Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Grafton on 22 February 2024.
Best Bet: TWILIGHT ROCK (Race 9)
Value Bet: BRAVEZEL (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 6 – 9)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
9 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
4 | 5 | 1 |
|
6 | 3 |
|
|
2 | 6 |
|
|
Cost: R150.00
Race 6
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believes that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners, BOAMBEE BEACH may prove to be the best. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position and has finished second in her last two runs, the latest over five furlongs, just a length behind the winner. She shifted out at the start bumping another runner that day and gets cheek pieces re-fitted today. If this move has the desired effect, she should be a big runner here, with 2kgs being taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.
MR DAMAGE has only had three runs to date and has not been too far off the winner in each of them, ending up in third place last time out over five furlongs, just over a length and a half behind the winner. He sat just behind the leaders in that event and then stayed on well over the closing stages. From his handy draw four, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
MOFEED is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over six furlongs, just under two lengths back from the winner. He showed plenty of toe that day and should enjoy the drop in trip. The gelding faces a wide draw thirteen, but he gets blinkers re-fitted and will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. He should also use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 7
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. MARLEEDOONE is a 6yr old mare taking on males, but she had solid form to her name prior to finishing a disappointing ninth last time out over six furlongs, 5.7L adrift of the victor, but that was at a stronger centre, and she was slow away. The mare has a wideish draw eight, but she looks to be the pick of the field.
THE ASTRONOMER won over five furlongs three runs back, finished seventh in his penultimate start over 1100M and then a creditable second in his latest outing over 1100M, just a half-length back from the winner when returning from a 26-week break. The gelding will have to overcome the widest draw of them all in gate fourteen, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.
WATCHGUARD is the stable companion of the latter and also won three runs back, but in his case over 1100M, finished fifth in his penultimate start over five furlongs and then sixth in his latest outing over six furlongs, 11.7L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger center and had nothing go his way that day. He jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner and was then hampered at the 250M pole, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 26-week spell and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, on the plus side, he will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and makes a solid backup for the yard.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, BRAVEZEL goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1300M and the latest over six furlongs, albeit by just a head. He was slow away that day but finished the best and the form of that race has been franked. From his useful draw two and getting the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice, he will be hoping to notch up his third career victory.
HEAVY DUTY followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over 1100M, 1.7L back from the winner, but he came the widest of them all into the home straight on that occasion, before delivering a powerful finish from some way back and on that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. The gelding jumps from a cosy gate four and will be having his peak run after returning from a 24-week break.
WONDERWHEN is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she jumped awkwardly and was reported to have not acted on the very heavy going when finishing seventh last time out over seven furlongs, just over five lengths behind the winner, so a line can be drawn through that outing. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be included in all bets.
Race 9
TWILIGHT ROCK has consistent form lines to his credit and tried to go from gun to tape when ending up in third spot last time out over 1300M, just over a length back from the winner. He was only snared late, and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding has pulled draw seven and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SMILE UPON A STAR is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when fourth over seven furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner. She overraced in the early and middle stages that day, but still managed to finish off her race well. Given a wide draw ten, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race and could be the biggest danger to the top pick.
ALBANJO has won two of his last four runs, the latest over seven furlongs by just under a half-length. He hit the front at the top of the home straight in that contest and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding jumps from gate five and should be involved in the finish.
