This week’s 12 race program from Sandown Park is set to commence at 7.05pm this Thursday night. The meeting appears jam-packed full of exciting races so lets take a look from a punting perspective.

The opening race of the night is for the seventh graders over the sprint journey of 515m. Helma Bale looks the one to beat after she flew home to be placed at The Meadows last weekend. After seemingly brushing with the rails, this super talent charged to the post in eye-catching fashion to narrowly go down by under a length (Replay). If she can just hold a position on the fence initially I’ll be expecting the Tommy Mitchell prepared pup to overhaul her rivals in the first race.

I’ve been on the bandwagon of Zigstar for the past few weeks and surely he gets his chance in the third event over the 595m. In a race that lacks genuine early toe, Zigstar – sporting the white rug – looks set to run a sneaky race out in control of affairs.

Verdict lines up in the no city win fifth grade final (race 4) and the son of Magic Sprite has drawn a lot better then he did in his heat. He wound up second behind Coalville Tiger after working hard throughout the race and he looks set to enjoy a much easier run on Thursday from the suitable box draw (Replay).

Plenty of eyes will be on the sixth as the reigning Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Double One steps up to the middle distance and there’s no doubt it has been eagerly anticipated.

After a relatively successful Sydney stint Tap Out Rose comes back to Melbourne and appears well suited from the red alley in the FFA (race 8).

So there we have it, the preview for Sandown Park this Thursday night – Good luck and Happy punting folks.

Picture: Dyna Double One, picture by BlueStream Pictures