The Summer Cup 2016 is the key Boxing Day race run in Sydney this Monday and below are our inside betting tips plus the updated odds on the Group 3 showdown.

Malice is the races.com.au Summer Cup 2016 tip to win on Boxing Day in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.

A final field of eight runners take to the Royal Randwick track for Race 6 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on December 26 for this summer’s edition of the $150,000 Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).

It is an ultra-competitive race looking at the latest Summer Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au with all but two of the hopefuls under $10 for the win.

In a super tight Summer Cup betting battle the current favourite at $3.70 is the in-form John O’Shea-trained Malice.

The Teofilo six-year-old chases back-to-back wins after taking out the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) over the same distance at Rosehill on December 3 from the outside alley (13 of 13).

He is against a smaller line-up on Boxing Day and gets in on the same weight (56.5kg), so ticks plenty of boxes from the good gate two draw with James Doyle booked for the ride.

The next best in betting are the Chris Waller-trained 58kg top-weight Amovatio ($4.60) coming off the brave third in last weekend’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the same lead-up Centre Pivot ($5) for Peter Robl.

The race is busting with livewire chances however with the Gerald Ryan-trained market mover Red Excitement ($5.50) who comes off back-to-back thirds at Rosehill and Joe Pride’s last start Christmas Cup winning eight-year-old over the mile and a half Destiny’s Kiss ($6) following closely in the markets.

So who should you back and who should you sack in Summer Cup 2017 betting this Christmas long weekend?

1^st

#3 Malice ($3.70)

Favourite in a field full of genuine winning hopes but happy to stick with the ATC Cup winner who has gun form over the distance (5-2-0-1) and faces a smaller field after getting the job done from 13 of 13 earlier in the month. A few weeks between runs and Randwick is a different track, but same weight and from gate two for Godolphin could be hard to beat again.

2^nd

#2 Red Excitement ($5.50)

Evergreen seven-year-old won first-up at Canterbury in early November under 60kg and has been right up in the weights for his past two Sydney thirds. First was over 1400m under 61.5kg and then he was only a half-length off the winner Sweet Redemption in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) with 58kg. Has won a subsequent Rosehill trial and gets in on 57kg. Distance is the question, he’s yet to win over further than a mile. If he runs out the metres he is a big hope.

3^rd

#5 Centre Pivot ($5)

Blake Shinn has the ride on Robl’s six-year-old who was under two lengths beaten in the Villiers Stakes in a top class Group 2 field as a $71 roughie. Price is much shorter here, and deservingly so, as he’ll improve getting out over the 2000m (2-1-0-1). Improving each time out this prep and will be nearing peak form and fitness right in time for the Boxing Day races.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Summer Cup 2016 betting tips make sure you head online to Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).