Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Coffs Harbour on 22 Janaury 2024.
Best Bet: MY MUM’S TOYBOY (Race 5)
Value Bet: SCOTLAND (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
3 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
1 |
| 12 | 5 |
8 |
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5 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 4
This looks to be a tricky race to start 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. AL ASH LAD however goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1550M and the latest over 1500M by just under a half length, this after jumping awkwardly, bumping another runner. He recovered quickly to pick up the lead and then fought off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He returns from a 17-week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials.
UNCERTAIN TERMS won over five furlongs three runs back, finished eleventh in his penultimate start over six furlongs and then fourth in his latest outing over 1100M, just over two and a half lengths behind the winner, but he was hampered at the start. The gelding faces a wide draw 11, but will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
DEBUSSY was returning from a 13-week break and was slow away, but stayed on well when finishing third last time out over 900M, just under two lengths back from the victor. He has pulled a wideish gate eight, but the extra ground on offer here should be to his liking.
Race 5
MY MUM’S TOYBOY has only had two runs to date, winning over five furlongs on debut and then finishing second next time out over the same C&D, just a head back from the winner, but he was hampered at the 100M. The resultant objection against the winner for that interference was however overruled and the original result was allowed to stand. The gelding has a handy draw four and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could chase him home, with the slight preference going to SOARING PHOENIX, who has also only had the two runs, winning on debut over five furlongs and then finishing second over the same sprint trip next time out, just a head off the winner, but she was slow away that day, raced green throughout and was then hampered at the 200M mark, so can be considered an unlucky loser. She faces a wide draw fifteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.
HUSS ON FIRST stayed on well when finishing third in her latest outing over 1100M, 1.2L behind the winner,r when returning from a 19-week absence and having her third run for her new trainer. She jumps from a wide gate ten, but she should be doing her best work late and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
PONTE VECCHIO followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third-place finish next time out over the same c&d, four lengths back from the winner when trying to go from jump to wire. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate sixteen, but he is likely to attempt the same front-running tactics today.
CRAZY ABOUT YOU was returning from a lengthy 45-week spell when finishing nineth last time out over seven furlongs, just under five lengths adrift of the victor. He would have come on further with that run under his belt and will be hoping to bounce back to the form that saw him winning three runs back.
NEVER ISLAND is drawn one outside the latter and is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys. She jumped awkwardly and had to be held up at the top of the home straight when finishing fifth last time out over 1300M, 2.8L behind the winner. That was however at a stronger centre, and she will be having her peak run after returning from a 19-week break. As such, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, SCOTLAND has his hat-trick run after a win over this C&D and the latest over 1300M by 1.3L when delivering a powerful finish over the closing stages. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw eleven, but he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.
CROWIE’S SHOUT showed marked improvement to win his last start over six furlongs by 2.8L. He struck the front at the entrance to the home straight and the result was never in doubt from that point. He has a useful draw four and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.
STRATUM CHIEF is seldom too far off the action, finishing sixth last time out over six furlongs, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start. He recovered quickly to pick up the lead, only to be run out of it late. The gelding is drawn one outside the latter and returns from a 22 week absence, but has won both of his barrier trials to prove his well-being.
