Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Tuesday, August 20th.
Albury and Pakenham are the two meetings in focus this afternoon and Luke Krahe has singled out his best bets of the day below!
Horse Racing Tips: Tuesday, August 20th
Albury Race 5 (Market)
The open class field of the day sees a nice field assembled, (4) Parliament will be better for his first-up run here at the track three weeks ago. (3) Gentleman Max got the better of him that day but he had the fitness edge being up for a long time, and the track condition was clearly in his favour. Parliament, although he had every chance, held his ground in the heavy conditions and wasn’t beaten out of the placings far. He won four of five last time in work and was going through the grades nicely, from the perfect gate he should get a lovely trail and show a bit more zip when required back on the soft ground. Gentleman Max and (1) Squidensquizz had been racing well around the country Cup scene but both have been up for a very long time, hopefully the freshness in the legs of Parliament and a soft run in transit will see him too strong.
Albury Race 6 (Market)
A BM66 over 2000m and I am really keen to take on the favourite (3) Lemon Splice. Her last two runs have been very poor in similar conditions, sure last time in Melbourne was a much harder run but she has shown nothing in either of them. She won a Class 1 and maiden here three starts back but I have outlined previously how weak those races can be. Looking a bit wider in the betting, I have come up with (9) Run For Raffin on an each-way basis. He doesn’t win out of turn but there should be ok speed on here and he handles the conditions. Two runs back he was good when running on hard in an easier race, a horse that finished down the track that day has since come out and won. Last start he was only plain but never got into the race, the speed looks ok here and expect that at the double-figure odds, he looks a great each-way bet.
(9) Run For Raffin E/W
$8.50
Pakenham Race 2 (Market)
Eleven fillies and mares line up for a maiden at set weights over the mile, (8) Purrfect Scent is one of the more experienced in the field lining up for start 12. Her connections must be getting frustrated as she is has placed at 8 of those eleven starts, she clearly has the talent to win one, today looks her day. A little concerning that she is having her first start on the synthetic but you never know, it might be just what she needs. She has placed at her last three and four of five this campaign, the latest she settled mid-field before swinging wide and running on hard. She looked the winner but just couldn’t get it done, what was encouraging was there was almost 4 lengths back to third. She draws well, should have te cold sit and, if she handles the surface, should finish too hard.
Pakenham Race 6 (Market)
Unlike our first selection on the synthetic track today, (1) French Success has been on the surface before and was terrific winning here against the girls last time. She settled well back before coming very wide and running all over the top of them, she only got up by the barest of margins but there was almost 4 lengths back to the third horse. She had a similar pattern winning her maiden three back, then was poor on the heavy track last time. Expect that she will get back again, a little worrying with the 4kg claiming jock on but she should be just too quick for them late and stepping up to the mile looks ideal.
