The returning Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Acatour has opened narrow favourite to jump back in the winners’ stall leading the Eye Liner Stakes 2017 odds at Ipswich Racecourse this weekend.

Group 3 winning colt Acatour is narrow early favourite in 2017 Eye Liner Stakes betting for an Ipswich victory this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

A full field of 16 is set to line-up on Ipswich Cup Day on Saturday for this year’s $175,000 Listed City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m).

In an open affair, six sprinters are currently under double-figures for the win including smart Sebring three-year-old Acatour.

Leading Eye Liner Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $5, the colt races for the first time since his failed eighth behind Mongolian Wolf at Randwick in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) in mid-April.

Prior to that he enjoyed a Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) win at the same track and first-up over the 1350m looks ideal as he has a smart record over the 1300m – 1400m distance range (4-1-0-2).

Two-from-three first-up, fresh performer Acatour has trialled twice since his last run so should be fit for the Eye Liner Stakes with Jeff Lloyd aboard the proven wet-tracker on the 54kg minimum.

The big danger according to the bookies following closely on $6 is Toby Edmonds’ in-form Gold Coast-trained galloper The Virginian.

A well-bred Hinchinbrook four-year-old, The Virginian should be peaking third-up here after two nice runs at Doomben.

First-up he won the Listed Chief De Beers (1050m) on a Heavy (9) course before the close fourth to Deploy in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) on a Good (4) track.

The wet conditions at Ipswich will suit this weekend as The Virginian looks to extend his winning form out over further than 1200m for the first time.

He’s got form from last Queensland Winter Racing Carnival against some very good horses having run third to Under The Louvre (1^st) and Black Heart Bart (2^nd) in that season’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and he could prove the value this weekend.

Easing out slightly from $7 to $7.50 is another galloper with genuine winning claims, Perfect Dare, drawn well in barrier four with Jim Byrne in the saddle of Matthew Dunn’s gun four-year-old.

The Fastnet Rock gelding has winning form at Ipswich where he won on debut in May of 2015, but returns to the track for the first time in two years.

He has been in excellent form during his lightly-raced 2017 campaign to date including the Magic Millions Cup second to Testashadow at the Gold Coast in January.

His latest run was a surprise third in the Moreton Cup when under two lengths beaten as a $21 roughie and on 54kg here can improve and run in the money again.

Rounding out the single-figure fancies are the Ben Currie-trained Cantbuybetter ($8.50) coming off a black-type win over the Doomben mile, equal 59kg top weight Shiraz ($9) and early market mover Yesterday’s Songs ($9.50).

Check out the latest Eye Liner Stakes 2017 betting odds below, prices available now at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Eye Liner Stakes Betting