Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Canterbury on 8 December 2023.
Best Bet: AFTERLIGHT (Race 5)
Value Bet: MERRY MAC BOY (Race 6)
Jackpot (Race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
9 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | 2 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
AFTERLIGHT put her disappointing penultimate start over six furlongs firmly behind her when winning by 1.8L next time out over the same sprint trip, this despite jumping awkwardly, bumping another runner. She recovered quickly to take the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has been franked and from her handy draw four, she is made the best bet on the day’s card.
POWER BALLARD showed plenty of toe to win her maiden race last time out over 1100M by 0,8L when returning from a 23-week break, which clearly was just what she had needed. She was bumped at the start that day and whilst taking on stronger here, she has gate six and could be up to the task at hand.
TSARINA SOPHIA has cracked pole position and showed solid improvement to finish second in her latest outing over 1100M, 0,8L back from the winner, but she had to be held up in the home stretch until the 200M mark in that event, before finishing off her race well, so she had her excuse. She gets non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd in the irons and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, MERRY MAC BOY was returning from a 32-week break and a change of trainer when overracing in the early and middle stages, before coming three wide into the home straight to finish up in second place last time out over 1100M, just a head behind the winner. The gelding has a wide draw 10 out of 11, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
GIVARA missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs, when finishing third last time out over the same sprint trip, 0.7L behind the winner, but he jumped awkwardly in that contest, bumping another runner and then hung in over the latter stages. The gelding returns from a 19-week rest, but has finished fourth in his only barrier trial. From his useful draw four, he should be right up there when they hit the line, and he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.
KAREDADA is another who missed out on his hat-trick after two wins over six furlongs, when finishing twelfth last time out over six furlongs, 6.3L adrift of the winner, but he was trapped three wide without cover in that event and not surprisingly, had little to offer over the closing stages. The gelding returns from a 27-week spell, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. He gets a cosy draw three and will be looking forward to getting back into the winner’s box here.
Race 7
EDMOND had his consistency rewarded with a half-length victory last time out over seven furlongs when returning from a 31-week absence and a change of trainer. The gelding came the widest of them all into the home straight that day but struck the front at the 150M pole and then kept the challengers at bay with a bit in hand. The gelding will have to negotiate the widest draw of them all in gate twelve, but he should be doing his best work late.
MONEY FROM THE SKY had finished fifth in his two runs before winning his last start over 1500M by a neck when returning from a 23-week rest. He was slow away that day and came three wide into the home straight, but delivered a powerful finish over the latter stages to get up on the line. The gelding has a useful draw four to aid his cause.
JUMEIRAH BEACH has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a fourth-place finish next time out over the same journey, 1.2L back from the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped shortly after the start in that event. He faces a wide gate ten, but he should nevertheless be included in all bets.
Race 8
ACCREDITED has won two of his last three runs and finished third in the other, his latest victory coming over 1100M, albeit by just a head. He was returning from a 19-week rest that day and had to be held up in the home straight until the 180M mark, but finished off his race strongly once he saw daylight. He jumps from gate seven and should turn in another honest performance today.
BORDER CONTROL followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over the same trip, 1.8L back from the winner, but he did jump awkwardly in that event and overraced in the early stages. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 23-week break and jumps from a handy draw four.
CHIEF CONDUCTOR jumped awkwardly bumping another runner and had to be steadied between the 800M and 600M mark when overracing, but still managed to win his last start over 1100M by a head. He will be looking to record his fifth career win today and is sure to put his pole position to good use.
