The Grafton Cup Carnival gets underway today with the 2017 Ramornie Handicap taking centre stage, betting tips and the latest winter racing odds on the sprint found below.

There have been five official scratchings from the $160,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) field:

• #4 Mount Nebo (15)
• #8 Aomen (20)
• #12 Sony Legend (18)
• #17e Taillevent (16)
• #20e Steve’s Surprise (6)

Updated Ramornie Handicap betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au on the remaining 15 contenders have five at single-figures including the $4 favourite Badajoz.

James Cummings’ Commands four-year-old has an imposing 76% Place Rate and was last seen saluting over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on July 1.

He drops from 56kg to 54kg today, but needs to get the right run from his wide barrier draw as he steps up in class and distance.

The next best fancied in the Ramornie Handicap odds are the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained duo of Calanda ($4.50) and Flippant ($5.50) drawn alongside each other in barriers three and two respectively.

Snitzel three-year-old Calanda is the youngster of the pack coming off a 1100m Rosehill win at the start of the month, while four-year-old Hinchinbrook mare Flippant will be improving second-up after a credible fifth at Doomben on June 24 in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m).

So will the best in betting salute or is there an upset Ramornie Handicap result pending this afternoon from the likes of market mover The Monstar ($7) giving the weight away with 59.5kg or even the returning track specialist Free Standing ($21) at the blowout price?

1^st

#3 Flippant ($5.50)

Plenty of boxes ticked by this well-bred mare for Team Snowden who will be fitter for her first-up run during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Drops in grade for this after being beaten only 3.3 lengths in the WJ Healy. She gets in on the same 55.5kg weight and back in February was a dual Group 2 third placegetter at Randwick in good company. Plenty of form over the distance (9-3-1-1) and gets the run of the race from barrier two.

2^nd

#1 The Monstar ($7)

Brett Cavanough-trained top weight only needs to handle the kilos to be in the money for the fourth time on the trot this prep. Two back the six-year-old enjoyed a runaway six length win in Randwick’s Listed June Stakes (1100m) on a Heavy (10) track. Last start carried these kilos (59.5kg) for a brave second in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill. The 1200m will suit better, has a good gate six draw that gives jockey Josh Adams options and is the class horse in the race.

3^rd

#15 Free Standing ($21)

Big price on offer for this Coffs Harbour-trained Equiano four-year-old who resumes at one of his pet tracks. Has had eight runs here for two wins, two seconds and three thirds. That is a great strike rate, as is his record over the 1200m (9-3-1-2). Last start he went to Royal Randwick during ‘The Championships’ as a $41 roughie in the Country Championships Final (1400m) and scored a huge upset winning by 2.5 lengths. Is better on wet tracks, but has trialled earlier in the month and can surprise.

Now is the time to get behind our insider Ramornie Handicap 2017 tips at the best price online at Ladbrokes.com.au.