Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, August 19th.
We start the new week off with horse racing at Ballarat and Grafton. Luke Krahe has singled out his three best bets of the day below!
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, August 18th
Ballarat Race 4 (Market)
(11) Snapdancer has only been to the races once, but she has that advantage of it being on a synthetic surface and she really seemed to handle it well. She was poorly away at Pakenham, over-raced early and through the mid-stages before running on well into second with a big margin to third. She is drawn well in two and should be able to settle a little closer, the extra 100m also looks to suit the way she ran on at her debut. The two sangers look to be the two debutants, (10) Carmen Sandiego from the Mitch Freedman stable and the McEvoy gelding (7) Ragamuffin, his trials have been ok, the latest he was urged along though when making ground. Happy to be on the side of the horse proven on the surface though.
Ballarat Race 7 (Market)
(4) Pachino Boy has had two runs back from a spell, both of them on the synthetic surface here at Ballarat. He was good fresh and then ran on well again from the back last time to narrowly miss the placings. He steps up from the 1500m to the 2100m today, he placed at 64 grade level last prep over this trip and looks to be screaming out for it. He may need a little luck off the inside gate when the runs come as he will not be in front, but I can see him settling just off the leaders today getting out in trip. (2) Easy Drama looks the main danger, last time he was here on the synthetic track he led all the way here and was string through the line. I expect him to be in front again, if he gets it soft through the middle stages he will be hard to run down. (1) So Bellafonte was a huge winner last start but happy to lay him coming back onto the synthetic track.
Grafton Race 5 (Market)
(1) Annie Ethyl is very consistent, she has only missed a place once this time in from 5 times at the races. That was two starts back on a heavy track here at Grafton over the carnival, her two runs either side have been really good. She led all the way at Casino at maiden level three runs back as a very short priced favourite, there has been another horse come through that race and win since. Last time was at Gatton over 860m, she landed in a good spot behind the leaders and although she held her spot and looked to have every chance, she may have just found them too nippy over the very short trip. She gets back out to the 1000m here and it should be a good track by race time, the wide draw will mean that luck should take no part, we will see her ridden positively and going forward, either to lead or sit outside the lead. Either way she will be too quick for them.
