Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, August 8th.
We are racing at Kembla Grange, Kempsey and Warrnambool this afternoon and Luke Krahe has given his best bets for each track below.
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, August 8th
Kembla Grange Race 5 (Market)
(3) Emergent has to step out of maiden grade for the first time, that is always a major hurdle but the way he won here last time could not have been more impressive. He was worse than mid-field before angling across heels early in the straight a couple of lengths from the leaders before running to the front and putting a gap on them. He had settled a lot closer at his previous run, I can see him getting in behind the leaders from the good draw, gets the extra trip which looks ideal the way he ran through the line here last time. (8) First Reading is also up in class from her last start 58-grade win, she was perfectly ridden behind the leaders before accelerating away for a comfortable win. She doesn’t map as well here and this is harder, happy to be against her.
Kempsey Race 3 (Market)
(11) Lord Avatar gets in well at the set weights conditions, a new 3YO taking on the older horse she has placed at 3 of his 5 career runs. He has had two runs back, he resumed at Grafton against his own sex and was wide throughout, beaten a long way. He then went down the Highway at Taree, was slowly away and over-raced early and was well back and wide throughout. He never looked the winner but ran on well into a place after a torrid run. This looks easier and although he will probably get back, the weight pull can be telling and he will run on hard.
Warrnambool Race 3 (Market)
Not surprising to see a Heavy track posted at the Bool in August, the first of two selections at the iconic Surf Coast town comes in a n 1100m maiden. (6) Scotch O’Clock was very enigmatic throughout his long first prep, the key being that he was only on a rain affected track once and he placed. He resumed at Wangaratta three weeks ago where he started favourite in a 1170m maiden. He was mid-field in the run before getting very wide into the straight and making some ground but never really looked the winner. That was on a heavy track and he really looked to go well in the conditions, he will no doubt be wide throughout but that is rarely an issue here at the 100m when the track is a bog. (2) Lord Of The Turf has the wide draw, he was beaten as favourite here back over the carnival, he obviously has some talent but prefer to see how he has come back. Unless there is a stack of money for hm, happy to be against him fresh.
Warrnambool Race 5 (Market)
(4) Howyoulikemenow looks a real wet-tracker. HIs last three runs have all been in the heavy conditions, three back he ran on well in limited room late to narrowly miss and then led all the way for a comfortable win with a gap to win there two back. Last time he was in a perfect position in the run but elected to stick closer to the rail, he stuck on ok to run a place but probably would have finished closer had he got wider on the track. His only poor run this time in was on the synthetic track at Ballarat, he comes back in trip here today and has versatility. I expect that Clayton Douglas riding will jump out and assess the situation, hopefully they ride him positive and he gets outside the leader.
(4) Howdoyoulikemenow
$4.60
