tip of approval when he resumes at the Valley on the back of reports of some solid trackwork.

THE Robert Smerdon-trained Oak Door gets form analyst Matt Stewart’s tip of approval when he resumes at the Valley on the back of reports of some strong trackwork.

Matty says Oak Door has been solidly backed in fixed betting after whispers that the consistent on-pacer has been working extremely well.

Matty has made him his best bet and says the four-year-old has touch of class and none of his rivals look too scary.

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BEST BET

OAK DOOR (Race 9, No 8)

EARLY QUADDIE

1,2,4,11/1,3,4,5/4,5,12,14,19/2,4,5,6,10/

VALUE BET

HEAR THE CHANT (Race 2, No 2)

BIG SIX

4,5,12,14,19/2,4,5,6,10/1,3,5,6,7,9,10,11/10,11/2,4,10,13/8

QUADDIE

R6 1,3,5,6,7,9,10,11/R7 10,11/R8 2,4,10,13/R9 8

LATEST MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

RACE 1: McMahon’s Dairy Handicap (2500m) 12.25pm

It’s CHARLEVOIX (4) versus the Weir army. I reckon he can hold them off. Weight is the key. Charlevoix was super strong winning with 54kg at Flemington three starts back but has been hindered since by weight and bad luck. Last start was a hard luck horror story. He can sit on-speed, kick and win here. LORESHO (1) put the writing on the wall last start, a much improved effort. Similar improvement here and he will take beating. Hard to knock MASTER ZEPHYR (2), who really knuckled down last start. May have been tad flattering as classy runner-up Kilimanjaro felt the hard track. YOGI (6) is a relentless run-on type up in class.

SUGGESTED BET: Each-way No 4

Market movers: Yogi $3.80-$2.90 ($200 @ $3.80, $408 @ $3.70, $200 @ $3.20, $500 @ $3,

$450 @ $2.90)

RACE 2: Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) 1.05pm

Happy to have something each-way on HEAR THE CHANT (2). With the rail true it might suit a run-on type and she will be just off the speed and strong late. Well drawn. Betting lead a good clue to first-up fitness. MERRIEST (4) is reliable in this grade and usually strong early in campaign. Valley winner. LOVANI (11) was one of few horses able to win into strong headwinds lately and will be tough nut to crack. FRAGONARD (10) is best fresh — two goes, two wins — and has claims. Ditto SWORD OF LIGHT (1), who will improve with the run but has class.

SUGGESTED BET: Each-way No. 2

Market movers: No bets or movements of note

RACE 3: Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) 1.35pm

Very tricky. On exposed form there’s little between probably four of them and the unknown is how they’ve matured during their winter break. So betting and mounting yard will give good clues. Interested in RAMOOZ (4) and GARRARD (5), whose performances last season rank right up there with TULIP (2) and LIMESTONE (3) but they may fly under the radar a bit here and be better value. Expect GARRARD to show a bit more toe than RAMOOZ, who will power late. TULIP is high class and scopey. Winner here and will be strong late. Limestone had paddock rest instead of tackling Diamond. Smart and tough but betting best guide to fitness.

SUGGESTED BET: Each-way 4 and 5

Market movers: Tulip $3.70-$3.20 ($500 @ $3.20); Roomooz $8-$6 ($350 @ $8, $250 @ $8 TWICE, $200 @ $6.50)

RACE 4: Ranvet Handicap (1600m) 2.10pm

Race has a “long tail’’ but couple of key chances. Ex Kiwi SIN TO WIN (12) was terrific first run here, coming home strong at Flemington. Trip perfect, good gate. REBELLIOUS LORD (19) has a huge chance if sneaks in. Lightly raced, longer they go the better. Has great turn of speed. SPUNLAGO (14) wasn’t far from Rebellious Lord last start and drops heaps in weight. DATA POINT (5) will be running on, ditto in-form JAMINZAH (4).

SUGGESTED BET: Take all mentioned in early quaddie.

Market movers: No bets or movements of note

Not just any meeting with Melbourne Cup winner Almandin making his return to the track. Picture: Ian Currie

RACE 5: MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) 2.45pm

Surprisingly tricky given they’re all well exposed stayers. Fitness a query on some, including stablemates ALMANDIN (1) and HANS HOLBEIN (5). Not leaping into it but happy to have something each-way on BLING DYNASTY (10), who was solid with 58.5kg behind Alward (strong race?), drops to 54kg and will get nice smother from gate. SECOND BULLET (4) can put in the odd inexplicable failure but is ready to win off last run and likes the Valley. James Winks back on, a plus. PACODALI (6) is no star but kept fresh after taking scalps of Master Zephyr and KILLARNEY KID (2) in July. ALMANDIN? Who knows.

SUGGESTED BET: Nil, no interest.

Market movers: No bets or movements of note

RACE 6: Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes (1200m) 3.25pm

Tricky. A handful of these — FRANKEL MY DEAR (11), SUNQUEST (10) — could really come on from promising efforts last start. Rail true run-on will suit the likes of AZAZEL (1) and LONE EAGLE (6) and MURAAQEB (7) starts new campaign after showing glimpses of great talent last time. In CAO CAO (5) is limited but is a Valley winner fitter for an OK first-up run. Money has been solid for BANDIPUR (3), who was good in the “off season”, and Hawkes-trained OVERSHARE (9), who has speed and drawn in.

SUGGESTED BET: Go wide in first leg of quaddie.

Market movers: Azazel $7-$5.50; Frankel My Dear $23-$19

Heatherly has been heavily supported in the build-up to Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7: SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes (1000m) 4.05pm

Start from near the bottom and work your way up. Keen eyed punters leapt on the early $3.40 for HEATHERLY (10), who has been crunched into about $2.30. She has been flying at the trials and won this race last year. Very classy. Only query — which may have been fixed — was her habit of bungling the start. MISSROCK (11) beat all-but star Vega Magic in a hot Goodwood in May. She is very good, probably underrated. Weir pair EL DIVINO (8) and SPEEDEOR (9) are talented and could probably go close on best form. El Divino has essentially been disappointing but has the talent.

SUGGESTED BET: Probably No 10, but we’ve missed the good odds.

Market movers: Heatherly $3.30-$2.25 ($900 @ $3.30, $300 @ $2.80, $200 @ $2.50, $1,500 @ $2.40, $400 @ $2.40)

RACE 8: Ladbrokes Handicap (1500m) 4.45pm

Class runners BOOM TIME (2) and HARLOW GOLD (10) are way over the odds and worth an each-way gamble fresh. Their rivals are modest. Take a punt at around $12. Boom Time usually needs a run or two but this trip suits fresh and he’s adaptable enough to run really well. Ditto Harlow Gold who was among the better 3YO fillies last prep. This trip also gives her a chance fresh. Watch betting with I’M FEELING LUCKY (11), yet another good Perth horse with Weir. HERE TO THERE (13) and DUKE OF BRUNSWICK (4) have a chance but they’re limited.

SUGGESTED BET: Each-way Nos. 2 and 12.

Market movers: Duke Of Brunswick $4-$3.60; Raw Impulse $8-$4.60; Harlow Gold $11-$12 ($750 @ $12, $250 e/w @ $12/$3.55)

Oak Door (centre) resumes on the back of some tidy trackwork reports. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 9: Art Series Hotel Group Handicap (1200m) 5.20pm

OAK DOOR (8) resumes and has been solidly backed in fixed betting. Strong, consistent on-pacer who has been working extremely well according to reports. Has touch of class and none of his rivals look too scary. OBERLAND (10) had little luck in badly wind-affected race at Caulfield first-up and can improve. Nothing wrong with the longshot Flemington win of RED ALTO (5) and he will be powerful late. ROCKET TOMMY (7) is a good horse capable of improvement on last run.

SUGGESTED BET: No. 8 to win

Market movers: Oak Door $3.60-$3.40 ($1000 @ $3.60)