Race 7
OSIPENKO has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when second over 2000M, beaten just a short-head, this despite being bumped shortly after the start, so he can be considered an unlucky loser. He gets a handy draw two and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SALTCOATS is the stable companion of the top choice and goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1800M and the latest over 2000M by 1.2L. He struck the front at the 200M mark to win going away and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning.
The gelding has a wideish draw eight, but he makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard. REDBREAST did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when finishing fourth last time out over 1600M, 2,2L back from the winner. With better luck in running, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 8
CIGAR FLICK is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and although recorded as finishing seventh last time out over 1200M, she was just over a lengths back from the winner, this after being hampered at the 50M mark. She has a useful draw four and could provide the trainer/jockey combination of Chris Waller and champion James McDonald with the first two winners in the day’s Jackpot.
MIDNIGHT OPAL followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a sixth place finish next time out when stepping up to 1400M, just under six lengths back from the winner, but he overraced in the early and middle stages in that event and not surprisingly had nothing to come over the closing stages.
The gelding jumps from gate six and should be right up there when they hit the line. DISNECK completed this hat-trick after three victories over 1200M, the latest by 1.8L. He finished strongly from some way back on that occasion and from a cozy draw three, he should be included in all bets.
Race 9
BUNKER HUT has finished second in his last three runs, the latest over 1400M, beaten just a half-length. He hit the front at the 200M pole that day, only to be grabbed late. From his handy draw three and with 2kgs being taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he looks to be the one to side with here.
HIGH BLUE SEA had to be held up between the 400M and 250M mark, but still managed to win his last start over 1400M by a half-length and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding is drawn one outside the top pick and will be having his peak run after returning from a 12 week rest.
SILENT IMPACT showed solid improvement to finish third in his latest outing over 1500M. 0.8L off the victor. He raced just behind the leaders and then made good late progress over the closing stages. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a longer 30 week break and should not be easily overlooked.
Race 10
The day’s value bet, COSMONOVA is a 4yr old filly bumping males, but she missed out on her hat-trick after wins over 1100M and 1200M when finishing second last time out back over 1200M, just a half length behind the winner. She was returning from a 22 week break that day and battled all the way down to the wire. The filly has cracked pole position and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.
BOSTON ROCKS won over 1000M three runs back, finished second in his penultimate start over the same c&d and then third in his latest outing over 1100M, 1.7L behind the winner, but he raced three wide throughout cover and hung in over the closing stages, so he had his excuses. The gelding has pulled gate six and will be having his peak run after returning from a 12 week rest.
SPRING LEE is another 4yr old filly in the race and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 800M mark when overracing, but still managed to win her last start over 1100M, albeit by just a head.
She returns here after a 19-week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and winning the latest. The filly will have to overcome a wide draw fourteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.