Despite suffering an early blow with a wide barrier draw the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Detonator Jack remains top fancy in The Ingham 2023 betting in Sydney this weekend.

Detonator Jack is the horse to beat in the 2023 The Ingham at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Sydney Summer Racing Carnival features continue on Saturday at Royal Randwick with the lucrative Group 2 $2 million The Ingham (1600m) stealing the show.

A capacity field of summer hopefuls faces off in the handicap clash formerly known as the Villiers Stakes with last start $1 million The Gong winner Detonator Jack tipped to keep the victories coming from gate 15 with Jason Collett to ride.

The consistent Jakkalberry five-year-old is undefeated at a mile (3:3-0-0) and pays The Ingham odds of $4 through Ladbrokes.com.au to retain his flawless 1600m record.

He has been good in the Special Condition races in Sydney this prep including a second in the $1 million Five Diamond Prelude and third to Unspoke in the $2 million Five Diamonds on November 11.

At his latest run on November 25 he was an easy 2.3 length winner of The Gong in the wet at Kembla Grange with that form tipped to hold in Saturday’s feature.

It may be a capacity line-up of 20 plus emergencies but there are only two other runners currently under double-figures in The Ingham race betting.

The widely-drawn Chris Waller-trained Osipenko ($7.50) is the second elect but has work to do after drawing the extreme outside barrier 24.

The four-year-old Pierro entire will come into 20 of 20 with emergencies out and chases his first 1600m success.

The horse has winning form up to 2000m and is a three-time third place-getter from four previous mile runs.

He has been racing competitively in top Group 1 company this campaign including a third placing at Flemington behind Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes in Mid-September.

His latest run was in The Gong when 2.5 lengths third with improvement to come on firmer going this weekend.

The early Ingham Stakes market mover, Lion’s Roar, completes the single-figure fancies backed in from $12 to $9 at time of publish.

The John O’Shea-trained galloper carries 53.5kg from barrier five with Tom Sherry booked to partner the Contributer six-year-old who comes off a second in the Little Dance at the track and trip from Cup Day.

Lion’s Roar was good here on the first Tuesday of November with 62kg and will be airborne dropping notably in weight here off a subsequent winning Randwick trial on November 28.

Of the double-figure hopes those considered most likely to score an upset include Matthew Dunn’s 60kg top-weight Cepheus ($13), the rails-drawn Rustic Steel ($11), and Godolphin galloper Vilana ($10).

Sea the Stars seven-year-old Cepheus won the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) – $1.5 million Alan Brown (1400m) double at Rosehill earlier this season before a brave second in the $3 million The Big Dance last time out.

The Ingham 2023 is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

2023 The Ingham Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.