Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Gilgandra on 7 January 2024.
Best Bet: RAGING RUSH (Race 5)
Value Bet: MS REEVES (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
3 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
2 | 1 | 8 | |
| 10 | ||
9 |
|
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
RAGING RUSH won over 1100M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over five furlongs and then sixth in his latest outing over 1100M, three and a half lengths behind the winner, but he stayed on well that day and will be having his peak run after returning from a 23-week break. He has pulled gate five and although returning from an 11-week rest, without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, he still looks to be too strong for this field and as such, it taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
BEAUCHAMP is the stable companion to the top choice and tried to go from jump to wire when finishing third last time out over six furlongs, 0.7L back from the winner. He was only grabbed over the final 100M, and his jockey was reported to have dropped his crop. The gelding is drawn one outside the top pick and makes a solid back-up for the yard.
PRALINE is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys and had solid form prior to finishing a disappointing tenth in her latest outing over seven furlongs, 6.2L off the victor, but she was slow away that day and never really got into a fast run race. She has a handy draw three and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
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. PRECIOUS SOCKS is a 6-year-old mare taking on males, but she showed plenty of toe and kicked clear of the opposition at the top of the home straight to win her last start over five furlongs by 1.8L. She jumps from gate six and will have 1,5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
ROCKIN’ EDITION is a speedy sort who raced three wide throughout before fading over the final 100M to end up in sixth place last time out over five furlongs, three and a half lengths adrift of the winner. The gelding faces a wide draw sixteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
OBSESSIVE NATURE showed good improvement to win his last start over five furlongs by two lengths. He sat just behind the leaders in that event and then accelerated well to record a comfortable victory. From his useful draw four and with the services of a 1,5kg claiming apprentice, he should not be easily overlooked.
Race 7
NOT TOO BAD has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third-place finish next time out over nine furlongs, 1.2L back from the winner. He overraced towards the rear of the field in that contest and hung in from the 400m pole, so he had his excuses. The gelding has a cozy draw four and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways here.
ATHENA’S LAD put his disappointing penultimate start over a mile behind him when winning by one and a half lengths next time out over the same journey. He delivered a powerful finish that day and the form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding is drawn one inside the former and will be having his peak run after returning from a lengthy 48-week spell.
MACCHINA VOLANTE has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over a mile, 1.3L behind the winner. He struck the front at the entrance to the home stretch that day and stayed on well over the closing stages, only to be run out of it late. From gate six, he should be included in all bets.
Race 8
A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, MS REEVES is taken to lead the field home. She had finished second in her two runs prior to winning her latest start over 1100M, albeit by just a head, but she did lose a length at the start in that event and had to weave her way through traffic down the home straight, so that effort was encouraging. The form of that race has been franked and she jumps from gate seven.
RUBI AIR won her penultimate outing over 1100M and was crowded at the start and then raced three wide without cover and understandably had little to offer over the latter stages to end up in sixth spot last time out over six furlongs, four and a half-length behind the winner. She has a cosy draw four and should be right up there when they hit the line.
NANNU is the stable mate to the latter and also won his penultimate outing, but in his case over seven furlongs and then was slow away and overraced in the early stages when finishing second next time out over five furlongs, two lengths back from the victor. The gelding was having his first run for his new trainer and returning from a 13-week rest that day and would have come on further with that run under his belt. He jumps from a wideish gate eight but makes a genuine backup for the yard.
