Zipping Classic winner Sertorius is looking for a win in Saturday's Chairman's Handicap 2014 before taking on the Sydney Cup. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The bookies are now having a hard time separating the top two fancies in the Chairman’s Handicap 2014 betting markets for Saturday following steady money coming in for the Jamie Edwards-trained Sertorius.

One of the major support races on a cracker Doncaster Mile Day line-up at Randwick Racecourse, this year’s $300,000 Group 2 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) is due to jump at 2:00pm (AEST) as race four of nine on the program.

The Chairman’s is the last lead-up race for stayers hoping to back-up and perform well over the two miles back at the track next weekend in the $1 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Current Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are currently co-lead by Roger James’ flying Ranvet Stakes – The BMW winning mare Silent Achiever along with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Montjeu five-year-old The Offer.

Last start winner of the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) in a huge three and a half length effort at Rosehill on March 29, The Offer also shares favouritism for their Chairman’s run this weekend.

Sitting top of the markets at $3.30, The Offer is now joined there by Sertorius who is the Chairman’s Handicap betting market mover.

Allocated the 59kg top-weight, The Offer to carry 57.5kg, Edwards’ Galileo six-year-old Sertorius is on a short seven day turnaround following a gun run on Slipper Day.

After a fifth to Silent Achiever in a gallant effort in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) two back, Sertorius ran on well again in the final stages of last weekend’s Group 1 The BMW (2400m) this time running fourth to the same horse.

Two length winner of the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at the end of third Melbourne prep during the spring, Sertorius is now tipped to pull out a similar late-season performance here before their shot at the Sydney Cup.

Along with The Offer and Sertorius, drawn in barriers one and nine respectively, the other single figure chances in this year’s Chairman’s Handicap odds are then Opinion ($5) and Epingle ($8.50).

An $8 chance to take out Saturday weeks’ Sydney Cup over more distance, the Chris Waller-trained Oasis Dream five-year-old Opinion comes off a second to The Offer in the NE Manion Cup, the European import just now starting to acclimatise in their second prep down under.

Epingle meanwhile enjoyed a Group 3 winning double taking out the Hobart Cup and Launceston Cup in Tasmania in February, Michael Kent’s talented Pins mare coming off a good third to intimate Moment when working home strongly in the Group 3 Tribute Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 29.

For punters after more value in their Chairman’s bets this year there are then a number of genuine hopes over $10 in the markets including Waterhouse’s High Chaparral four-year-old Hippopus ($11) last seen running second to Junoob in last Saturday’s Group 3 Neville Sellwood (2000m) and John Thompson’s NE Manion Cup third placed Zabeel gelding Tremec ($11).

The full Chairman’s Handicap 2014 fixed win odds are listed in the table below, prices you can lock in now online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Ladbrokes.com.au also have open their pre-post Sydney Cup markets making now the time to lock in your early bets on the staying classic before markets firm after the Chairman’s Handicap results!

2014 Chairman’s Handicap Odds