Australian racing tips – Friday 26 July 2024 – Lismore

Race 5

HERMANITA is seldom too far off the action and overraced throughout when finishing third last time out over 1200M, 3.2L back from the winner. As a result, she gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect of keeping her from overracing, she should be a big runner here and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

IN THE BLINK was having her first run for her new trainer and was returning from an 18-week break when slow away to end up in fifth place last time out over 1000M, 5.3L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger centre. The mare is drawn the widest of them all in gate eighteen, but she should be doing her best work late.

ALPINE LADY on the other hand has cracked pole position and had finished second twice prior to ending up in seventh spot last time out when stepping up to 1500M, 3.8L back from the victor, but she was bumped shortly after the start that day and had to be eased at the 100M mark, so she had her excuses.

Race 6

WRITTEN FAME jumped awkwardly and pulled hard, but still managed to deliver a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post to win his last outing over 1100M by a head. The gelding jumps from gate five and will be looking to chalk up his third career victory from just the eight starts to date. He does return from a 28-week spell, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and winning the latest to showcase his well-being.

BRING ME TO LIFE has consistent formlines to his name and tried to go from jump to wire when finishing third last time out over 1100M, just a neck off the winner and from a wide draw eleven, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today. The gelding gets blinkers re-fitted for the day’s run and he should be right up there when they hit the line.

GREY EFFECTS followed up his penultimate run victory over 1100M with a third-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, just a half lengths back from the winner, but he was hampered at the start in that event and hung in down the home straight. The form of that race has however stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning and he should put his pole position to good use.

Race 7

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. EXPLICABLE put his disappointing penultimate start over 1600M behind him when winning his maiden race next time out over 1300M, albeit by just a short-head. He was having his first run for his new trainer and hit the rail during the race, so that effort was encouraging. The gelding is drawn in gate seven and takes take on stronger, but he may well be up to the task at hand.

CORDOZAR jumped awkwardly, but stayed on well to finish twelfth last time out over 1300M, just under nine and a half lengths adrift of the winner, suggesting that he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. The gelding has pulled a wide draw fourteen, but on the plus side, he will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

HIGHLAND HILL was only run out of it late when finishing fourth last time out over 2400M, 2.3L behind the winner and was immediately moved to a new stable and rested for 25 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. The gelding now has his first run for his new trainer and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here, jumping from gate six and dropping in journey.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, JEWELS STATEMENT is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she won over 1000M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1100M and then second again in her latest outing back over 1000M, just a head behind the winner, but she jumped awkwardly on that occasion, before showing plenty of toe, only to be grabbed on the line. She has her first run after a 21-week rest, but did win her only barrier trial to prove her fitness. The filly is drawn the widest in gate eighteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and prove hard to topple.

SUPIDOMAN has finished second in his last two starts over 1000M and raced three wide without cover, but chased hard to end just a length adrift of the victory last time out. The gelding has pulled a wideish gate eight, but he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

IMMORTALITY is the stable companion of the top choice and was having his first run for his new yard and returning from a 22-week break when finishing fourth last time out over 1100M, just over seven lengths behind the winner, but the form of that race has been bolstered by two runners out of that event subsequently winning. The gelding has a kinder draw three and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and makes a solid backup for the yard.