Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Canterbury on 17 April 2024.
Best Bet: BRIASA (Race 6)
Value Bet: GOLD REVOLVER (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 13 | 1 | 3 |
11 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
7 | 7 | 9 | |
| 1 | ||
5 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
EARTH DANCE has only had three runs to date, recording a win in his penultimate start over ten furlongs by three lengths in the UK and then finishing fourth in his first start in Australia over seven furlongs, 2.8L behind the winner, when returning from a 27-week break. He was slow away that day, but made good late progress over the closing stages, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. The gelding jumps from gate seven and could be too good for this field.
NATURAL DEDUCTION finished strongly to win his last start over a mile by two and a half lengths, this despite jumping awkwardly bumping another runner. The gelding struck the front at the 100M mark to win going away and will be having his peak run here after returning from a 17-week break. From his handy draw four, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
FOR VICTORY was bumped at the start and came four wide into the home straight when ending up in third place last time out over a mile, 3.8L back from the victor. He stayed on well in that event and jumping from a useful gate two, he should be included in all bets.
Race 6
BRIASA is two for two and could be almost anything, winning over six furlongs on debut and then again over the same c&d by 1.3L next time out. He finished strongly for a well time win and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding would have come on further with that run under his belt and from a cosy draw three, the hat-trick is very much on the cards, and he is made the best bet on the day’s card.
BALKANS had solid form prior to being a tad disappointing when finishing seventh last time out over six furlongs, 7.3L adrift of the winner, but he has won a subsequent barrier trial. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his handy draw four, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.
CAPTAIN AMELIA on the other hand has a wide gate twelve to deal with. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she hung in down the home straight when ending up in eighth spot last time out over seven furlongs, seven lengths off the winner and was immediately rested for 23 weeks. She returns here after having had the benefit of two barrier trials and the booking of champion jockey James McDonald catches the eye.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, GOLD REVOLVER is a five-time winner from nine starts and goes for his hat-trick after two victories over 1100M, the latest by one and a half-length, when going from gun to tape. He has cracked pole position and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and could prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages.
SIR RAVANELLI finished well from some way back to end up in third spot last time out over five furlongs, just over four lengths behind the winner. The gelding has a useful draw four and if able to race closer to the pace today, he should be a big runner in this line-up.
SMASHING EAGLE is drawn one outside the latter and is seldom far off the action, finishing fifth last time out over seven furlongs, 1.8L lengths back from the winner, but he came four wide into the home stretch on that occasion, before being hampered at the 100M mark, so he has his excuses. The gelding returns from a 17-week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he is likely to turn in another honest performance today.
Race 8
This looks to be a tricky F&M Handicap to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative top pick is QUEEN OF THE MILE who put her disappointing penultimate start over 1100M behind her when finishing fourth next time out over six furlongs, just one length back from the winner, notwithstanding jumping awkwardly. She returns from a 21-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, winning them both to showcase her well-being. The filly has pulled a useful draw two and will be hoping to build on that last effort to secure her fourth career victory.
LOVERO won over 1100M three runs back, finished fifth in her penultimate start over the same sprint trip and then sixth in her latest outing over six furlongs, just over six lengths back from the winner. She was bumped at the start of that event, but stayed on over the closing stages. The mare will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven, but she will be hoping to repeat her best efforts over his distance today to trouble the former.
ADMONISH jumped awkwardly bumping another runner, but made good late progress to end up in seventh spot last time out over 1100M, 3.7L behind the winner. She on the other hand gets a tidy gate three and should not be overlooked in this line-up.
