Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Canterbury on 9 February 2024.
Best Bet: UNUSUAL LEGACY (Race 5)
Value Bet: ROYAL INVADER (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
7 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
| 2 | 7 | 11 |
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| 10 |
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| 7 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
UNUSUAL LEGACY has only had three runs to date, winning two of them, the latest over nine furlongs by putting two and a half lengths between himself and the opposition. He came three wide into the home straight that day, but struck the front at the 250M mark to record a comfortable victory. The gelding has a wide draw ten, but nevertheless is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
RING AHOY is the stable companion to the top choice and jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner, but finished off his race strongly from some way back to win by one and a half lengths last time out over 1900M. From his kinder draw three, he could prove to be the biggest threat to the top pick and makes a solid backup for the powerful Chris Waller yard.
NOTABADBUY had finished second in his two runs prior to winning his latest outing over a mile by a neck. He was returning from a lengthy 62-week spell on that occasion, but kicked clear of the field at the top of the home straight, before lasting just long enough to claim his third career victory. He has a wideish draw eight, but nevertheless, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
Two 5-year-old mares could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but WINNING VERSE is taken to lead the field home. She is seldom too far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over six furlongs, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner, but she raced three wide without cover in that event, before staying on well over the closing stages, so that effort was encouraging. She has her peak run after returning from a 20-week rest and could provide jockey Kerrin McEvoy with the first two winners of the day’s Jackpot.
RUPERTAAR jumped awkwardly and raced wide throughout, but still managed to battle all the way down to the wire to finish third in her latest outing over six furlongs, just under a half-length back from the winner. She gets a handy draw three and should be right up there when they hit the line.
DEHORNED UNICORN was hampered at the start, but stayed on well over the latter stages to end up in fourth place last time out over six furlongs, 4.7L off the victor. He has pulled draw seven and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, ROYAL INVADER was crowded on the home turn, but stayed on well to finish third last time out over 1100M, 3.3L adrift of the winner. She has a useful draw three and with better luck in running, she could prove hard to topple.
RIVA D’AMOR has finished second in her last two starts, the latest over six furlongs, beaten just a half-length, but she had to be held up approaching the home turn, so that effort was encouraging. She is drawn one inside the top pick and will be hoping to go one better today.
ALWAYS IN has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, 0.7L back from the winner. She hit the front at the 200M mark in that event and was only collared late. Whilst jumping from a wideish draw eight, she should be included in all bets.
Race 8
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. ROUSSILLON was held up at the entrance to the home stretch and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when ending up in seventh spot last time out over 1100M, 2.7L behind the winner. He has had two subsequent barrier trials, finishing fourth in the latest and from a cosy draw and with non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd in the irons, he could be the one that they all have to beat.
SHALAILED has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over six furlongs, just over a length and a half behind the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his wideish draw seven, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today. He does have his peak run for his new trainer after returning from a 27-week spell.
REMEDIES is the stable mate to the top pick and is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys. She was a tad disappointing when finishing seventh last time out over five furlongs, 6.8L behind the winner and was immediately rested for 39 weeks. She returns here after having had the benefit of four barrier trials and from one gate outside the latter, she makes a useful back-up for the yard.
