A key 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes preparatory race runs at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, betting tips for the Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes found below.

Seven of the nine two-year-olds in this season’s $150,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) field have previous race experience including the early $3 favourite Formality.

The David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained daughter of Fastnet Rock is looking to retain her undefeated status after winning her debut in early January.

Formality blitzed a field of fellow maiden fillies at Werribee over 1100m by four and a quarter-lengths and is looking to do the same in tougher company on the weekend.

She heads towards the $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 25 and will firm in futures markets for that if successful for the punters in the Chairman’s.

With two-year-old racing results notoriously unpredictable, there are four other single-figure fancies in the latest Chairman’s Stakes odds.

Second elect in the markets paying $4.80 is the returning Tony McEvoy-trained Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) winner at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival Aspect.

Kerrin McEvoy reunites with the promising Pluck colt who overcame barrier 12 of 12 for the Group 3 win on debut, riding Aspect from gate six on Saturday’s 58kg top weight.

Also at the top end of the Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes odds are untapped fillies Spoils ($5) and Time Awaits ($6).

With so many livewire chances the question must be asked whether the bookies have it right or whether an upset Ladbrokes Chairman’s Stakes result is on the cards?

1st

#5 Formality ($3)

It’s an open race but hard to go past the progressive favourite who represents the Lindsay Park stable. She’s been freshened-up since the blistering debut against her own kind on January 5 and wouldn’t need to improve much to account for most of these. Inexperienced, but they all are, and from the barrier she will be ridden forward by Craig Williams and the one to chase down.

2^nd

#3 Spoils ($5)

Prepared locally by Clinton McDonald, this Snitzel filly is still a maiden but has been to the races twice for two eye-catching runs. On debut she was runner-up by the barest margin in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) and then she resumed on Australia Day and was beaten under two lengths in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview. Plenty of improvement to come and if she matches it with them here she’ll be in for a big autumn.

3^rd

#1 Aspect ($4.80)

Lots to like about this colt who is already a Group 3 winner. That was down the straight so he’ll be tested at Caulfield, but looks right up to it if he comes back in the same form he went out in. McEvoy is likely to take a sit and this galloper will be better over further, but the run will do him well heading towards the Group 1s.

Get behind our exclusive Chairman’s Stakes 2017 tips online now at Ladbrokes.com.au who also have the best outright Blue Diamond Stakes odds available this autumn.