Australian racing tips – Thursday 20 January 2022 – Tamworth

Best Bet: STILL IN FASHION (Race 7)

Value Bet: HIGHLIGHTS (Race 5)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 5.

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, HIGHLIGHTS to record his second career victory. He moved four wide approaching the home turn and then stayed on well to finish second last time out over 1500M, beaten just a head. He cast a shoe at the 300M mark that day, which makes the effort that much more encouraging. He will have to negotiate draw nine, but on the plus side, he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. AH WELL is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she missed out on her quartet of victories when finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, 1.2L back from the winner. She came three wide into the home straight that day, but finished off her race strongly. From her handy draw two, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today. FANMALIA jumped awkwardly before making good late progress to end up in fourth place last time out over 1500M, three lengths adrift of the victor. He jumps from gate five and should not be lightly dismissed in this line-up.

Race 6.

ANETHOLE had his consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over 1100M and the form of that race has been franked. He battled all the way down to the wire that day to prevail in the shadow of the post. The gelding has pulled a wideish draw seven, but will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. ACROPHOBIC is the stable companion to the top choice and is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth in his latest outing over a mile, two and a half lengths behind the winner. He returns from a 28 week break and has his first run for his new trainer, but has the benefit of three barrier trials, winning the latest. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate twelve, but will have 1.5kg taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice and he should give a good account of himself here. MIDSUMMER RAIN gets a kinder gate five and is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when second over 1100M, just a head behind the winner. She raced just behind the leaders and then hit the front as the field entered the home straight, but just failing to hold on in the final few strides. She should give the boys a good run for their money.

Race 7.

The day’s best bet, STILL IN FASHION has consistent formlines to his name and overraced in the middle stages and then came four wide into the home stretch before finishing third in his latest start over seven furlongs, just under a length and a half behind the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. From gate six, he could prove hard to topple. KANALAIDE showed good improvement in his latest outing to finish fourth over six furlongs, just under two lengths off the victor when returning from a 21 week rest. He raced three wide from the 600M mark that day, so should have finished closer to the winner than he officially did. He gets a cozy draw two and the services of a 3kgs claiming apprentice and could prove to be the immediate danger to the top pick. CRIMSON ROSE is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she put 6.3L between herself and the opposition when winning her last start over 1300M. She is drawn the widest of then all in gate thirteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

Race 8.

This looks to be a tricky race to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. To complicate matters further, two of the leading contenders have been scratched. SO COUNTRY has only had the four runs to date and had finished second in the first three of those before winning his last outing over six furlongs by one and a half lengths, so he clearly has some ability. He takes on stronger here, but the form of his last race has been franked and from pole position, he may well be up to the task at hand. TRUMPSTER followed up his penultimate run victory with a second place finish next time out over this trip, beaten just a short-head. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and struck the front at the 75M mark, only to hang in over the latter stages and get grabbed on the line. SHE’S CONTRARY is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has improved with each of her fist three runs, posting a third, second and then a short-head win last time out over today’s distance. She raced green that day, but the form of that race has been franked with three runners out of the contest subsequently winning. She returns from a 19 week absence and has not had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but nevertheless, she should be included in all bets.