Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Newcastle on 17 January 2023.
Best Bet: INFINITIVE (Race 4)
Value Bet: ACOSTA (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
1 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2 |
|
|
Cost: R72.00
Race 4
INFINITIVE has finished fourth in her first two outings, on debut over 1100M and then over six furlongs next time, 5.2L behind the winner, but she finished strongly from some way back that day suggesting that she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. The form of that race has also been franked and from her handy draw three, she is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
EAU DE VIE finished well when ending up in third place first time out over 1300M, 2.2L back from the winner. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. She does face a wide draw twelve out of thirteen, but she should be doing her best work late.
LADY TOWNSON has had the two runs to date, finishing second on debut over six furlongs and then sixth last time out over the same sprint trip, eight lengths adrift of the victor, when returning from a 22-week break, but she had to be eased at the 1000M mark in that contest, which did her cause no good. She gets gate six and she would have come on further with that run under her belt and should be involved in the finish. There is an unraced runner in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether her connection believe that she can win first time out. Any betting support for her should be respected.
Race 5
As with the previous race, there are a number of unraced runners in this contest, so the same comment in respect of keeping an eye on the betting moves applies here as well. SAN LUCIDO has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when third over 1300M, two and a half lengths off of the victor. He was returning from a 21-week break that day and came five wide into the home straight before ending off his race well. He faces a wide draw fourteen, but given his style of racing, he 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.
BIAS showed plenty of toe when finishing fourth first time out over 1100M, 2.3L behind the winner. He would have come on with that outing and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
DIACO showed marked improvement when finishing third last time out over 1300m, just a neck behind the winner, this despite coming four wide into the home stretch. The gelding will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week spell and will have to overcome a wide draw thirteen, but on the plus side, he will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 6
SILK TIE is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had consistent form over shorter trips prior to finishing a somewhat disappointing eighth last time out when stepping up to seven furlongs, five and a half lengths back from the winner. She did race three wide without cover in that event before coming four wide into the home straight and will have to negotiate draw seven, but she should do better here over what appears to be a more suitable trip.
CHEERFUL LEGEND was returning from a 24-week spell and was slow away when ending up in fifth spot last time out over six furlongs, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He will have to deal with a wide gate thirteen, but nevertheless, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
GEEWIZ JOHNNY has posted two solid last runs, the latest when third over six furlongs, 0.7L back from the victor. He raced three wide without cover that day and came four wide into the home stretch, before hanging out over the final 200M, bumping another runner several time over the closing stages. The gelding has pulled a useful gate three and will have ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, ACOSTA hit the front at the top of the straight and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to claim a one-and-a-half length victory when making his debut over 1300M. He has a wideish draw eight and takes on stronger here, but he may well be up to the task at hand.
SHOWTIME LADY is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she won over 1300M three runs back, finished a close up sixth in her penultimate start over 1500M, before ending up in twelfth place last time out over a mile, 10.4L adrift of the winner, but it should be noted that she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, so that effort is best ignored. From draw six and with having 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice, she should give the boys a good run for their money.
DIAMOND TIPPED had to be checked shortly after the start and then steadied at the 1000M pole before finishing third last time out over 1300M, just under a length behind the winner. He faces a wide draw 14, but he should be doing his best work late and should be included in all bets.
