Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Canterbury on Wednesday, July 22nd.
Tim Geers is back from a freshen up and ready to tackle the seven-race card in Sydney this afternoon. The track is a heavy 8 with the rail in the true position. Recent meetings at Canterbury have been dominated by those able to find the rail in the run, so take note of how the track plays early.
Find Tim's preview and betting tips below!
Canterbury Racing Tips: Wednesday, July 22nd
Best Bet: Race 5 – (1) Ghostly E/W
Best Value: Race 2 – (12) Vintage Harvest
(9) Yardstick debuts here having won his past couple of trials and he should be very hard to run down if he finds the front and the rail as expected. Those on the rail have been heavily advantaged in recent meetings here at Canterbury so if he gets there without too much trouble, he’ll likely lead throughout. I think the value is the Matthew Dunn-trained (7) Magic Ruler who draws barrier 1 and will definitely be rails in run. He was very heavily supported on debut but just found one better. I think he’s got ability and with the right run he can be competitive at each way odds.
Value: (7) Magic Ruler $9.00
(12) Vintage Harvest has trialled well leading into her debut here and she comes up with the all-important barrier 1 for Robbie Dolan and Mark Newnham. It’s a competitive field but she will get the right run and at each way odds. (11) Tiny has also trialled well for the Godolphin camp and she comes into barrier 2 after scratchings. If she finds the rail, she’s going to be right in the finish. (2) Embeller resumes and she ran 3rd behind Doubtland on debut, which is a very strong formline, while (4) Joviality had no luck last start in a race which has already produced a subsequent winner.
(12) Vintage Harvest E/W
$10
(6) Nishka hugged the rails to earn a deserved win at Hawkesbury last start, which followed two luckless runs to open her campaign. The form out of her first up run behind Bound To Win has been very good and that looks a very solid reference for a midweek race like this. She will get back but hopefully she finds the rails and stays there. (3) Peace Of Mind is racing well but where she gets to from barrier 8 is the concern. (4) Celtic Love can be thrown into exotics.
Whether (11) Somnus can find the rails here is the query but on form he looks the one to beat. He had no luck two starts ago but he atoned for that with a dominant win at Newcastle last time out. (6) Lord Gododdin gets the blinkers on for the first time, as well as a 3kg claim for Louise Day, but he’s had ample opportunities to win one this prep and has continually come up short. I backed (5) Dalmatia Prince last start and thought he was poor but he does get the aid of barrier 1 here which should be advantageous.
Something on two at each way odds here. (1) Ghostly will get back a little bit but he draws barrier 1 and that’s likely to be advantageous. He’s been racing well and is knocking on the door for a win, with consecutive placings at Rosehill and Warwick Farm. He’s got a good record at this track and distance and he gets every chance from the draw today. (3) Manhattan Mist ran a big race first up after being caught three-wide the trip, fighting on to be beaten a nose by Darleb. He’s won twice before when second up and should run well again. (10) Suave won his first two starts and resumes from a spell today. If he leads he will be tough to beat. (11) Best Stone will find this easier but has a very tricky draw.
Value: (3) Manhattan Mist $9.50
The market is likely to tell the story with (1) Knickpoint, who resumes as a gelding today. He comes into barrier 8 of 8 after all the scratchings so tactics will be interesting. If the rail is playing hot, I’d expect them to drop out to last and stick to the paint. So long as he’s solid in the market, he should be hard to beat, but if he gets the blows I’d be very wary. (8) Worldly Pleasure isn’t hopeless in this, especially if they lead. She ran 3rd to Spaceboy first up and although beaten a fair way, that’s proven to be a very decent formline. I’d love to see them take up the running because they’ve done that with success here in the past.
Value: (8) Worldly Pleasure $13
Not often I’m keen on an Anthony Cummings runner at Cantebury – he’s trained just one winner from 26 starters here this season – but (11) This Is So draws barrier 1 on what’s been a very rails-biased track recently. He resumed with a good effort first up at Kensington, beaten less than a length, he won second up in his first prep and the rise in trip should suit him. (4) Chocolatier is better suited back to Canterbury today and should find the rails and the lead, so he’ll be competitive from there and looks value at $11. (5) Bentley Magic won well despite sitting wide last start. Won’t have that problem from barrier 2 today and looks hard to beat again.
Value: (4) Chocolatier $11
