A gun field of potential Epsom Handicap runners for Saturday’s week’s Group 1 take to the Rosehill track this weekend in the 2017 Shannon Stakes, betting tips and updated odds on the Golden Rose Stakes Day event detailed below.

Fat Al (3^rd in 2012) was the last Epsom Handicap winner to come off a run in the Shannon Stakes, punters potentially looking to uncover the next this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Running as Rosehill Race 5 at 2:35pm (AEST), this year’s Group 2 $200,000 Shannon Stakes (1500m) has two horses battling for top spot in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The lightly-raced Gerald Ryan-trained Washington Heights is the current $3.10 favourite, the six-year-old coming off a narrow win as the odds-on fancy at Randwick over Dawn Wall on September 2.

The former Hong Kong-raced son of Commands has been in red hot form since arriving back in Australia and despite having only won up to 1400m to date, is tipped to handle the extra 100m here and take out the Shannon Stakes.

Occupying the second line of Shannon Stakes betting at a close $3.50 is the mare that ran second to him last start, Dawn Wall, from the Chris Waller stables.

Waller is looking at a potential Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) bid for the four-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock in Melbourne next month and she is looking for her first Group 2 victory.

So will the top two fancies battle it out for the win or is there value to be had tipping an upset Shannon Stakes result this year by the likes of Bjorn Baker’s well-weighted market mover Imposing Lass ($6) or Theo Marks Stakes third placed mare Euro Angel ($6.50) for Hawkes Racing?

1^st

#11 Imposing Lass ($6)

The punters are starting to warm to this Makfi mare and we’re happy to follow the money trail for an upset result. She is after her first win since the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) over the Gosford mile in January, but has been thereabouts in her three runs this time in. Toy Show third saw her beaten under a half-length fresh and the second at Wyong was also devastatingly close when she had 58kg to the winner’s (Lubiton) 55kg. Fifth last Friday in Newcastle’s Tibbie Stakes against the mares and was only two lengths beaten with 57kg. Will relish the drop to 53kg here, has winning form at Rosehill and could prove hard to hold off.

2^nd

#5 Washington Heights ($3.10)

Deserving favourite who is a six-year-old but has just his 14^th career start here. Won at Randwick with 58.5kg over 1400m three weeks ago and looks very well weighted with 55kg for this. Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride, trainer is in excellent form and also saddles-up Menari in the Golden Rose at $2. Consistent winning strike rate and will be closing hard late.

3^rd

#9 Dawn Wall ($3.50)

Second favourite and think the bookies pretty much have the placings susses. She is drawn a treat with Corey Brown in the saddle, out to turn the tables on Washington Heights after coming very close first-up. Fitter for that run and Waller has a high opinion of her, suggesting a mile could be her go despite winning form up to 1800m. Also drops two kilos to 53kg.

Now is the time to lock in our exclusive Shannon Stakes 2017 tips online through Ladbrokes.com.au who also have the best early Epsom Handicap odds for Saturday week’s Group 1.