Despite a nasty barrier draw for his Standish Handicap Day assignment this Friday at Flemington the Chris Waller-trained Sydney raider Danjeu has opened narrow favourite in Bagot Handicap 2016 betting for New Year’s Day.

The in-form Sydney visitor Danjeu is favourite in 2016 Bagot Handicap betting for this Friday’s Flemington support race. Photo: Steve Hart.

The key support race on the January 1 line-up in Melbourne, this summer’s $150,000 Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) originally attracted a field of 15 stayers.

The early scratching of the Richard Laming-trained Sly Romance (4) however leaves 14 in the mix led in Bagot Handicap betting through Ladbrokes.com.au by Waller’s in-form Montjeu five-year-old Danjeu.

The gelding pays $4.60 to win from an awkward barrier 13 draw with Ben Melham in the saddle, Melham aboard for the horse’s last start Benchmark 84 win over the mile and half at Sandown-Lakeside on December 23.

On the quick back-up Danjeu goes up to the 2800m for the first time, dropping a kilo from 55kg to the 54kg minimum, and looks like he’ll appreciate the metres with the ability to stay all day.

Four other runners in the Bagot Handicap markets are at single figures for the win including the rails-drawn improver Swacadelic ($6).

Dwayne Dunn takes over from Damien Oliver in the saddle of Aaron Purcell’s Warrnambool-trained Adlerflug five-year-old who has winning form up to 2200m.

He comes off three top three runs including a third to Friday’s favourite Danjeu when beaten two and three-quarter lengths over the mile and a half with 58.5kg on his back.

The weight drop to 54kg is a big one and he looks a big danger with the distance also looking like it will suit.

The next best in the Bagot Handicap odds are Imperial Lass and Mujadale both at $8 for the win and drawn in barriers nine and five respectively.

Peter Moody prepares Tavistock mare Imperial Lass, the four-year-old coming off a third to Tall Ship in the Listed Werribee Cup (2600m) from December 13.

She gets in on 54kg again here so is at the right weight to be in the mix again, while eight-year-old Mujadale ran second in the Werribee Cup but rises from 54.5kg to 56kg for Friday’s rematch.

The last of the single figure Bagot hopes this season at $9.50 is Happy As Hell in the outside alley with Nicholas Hall riding the Terry & Karina O’Sullivan-trained Savoire Vivre five-year-old who was runner-up to Danjeu last time out.

At juicer odds but with genuine claims for an upset include Pat Carey’s last start Geelong winning Domesday four-year-old All I Survey ($10) who Craig Williams rides from gate three, Sonntag ($13) and Tunes ($14).

Henry Dwyer’s 58.5kg top weight Sonntag ran third to Junoob two back in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) before his dead last failure in the Werribee Cup that he can atone for here if the Teofilo five-year-old is back to his best.

Tunes meanwhile shoots for three straight wins after the Grant Young-trained Viscount seven-year-old saluted in back-to-back Adelaide races over 2400m and 2500m respectively in December.

Check out the full Bagot Handicap 2016 field, barriers, jockeys weights and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au below!

2016 Bagot Handicap Field, Barriers & Odds