Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, July 20th.
It's a fairly quiet start to the new week, with just the three meetings across Australia, and Luke Krahe has focused on those at Ballarat Synthetic and Goulburn.
Find his best bets for each track below!
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, July 20th
Ballarat Synthetic Race 1 - (Market)
I am very keen on (6) Loving Gracie to get us off to a flying to start to the week. She had jumped out well prior to her first start at Pakenham on the synthetic but was very easy in the betting drifting from $4.60-$7.50 with the official prices. She wasn’t the best away and settled a mile back, got to the middle of the track and made good ground late to get within three lengths of the winner. She had shown more speed at the trials leading into that first run so I expect her to settle a lot closer. She handles the synthetic track and the jump up in trip looks to be advantageous. (1) Cheyenne Beach looks the main threat in the race, he placed at his first two runs but happy to take him on first-up having his first go on the synthetic.
Ballarat Synthetic Race 4 - (Market)
(10) Café Rizu placed at Sandown in a much harder maiden before going to the paddock, she was forced to do a lot of chasing that day and did well to stick on and finish within a length. She was sent to the farm and came back against the girls at Geelong three weeks ago in a harder assignment. She was slowly away, held-up early in the straight before finally getting to the outside and once balanced up, was finishing as good as any. She gets out to the 1500m for the first time, the way she attacked the line, it looks right up her alley. Drawn well, she should settle closer and be too quick late.
Goulburn Race 1 - (Market)
The betting will tell us that the top three saddlecloths will be the major players, I tend to agree with the form coming through the top two to feature after they clashed last start. (2) Silent Agenda SP’d at $10 that day at Newcastle, after beginning well he led and stuck on well before getting nabbed in the last stride. (1) Sarah Elizabeth started about the same price, got a check after the start and settled well back. She ran on well but just looked to peak late, there was only half a length between them at the finish. I don’t expect Silent Agenda to be leading here but I do expect him to have the tactical advantage over the filly. The form of (3) Reoffender can also be lined-up, he was beaten in a Nowra race a month ago behind the top pick and appeared to have every chance. He looks big unders early in the betting, I expect he will get right out past each-way odds.
Goulburn Race 4 - (Market)
(7) Debasement placed at her first two runs this campaign but it was the last trip to the races that has me keen for her chances today, She was at Newcastle in a harder maiden than this, was slowly away and over-raced back in the field. She was three-wide with cover before getting even wider and to the middle of the track for the run home. She chased hard and although she never looked the winner, was only beaten three lengths. The key here is the form out of the races she has been in and how well they have held-up. The second-horse has come out and been beaten a pimple at Hawkesbury, the third horse came out and won a Newcastle maiden at very short odds from her last start. Prior to that, the placing at Goulburn has produced three winners, the second horse has come out and placed at Listed level in Brisbane. She looks great value at the current price, I expect her to start shorter.
