The Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) is the feature race running at Warwick Farm this Saturday with 15 top-class runners set to tackle the mile, including eight from Chris Waller’s stable.

Contributer is the firm favourite in the Chipping Norton Stakes betting. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Just four of those runners are offering single figure odds in the betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au, led by Contributer at $2.80.

The John O’Shea-trained horse opened the betting at odds of $3 but has already seen his price firm following support from the punters, which also makes the five-year-old the market mover.

Contributer won the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) first-up on February 14, which is considered the key lead-up race. He was six lengths off the leaders with 500m to go but showed a great turn of foot and flashed home to easily beat his rivals by one and a half lengths.

10 of his 16 rivals are also coming via the Apollo Stakes, which means Contributer is already tried and tested against the majority of the field. The horse will get a good start from barrier four with James McDonald to ride.

However Contributer has only raced over a mile once before, when he finished midfield in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes in the spring, while many of the other runners have plenty of experience including the three other single figure hopefuls.

• #15 Lucia Valentina ($5) – Kris Lees’ high-class mare got trapped back in the Apollo Stakes but worked hard in the closing moments to finish strongly in fourth place. The mare has won one of her three starts over a mile and will enjoy the step up in distance. Hugh Bowman will ride the four-year-old from barrier 11.
• #8 Weary ($9) – is one of eight horses saddled by Chris Waller in the Chipping Norton as he bids for an unprecedented fifth straight win in the race. The five-year-old grey is the trainer’s fittest runner after winning the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) first-up on January 31 before finishing third to Contributer in the Apollo Stakes. Weary will jump from barrier 10 with Tommy Berry.
• #10 Ninth Legion ($9) – Rounding out the Apollo Stakes trifecta is Team Hawkes’ gelding, who was runner-up in the race two weeks ago. Ninth Legion will have to overcome a wide start from barrier 12 with Timothy Bell but has won over a mile before.

With a limited number of single figure hopefuls in the Chipping Norton Stakes betting at this stage, punters have the chance to back an outside chance at lucrative odds. These could include defending champion Boban ($14), Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) winner He’s Your Man ($13), two-time winner over a mile Who Shot Thebarman ($61), British import Hartnell ($11), and Silent Achiever ($10) who will enjoy a start from barrier three.

Check out the 2015 Chipping Norton live odds below and back your winner at Ladbrokes.com.au today at a lucrative price.