Australian racing tips – Monday 17 January 2022 – Muswellbrook

Best Bet: MISS POWERBELLE (Race 4)

Value Bet: THUNDER KNOB (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 4.

The day’s best bet, MISS POWERBELLE is a 6yr mare taking on the boys, but she completed her hat-trick with a neck victory last time out over five furlongs and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She finished well that day to win going away. She has her first run for her new trainer and does return from a 14 week rest without having had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she clearly has some ability and from gate seven, the quartet of victories is very much on the cards. EIGER has his first run since a longer 20 week break and has also not had a barrier trial, but he had his consistency rewarded with a 1.3L win last time out over a mile. He overraced in front in the early stages of that race, but stayed on well over the latter stages and the form of that contest has been franked. He has cracked pole position and looks to be the biggest threat to the top choice. GIDGEE GUY tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in sixth place last time out over 1100M, four lengths back from the winner, but the form of that race has also been franked and from gate six, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 5.

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. PHULE is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has only had the two runs to date, winning over five furlongs on debut and then finishing second next time out over the same sprint trip, beaten just a short-head when returning from a 22 week break. She attracted plenty of betting support that day, but jumped awkwardly before finishing strongly, only to be denied victory in the shadow of the post. From a handy gate four, she will be hoping to make amends here. SHARPAY RULER also won first time out, but in his case over 1250M, this despite being bumped at the start and was immediately rest for 73 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit of three barrier trials, finishing second in the latest to showcase his well-being. The gelding gets gate seven and the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. FOXSTORM is seldom far off the action, having finished second in three of his last five runs and the latest when third over 1100M, 0.8L behind the winner. He battled all the way down to the wire that day and the form of the race has been franked. He jumps from a wideish draw nine, but he should be doing his best work late.

Race 6.

THUNDER KNOB has consistent formlines to his name and finished a head back in second place in his latest outing over 1512M, notwithstanding overracing in the early and middle stages of the race. He stayed on well that day only to be run out of it very late. The gelding will have to negotiate gate fifteen, but he should use his early gate speed to work his way across without expending too much energy and could prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages. As such, he is made the value bet on the day’s card. CIAO BICKY on the other hand has pulled pole position and has finished third in his last two outings, the latest when staying on well over seven furlongs, 2.7L back from the victor. He has his peak run after returning from a 19 week break and should turn in another honest performance today. HETTINGER is another who has consistent formlines to his credit and jumped awkwardly before finishing second in his last start over 1415M, 4.3L off the winner. From gate six, he should not be easily overlooked in this line-up. There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either or both of the runners should be respected

Race 7.

PASS THE CARD’S last five runs have yielded two seconds and two third place finishes, the latest, one of those seconds when showing plenty of toe over six furlongs, getting beaten just a short-head. He gets a cozy draw two and looks to be the one to side with here. Two 4yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to TEQUILA CABOS who was slow away and came three wide approaching the home turn before finishing second last time out over six furlongs, just under three and half lengths adrift of the victor. She was also reported to have been cut into during that contest. She is drawn wide in gate eleven, but on the plus side, she will get 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. CHOMEUR made good late progress when finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, just under three lengths adrift of the winner, when returning from a 21 week absence. She will have to overcome a wide gate thirteen, but given her style of running, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the frontrunners over the closing stages of the race.