Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Tuesday, December 31st.
The final day of the year sees five race meetings take place in Australia and we'll be looking to end 2019 with a bang. We've focused in on the racing at Gosford and Warrnambool; check out our best bets for each track below!
Horse Racing Tips: Tuesday, December 31st
Gosford Race 1 (Market)
(2) Lady Highly is having her fifth start at her first prep, which is normally a pen job for me. I am making an exception as she is a late starter, not making her debut until her 4YO year. She was ok at her first two runs but was clearly looking for longer, she had a three-week break before tackling a tough mid-week maiden at Rosehill over 1900m. She was huge odds and near last in the run, held-up when the runs came approaching the turn and early into the straight before getting clear and running on well, producing the best 800m-200m sectional of the race. She had another three weeks off and her run at Rosehill wasn’t missed when she went to Wyong to contest a Class 1 and Maiden over 2100m, starting well in the market. She settled closer, was held-up at a vital stage before angling across held and showing a great turn-of-foot to bolt in by more than 2 lengths. The small field should suit her here at a similar track to Wyong, just need to save her for one run late.
Gosford Race 5 (Market)
Nash Rawiller rides (10) Diddles, there is no better front-running rider in the land (maybe the world) than him. Diddles resumed off a 6-week break at Wyong and after leading, was run down late after laying in up the straight. He may have just run out of condition after the break and has been given another month to freshen up. The wide barrier is no concern here at Gosford with the very long run into the first and only turn, Nash should be hitting the go button early and trying to cross. (4) Covert Ops will be well found off a nice trial since being gelded, happy to take him on though with Keegan Latham riding and his last couple before going to the paddock he got well back. Not for me.
Warrnambool Race 6 (Market)
Normally hard to get excited about some random 2000m race at the Bool in the middle of Summer, but I like the chances of (6) Hard ‘n’ Tough to continue his good form. He resumed with a narrow win at Geelong after sitting up on the speed, came here to the Bool and was again outside the leader and stuck on well only to be beaten a half-length. Last time at Terang in an easier BM58 she found the front early, was bolting approaching the straight and never looked like getting beat, braining them by 4 lengths. The bar platers come off, he will go forward again and if crosses to the rail and can dictate mid-race, back up again in the run.
Warrnambool Race 7 (Market)
The feature of the day at the Bool is the Woodford Cup. (9) Shamal Lass is the most inexperienced horse in the field by a long way, lining up for career start number 10 today. She has had three runs this prep, she resumed at Geelong and ran on hard from a mile back. She then came here to the Bool second-up, looked a little flat but was good enough to chase into third. Again, here at her home track last start, she was well back, held-up all the way into the straight before getting clear at the furlong pole. She ran on hard between runners to just miss the placings after having no luck, in a race that has already seen one subsequent winner come out of it. Her danger will be (8) Paremus Boy also trained here at the Bool by Beetroot Williams, he was good in a much harder race in town last time but he didn’t go around a horse and had no excuses. He also steps up from the 1400m to the 1700m, not sure that is ideal for him.
