One of the key support acts on the Newcastle Cup Day card this Friday is the Cameron Handicap 2016, betting tips and the updated odds for the sprint feature found below.

Mount Nebo is a top three hope for the 2016 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle this Friday. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Running as Beaumont Race 6 at 4:05pm (AEST), this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1350m) field features 10 hopefuls including two battling for top spot in betting.

Currently heading the Cameron Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.10 and firming (in from $3.60) is the widely-drawn Chetwood, the John O’Shea-trained galloper out in barrier 10.

Tim Clark jumps aboard the in-form Exceed And Excel four-year-old who chases his third win on the trot and who looks ideally weighted on the 54kg minimum after carting 60.5kg to victory over the distance at Rosehill last time out.

Close second favourite at $3.20 is the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain, the Randwick Guineas winner still officially in the mix also for Saturday’s Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) clash with Australia’s best horse Winx.

He carries 59kg top weight in the Cameron Handicap should Lees opt for this option and even under those kilos is the class runner in the race.

So will one of the short-priced fancies get the job done or is there value tipping an upset Cameron Handicap result from the likes of the Kim Waugh-trained His Majesty ($7) who has winning form at the track, the rails-drawn Snoopy ($8.50) for Hawkes Racing or even the Chris Waller-trained Sadler’s Lake ($11)?

1^st

#8 Chetwood ($3.10)

Happy to follow the order of the odds and have this lightly-raced flyer from the Godolphin stables on top. He has done little wrong since his winning debut in February, is stakes-placed in the Gosford Guineas from the autumn and has won both his starts this time in. Did it easily by 2.3 lengths under the big kilos (60.5kg) last time out at Rosehill and will relish the big drop in weight as he takes on a tougher field here.

2^nd

#1 Le Romain ($3.20)

If he runs in this and avoids the clash with Winx, Lees’ smart four-year-old will be hard to hold out. He comes off back-to-back seconds this prep including in the Tramway Stakes over 1400m at Randwick a fortnight back. Gives the weight away here, but third-up should be ready to peak and will enjoy a firmer track than the Heavy (8) he got last time out.

3^rd

#5 Mount Nebo ($13)

Plenty of value for the placings, but think the good lead-up form of this Allan Denham-trained seven-year-old can hold out. The veteran ran third to Tycoon Tara in Randwick’s Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) last time out, has had a four-week freshen-up since and can finish in the money again even though he’s stretching out past his preferred distance.

Get in on the Cameron Handicap 2016 betting action this week at the right price online at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2016 Cameron Handicap Betting Update