Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Gosford on 4 April 2024.
Best Bet: RAPIDO (Race 6)
Value Bet: SICILIAN (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
3 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
1 | 7 |
| 3 |
5 |
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6 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 4
A small but competitive field starts off the day’s Jackpot, so some caution is advised. GULF OF TOMINI has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second in his last two starts, the latest over nine furlongs, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He ran on from some way back that day and from draw eight, he should be doing his best work late.
SILENT RUSSIAN has cracked pole position and is the stable companion of the top choice. He showed solid improvement to win his last start over 1700M, albeit by just a short-head. He was hampered at the start that day, but delivered a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post. The gelding will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should enjoy going the extra ground on offer here. He makes a solid backup for the yard.
OLYMPIC THEATRE ran on well from the rear of the field when ending up in fifth place last time out over nine furlongs, 5.3L adrift of the victor. He gets a handy draw two and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and should be included in all bets.
Race 5
CROSS YOUR HEART goes for her hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest over six furlongs by 0.8L, this despite coming three wide into the home straight. She faces a wide draw thirteen, but on the plus side, she will have 2kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.
IMPULSIVITY has won two of her last three starts, the latest over six furlongs by 0,8L. She struck the front at the 250M pole and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has been franked and from her kinder gate five, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
WATCH MY GIRL won over six furlongs three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1500M and then third in her latest outing over seven furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner. She tried to go from jump to wire that day and from her wide draw sixteen, she is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today. The filly does return from a 17-week break, but she has had two barrier trials, finishing third in them both to showcase her well-being.
Race 6
RAPIDO had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over six furlongs by putting 4.3L between himself and the opposition. He came three wide into the home straight in that event, but kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark to win going away. The gelding has his first run after a 24-week spell, but has finished second in both of his barrier trials to showcase his well-being and from his useful draw two, he is made the best bet on the day’s card.
DAGON followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a fourth-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, just over a half-length back from the winner, but it should be noted that he came three wide into the home straight on that occasion and was bumped at the 100m mark, so he had his excuses. The gelding has pulled gate six and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
LION CLASS has posted two solid last runs, the latest when second over 1100M, beaten just a head, this after racing wide without cover, but still managing to produce a powerful finish over the closing stages and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding jumps from a wideish draw eight, but he should nevertheless still be involved in the finish.
Race 7
SICILIAN is a 3-year-old filly taking on males, but she won over five furlongs three runs back, finished third in her penultimate start over 1100M and was then a tad disappointing to end up eleventh in her latest outing over the same trip, just under four lengths behind the winner, but she was crowded at the 200M mark in that event. She has her first start after a 28-week spell but has had the benefit of three barrier trials, finishing fourth in the latest. She is sure to put her pole position to good use and is taken to be the value bet on the day.
UNSTOPABULL overraced in the middle stages and came four wide into the home straight, before being bumped in the concluding stages to finish third last time out over five furlongs, just a neck behind the winner, so can be considered an unlucky loser. The gelding has a cosy draw four and will be hoping to make amends here.
DRUMS OF WAR has his hat-trick run after two victories over five furlongs, the latest by just a short-head. He returns from a shorter 24-week absence, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and winning the latest. The gelding has pulled gate seven and the trio is very much on the cards.
