A key weight-for-age clash on the Zipping Classic Day card at Ladbrokes Park on the weekend is the 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes, betting tips and updated odds for which are detailed below.

Illustrious Lad is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes on Zipping Classic Day at Sandown. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Set to run as Sandown Race 4 at 2:10pm (AEDT) there are just eight hopefuls set to face off in this season’s Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m).

The punters have a really tough task ahead sorting out the top chances in Kevin Heffernan Stakes betting with the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au listing six of the runners under $10.

Fighting for top spot in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes odds are the Darren Weir-trained Burning Front ($4) coming off a fifth in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) back on Cox Plate Day where he right up on the hot speed and last year’s runner-up Illustrious Lad ($4.40).

Last start winners Thronum ($5) and Ocean Embers ($5) follow in the markets, while there’s also support for Keen Array ($7.50) and early mover Jungle Edge ($9) who needs a wet track to run his best.

With so many livewire chances and a number of form lines to consider, should you back or sack the favourites in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes results this spring?

1^st

#3 Illustrious Lad ($4.40)

Tipping the Peter Gelagotis-trained six-year-old Illustrious Lad to go one better than his second in this race last spring and post his first win since VRC Derby Day 2016. He won the Salinger Stakes at Flemington that day before the Kevin Heffernan placing. This time in he ran sixth in the same lead-up down the straight, but was right up in weight from 54.5kg last year to 58kg. At WFA settled off a likely genuine speed, he’ll be hard to beat.

2^nd

#4 Jungle Edge ($9)

Mick Bell’s proven mudlark has been heavily backed in from double figures with the wet weather in Melbourne suggesting an improved run from this wet track specialist. Gave the weight away carrying 60kg in the Sale Cup over the mile last time out off a string of unplaced runs on Good tracks. Could finally get conditions to suit, has winning form at the track and last time he got a Heavy track he was a Group 1 runner-up over this distance in Brisbane during the winter. Right metres and if the rain really comes down, is a livewire chance.

3^rd

#7 Thronum ($5)

Good lead-up win by this untapped Lindsay Park-trained Snitzel four-year-old who carted 59.5kg to a five length romp home in a BM78 at Bendigo on November 1. WFA is the test second-up on the weekend, but as a three-year-old was a Group 3 placegetter over the 1300m and was Group 1 performed. Looking to show that first-up effort was no fluke.

Get behind our Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2017 tips for Sandown this weekend at the right price online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.