Horse Racing Tips: Friday 31 January 2020 – Kranji – Turf / Poly Track

Despite the fact that punters will have to wait until later on the meeting, for the classier horses to step out, there are two smart-looking maidens that will be worth following early on.

HEALTHY STAR (2) and IRONCLAD (4) have both impressed at maiden level and both look progressive enough to get the job done this time, with ease.

Best Bet: HEALTHY STAR (Race 2)
Value Bet: STARDICE (Race 1)

The pick of the races should be the Class 2 sprint over 1100m on the poly, in the 6th race on the card. But let’s kick off with the first race analysis.

It’s a modest Class 5 dash over the 1200m Turf course and STARDICE looks the one to be with. In fact, he is the value bet on the card. He won’t be a 33/1 shot, but the son of O’Reilly is a class dropper and he’ll arrive on the back of some consistent form in Class 4 company. He finds a much better draw this time and having impressed in his recent barrier trial, he won’t be in need of this. BLACK QUAIL will have a decent chance at finding the places if he enjoys the drop in trip and he should be worth including for minor money.

As mentioned in the introduction, HEALTHY STAR has impressed in his two starts so far. The progressive son of Per Incanto took a bump at the start last time out and showed a fair amount of resolve to box on for second. With the expected improvement to come, he gets the tag as the best bet on the card.

The third race is a tricky Class 5 sprint on the Turf and cases can be made for a few contenders. SUN ELIZABETH had an interrupted trip last time, to say the least. Having taken a bump at the start, the 6-year old mare was required to do much work early to find a suitable position and that cost her in the finish. She finds a slightly better draw this time and if she manages to find suitable position just off the early speed, she’ll give her followers another solid run for their money. SAYONARA is just getting going here and despite the fact that he comes off a 98-day absence, he isn’t facing a bunch of world-beaters. Rodd retains the ride from a near-perfect draw and he’ll be right there at the finish.

The fourth race on the card takes us to the half-way mark of the meeting and IRON CLAD will be the one to follow here. He’s done very little wrong in both of his starts so far, having overcome wide barriers in both. From a much-improved draw this time, he will relish the extra ground on offer and it is hard to imagine him not winning this. He surely has bigger and better competitions on his agenda.

IMPLEMENT has returned with two solid efforts in his last three starts, after a three-month recess at the beginning of August. He has faced two tricky draws in his last two starts but won his penultimate and followed that up with a good second last time. With just the 10 starts under his belt he has plenty more to come and from a plum draw here, he should land up in the winners’ enclosure, in the fifth race. MIDDLE KINGDOM is a useful sort over this sort of trip and despite still being a maiden in Singapore, he should be worth including for the minor places.

The Class 2 sixth race should be a very interesting event to watch. Ten contenders will line up at the 1100m mark on the Poly and its RIVER RADIANCE who gets the nod for first. The son of Rip Van Winkle has picked up 4 wins from 7 outings and he comes here on the back of a solid effort at Group 3 level last time out. That was from a tough draw and from gate 6 here, he looks a game challenger and should be involved in the finish.  NOWYOUSEE beat the top selection last time out, when going start to finish, but he carries and additional 5,5kg over the former this time and that will make things tougher. He is drawn well and should be worth considering once again, albeit for minor money.

Back in Class 5 company for the seventh race and it’s the Gray owned and trained, MILITARY CHAIRMAN, who makes the top pick. The son of South African based stallion, Time Thief, he has slipped in the ratings and off his current mark of 45 he should win again soon. Rodd takes the mount from a slightly better draw and having faced tougher prior to the break, he’s the one to beat with this being his peak run back. The top-weighted GOLD KINGDOM has consistent form and he should fight out the minor money.

The eighth and final race on the card looks an open affair. WATCH OUT BOSS has returned with some solid form this term and he will be looking to add another win to that tally of two from eleven. He has a wide barrier to negate, but he does like to come from off the pace and with a brisk one expected, he will be flashing home late. Woodworth sticks with the mount and that will give his followers all the confidence they need. If he gets it wrong, TOOSBIES could pick up the pieces. He is a lass dropper and if finding better luck in running, he should make a race of it. Duric takes the mount for the inform Le Grange yard and they must be considered, as always.