THE Hamilton Racing Club is gearing up for the upcoming jumps season with two highweight races set to open a strong day of gallop’s action on Monday.

Both highweights will be ran over 2200m and provide the perfect opportunity for horse and rider to tune up for the season.

Symon Wilde has an interesting former New Zealander lining up in the Bet365 BM58 Highweight Handicap and on previous form over the ditch looks hard to beat.

Vanguard has won three of his last four starts, including both flat and jumps successes.

Although first-up since September last year when winning a Wanganui Steeplechase, the son of Rip Van Winkle did win his Maiden on the flat over 2100m.

Stable rider, Ronan Short, takes the ride, and while he will far from fully wound-up, he may prove too classy for his opposition and don’t look to have the upside he has.

The Maiden Highweight should give Drake Passage the opportunity to break his duck.

Unlike his opposition who have had plenty of chances to win a race, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained gelding has been thereabouts in all his four starts.

He will start short in the betting but will get punters off to a good start.

Dane Smith will saddle up There You Go for his 40th start, and based on 20 placings from those starts, he looks the main danger to the favourite.

The bigger stables look to have a hold on the next few races, especially the Maher and Eustace team.

First starter Easy On The Eyes is a watch horse in the Brandt Hamilton Maiden Plate over 1100m, although opposition will come from Summit Queen and Topeka from the Lindsey Smith and McEvoy stables respectively.

Whatafox and Saucey Horsey also look strong chances in the following races for the leading Victorian stable.

The best race on the program is the Taylor Motors BM64 Handicap over 1100m.

It has attracted a strong field of progressive gallopers littered with recent wins.

A big portion of the field is resuming, but most showed plenty last time in work.

The fitness edge Finance Choice brings into the race may be the deciding factor for trainer, Tom Dabernig.

A last start winner here at Hamilton, the three-year-old son of Extreme Choice is aiming for a hat-trick of wins following on from a Warrnambool maiden win prior.

Ashford Street, now trained by Ken Elford, has the strongest form with city placings to his name.

Whether he is fit enough and can cope with a wide barrier is the key.

Sheridan Clarke’s apprentice claim of 3kg will help and his ability to roll forward will be an advantage.

It is hard to rule out any of the 11 runners, so there will be no surprises with whoever wins.

One from the trials is Mr Mischief for trainer, Paul Jones.

A recent clean-out at Terang last week will have him ready for his resumption, and at each way odds can finish the day nicely for punters in the Walkers Earthworks BM58 Handicap over 1600m.

Good punting.

Morg’s selections

Race 1 - Drake Passage, There For You, Sword Fight.

Race 2 – Vanguard, Rexmont, Looking Around.

Race 3 - Summit Queen, Topeka, Easy On The Eyes.

Race 4 – Whatafox, State Of Maine, Moxatation.

Race 5 - Saucey Horsey, Halgard, Andress.

Race 6 - Paper Dragon, Sunburnt, Burning The Clock.

Race 7 - Ashford Street, Finance Choice, Bubbly Lass.

Race 8 - Mr Mischief, Noble Rocks, I’ll Be Gone.