Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Port Macquarie on 29 May 2023.
Best Bet: EQUIVOCAL (Race 8)
Value Bet: BANTARKI (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
2 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
5 | 1 | 5 |
|
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
BANTARKI had to be held up approaching the home turn and eased off the heels of another runner at the 150M mark and his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight when finishing eighth last time out over six furlongs, 3.2L behind the winner. That was also at a stronger centre and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He is drawn in gate seven and will be looking to record his second career victory today. As such, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
NARNIA has posted two solid last runs, the latest when second over 1512M, just a length behind the winner. He was bumped at the start that day but made good late progress over the closing stages. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 14-week rest and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, he should be doing his best work late.
MISCHIEVOUS MOLLY is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had finished second in her three runs prior to winning her latest outing over 1500M by 1.2L. She gets draw five and should turn in another honest performance here.
Race 6
OCTOBER REVOLUTION has consistent formlines to his name and jumped awkwardly to find himself at the back of the field before delivering a powerful finish to just fail to overhaul the winner in the shadow of the post to record a head defeat last time out over five furlongs. The gelding faces a wide draw nine, but he should produce another decent effort today.
TELEGRAPH had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. He jumped awkwardly in that event and raced three wide throughout, before striking the front at the 125M mark and then holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From a handy draw three, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
IOBJECT is a two-time winner from just the four starts, the latest victory coming over six furlongs by a neck and the form of that race has been franked. He returns from an 18-week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he is drawn one outside the latter and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 7
DARCI DIVA is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she won over 1100M three runs back and then put her disappointing next start over six furlongs behind her when finishing second in her latest outing over 1250M, just over a length and a half behind the winner. She had to be held up on straightening in that event but finished off her race well. From draw six, she looks to be the one to side with here.
LAMBDOMA ENERGY came three wide approaching the home turn, but battled all the way down to the wire to win his latest outing over five furlongs by a half-length. The gelding has a useful gate two and could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.
JAMESONHEART stayed on well when third last time out over five furlongs, just over a length back from the victor, when returning from a 23-week spell and a change of trainer. He faces a wide draw twelve, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much energy.
Race 8
The day’s best bet, EQUIVOCAL is a 3yr old filly taking on boys, but she was slow away and overraced in the early stages, before coming three wide into the home stretch to win her maiden race last time out over six furlongs by 1.7L. That was her first run for her new trainer, so she had clearly settled into her new environment quickly. She takes on stronger here, but she could well be up to the task at hand and seems sure to put her pole position to good use.
ROMMEL’S WOLF showed solid improvement to win his last start over five furlongs by just under a half-length, when having his first outing for his new trainer. He jumped awkwardly before settling towards the back of the field, but finished strongly to win going away. The gelding jumps from gate six and could be the biggest threat to the top choice.
ASSIDUITY jumped awkwardly when finishing seventh last time out over 1100M, just over five and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but that was his first run for his new conditioner and he was returning from a 19-week break during which time he was gelded. The form of that race has however been franked and he gets the blinkers removed for the first time. Although having to deal with a wide gate twelve, he should nevertheless be involved in the finish.
