Possible Caulfield Cup-bound galloper Hartnell is the red hot favourite in the 2017 Underwood Stakes field and betting markets for the Group 1 at Caulfield on Sunday opening odds-on for the win.

Hartnell is odds-on favourite in Underwood Stakes 2017 betting for this Sunday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Taking place as Caulfield Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEST) on Sunday afternoon, this season’s Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) features a diminutive but class field of nine hopefuls.

Heading the line-up and the updated Underwood Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying a short $1.95 to return to winning form is the Godolphin-raced Hartnell.

Hartnell hasn’t finished out of the money since the end of February and was last seen finishing second as the beaten odds-on favourite behind Humidor in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight ago.

In the mix for both the Caulfield Cup over 2400m and Ladbrokes Cox Plate over 2040m later in October, the seven-year-old son of Authorzied jumps from gate eight on Sunday with Kerrin McEvoy retaining the ride.

Last year’s Underwood Stakes winner Black Heart Bart improved on a lead-up second in the Makybe Diva Stakes to win the 1800m feature, form Hartnell is tipped to repeat in 2017.

The Darren Weir-trained defending Underwood Stakes champ also returns this year with Black Heart Bart looking to secure successive wins in the race for the first time since Northerly (2001-02).

Drawn the outside barrier (9 of 9) with last year’s winning hoop Brad Rawiller back in the saddle, the Blackfriars seven-year-old is also a graduate of the Makybe Diva Stakes again having placed third.

That was his third placing on the trot this time in following the third to Hartnell in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Currently Black Heart Bart is rated a $5.50 shot in Underwood Stakes betting to score the upset over Hartnell.

Also at a $5.50 quote for the win is gun New Zealand-trained mare Bonneval heading towards the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).

As a filly the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained daughter of Makfi won the NZ Oaks – ATC Oaks double.

Bonneval returned down under on September 9 winning the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) and will eat-up the extra 200m of the Underwood Stakes.

She also comes back from 56.5kg first-up to 56kg under Sunday’s weight-for-age conditions and from barrier three with Hugh Bowman in the saddle shapes-up as a huge hope to become the first Underwood Stakes winning mare since Tristarc (1985).

Last year’s winning trainer Weir has also accepted French import Gailo Chop into the field in 2017, the seven-year-old drawn the rails with barrier one.

Fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes last start, Gailo Chop pays $10 in Underwood Stakes betting to improve and break his maiden status down under.

Check out the full Underwood Stakes 2017 field, barriers and Fixed Win odds below, betting open online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Underwood Stakes Field, Barriers & Odds