Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Monday's racing coming your way from Norwa on 26 February 2024.
Best Bet: OPEN SKY (Race 5)
Value Bet: FLYING FLOSSY (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
9 |
| 11 | 3 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
UP TO ME has finished second in his last two runs, the latest over 1300M, where he was beaten just a short-head, this after having to weave his way through traffic down the home straight. The gelding has a wide draw nine, but he should be doing his best work late.
DEVGRU raced three wide without cover when finishing sixth last time out over a mile, six lengths adrift of the winner. He did not quite stay on over the latter stages that day, suggesting that the drop in distance would be to his liking. From his handy gate three he should be right up there when they hit the line.
MISS ARTFIRE is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she showed marked improvement to finish second last time out over six furlongs, 3.3L behind the winner, but she did lose a length at the start that day, before making good late progress over the closing stages. She jumps from gate five and should be included in all bets.
Race 5
OPEN SKY has won two of his last three outings, the latest over a mile by 1.3L and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He struck the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 21-week rest and from his handy draw four, he is made the best bet on the day’s card.
KENICHI is seldom far off the action, finishing fifth last time out over nine furlongs, just under three and a half lengths back from the winner, but that was at a stronger centre, and he was crowded shortly after the start and came the widest of them all into the home straight. The gelding is drawn one outside the top pick and could emerge as his biggest danger.
SYCAMORE is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she showed solid improvement to win her last start over 1300M by two and a half lengths, when having her first start for her new trainer and the form of that race has been franked. She will have to negotiate the widest draw of them all in gate nine, but will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
MISSILE SEEKER has consistent formlines to his name and was slow away and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 300M mark, before finishing well to end up in third spot last time out over seven furlongs, just 1.3L behind the winner. He jumps from a cosy draw three and will be hoping to chalk up his second career victory here.
Two 4-year-old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to DISCREET MISS who has won two of her last four starts and followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a tenth place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, 5.7L back from the winner, but she did come four wide into the home stretch in that event. The filly faces a wide gate nine, but on the plus side, she will have 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
PLAY MY SONG has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when second over six furlongs, just a neck behind the winner. She tried to go from jump to wire that day, only to be grabbed in the shadow of the post and from draw six, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today. She will also have her first run for her new trainer after returning from a 15-week rest and if fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here.
Race 7
Two 4-year-old fillies and a 6-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s value bet, FLYING FLOSSY is taken to lead the field home. She won her penultimate start over a mile and was returning from a 25-week spell and had to be eased at the 1000M mark before shifting out down the home straight when finishing third last time out over 1300M, just over a length and a half behind the winner. She has cracked pole position and will have the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice.
DENI GAL delivered a powerful finish from some way back to end up in second place last time out over seven furlongs, three lengths off the winner. She has pulled draw five and can be expected to turn in another honest performance here.
FERRARI GIRL missed out on her hat-trick after victories over six and seven furlongs when finishing second last time out again over seven furlongs, just a half length behind the winner. She tried to go from gun to tape that day and whilst draw wide in gate ten, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. The filly will also have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.
