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Zachary Butcher salutes after winning on Bet On The Tiger at Cambridge three starts ago. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.

You can Bet On The Tiger with a lot more confidence this time at Cambridge

Bet On The Tiger will never be good enough to claim a slot in ‘The Race’ but he’s capable enough of winning The Race 14th April Mobile Pace at Cambridge on Thursday night.

Punters should ignore the drop off in form of Lincoln Farms’ colt in the fourth race, says trainer Ray Green, now that Bet On The Tiger has shrugged off a virus that has dogged the team.

Two starts back at Cambridge it wasn’t just his outside second row draw and parked trip that saw him drop out to 10th.

The horse was found to have snot in his lungs after the race and had to go out for a brief spell.

“A lot of the horses here had been sick and he definitely had the virus,” Green said.

And last time, on March 10, while Bet On The Tiger led from the outset, Green’s fears that he would be short on race fitness proved correct when he ran out of puff 75 metres from home and finished fourth.

“If he hadn’t drawn so well that night I wouldn’t have lined him up. He hadn’t raced for six weeks so he definitely needed it. He’s no champion but we know he’s better than that.”

In his previous four starts at Cambridge Bet On The Tiger had racked up a formline of -3221.

On Thursday, the three-year-old leaves from seven on the gate, not ideal over the 1700 metre dash, but only Ideal Tomado in five has the gate speed to worry him.

The field is ordinary to say the least, ranging between rating 38 and rating 48, and Bet On The Tiger has also had the benefit of a workout at Pukekohe last Saturday.

In it, he faced much better horses over 2050 metres, leading, trailing and battling on for a close fifth behind Fernleigh Cash (R50), Romeo Shard (R57), The Notorious R B G (R49) and John Wayne (R51).

“He’ll probably need another one before we see the best of him, but he should go much better this time,” Green said.

Zachary Butcher takes the reins.

Our runners this week

Saturday night at Albion Park

Argyle.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm

“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”

Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm

“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”

Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm

“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm

“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm

“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm

“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”

Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm

“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm

“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm

“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”

Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm

“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm

“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”

Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm

“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm

“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”

Whales Harness