Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Hawkesbury on 1 August 2024.
Best Bet: FAKHRA (Race 5)
Value Bet: PRESIDES (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
9 | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| 1 | 11 | 8 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
FAKHRA is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name finishing fourth last time out over 1400M, just over a half-length behind the winner. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, but she could prove too strong for this field and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
COMIC CULTURE has only had two runs to date, finishing fifth on debut over 1200M, 3.5L behind the winner and then showing the expected improvement to again finish fifth, but this time, just over one and a half lengths back from the victor. From his handy draw two, he could prove to be the biggest danger to the top pick.
AL RAS BLUES has cracked pole position and came three wide into the home straight, but chased hard to end up in third place last time out over 1800M, three and a half lengths off the winner. The form of that race has been franked and he should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but STILL ALICE gets the nod for top spot. She is seldom far off the action, finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, just under one and a half lengths back from the winner, but she did race five wide without cover that day, before still managing to stay on well over the closing stages. She gets a useful draw four and is likely to turn in another honest performance today.
PARTY DOLL had solid form prior to finishing sixth last time out over 1200M, 10.8L adrift of the winner, but she was reported to had not acted in the very heavy going that day, so that effort is best ignored. From her useful draw two, but she will be hoping to bounce back to her better form here.
CONTRIVED had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over 1000M, albeit by just a short-head when having his first run for his new trainer and returning from a 37-week break. The gelding jumps from gate seven and will have ex-SA jockey Brandon Lerena in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, PRESIDES followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a third-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, just a neck back from the winner, this despite being slow away and coming four wide into the home straight. The form of that last race has been franked and from his cosy draw two, he could prove hard to topple.
HOUSE OF CARDS won over 1200M three runs back, finished fifth in his penultimate start over 1300M and then third in his latest outing over 1400M, 3.8L behind the winner. The gelding returns from a 28-week break, but has had three barrier trials, winning the latest and from one gate outside the top pick, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
LAUREL HILL is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she showed solid improvement to win her last start over 1200M by one and a half lengths, when having her first run for her new trainer and returning from a 21-week break. The mare has pulled gate five and will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and could be good enough to complete a quick double.
Race 8
STRAPPARSI is a 5-year-old mare taking on males, but she won over 1200M three runs back, finished fifth in her penultimate start over the same trip and then third in his latest outing over the same c&d, just under a half-length behind the winner, but she was hampered at the start in that event and again at the 200M pole, so she had her excuses. She has a handy draw three and will get the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice. The mare has her first run after an 18-week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials.
LADY SHENANIGANS has finished second in two of his last three runs, the latest over 1100M, 0.8L behind the winner. He kept chasing on that occasion and from one gate outside the top pick and having 3kgs removed from his allocated weight thanks to his claiming apprentice, he will be hoping to go one better today.
LA BOQUERIA is a 4-year-old filly and the stable companion of the top choice. She finished ninth last time out over 900M, just over three and a half lengths back from the victor, but she three wide throughout before coming five wide into the home stretch. She in turn is drawn one outside the latter and makes a solid back-up for the yard.
