Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Bendigo, Canterbury and Belmont on Wednesday, August 8th.
Bendigo and Belmont are currently rated in the Soft range, while Canterbury is expected to be a Good 4.
We’ve gone through all three meetings and selected a few of the races to bet in below!
BEST BETS
Best Bet: Belmont Race 6 #1 Crystal Spirit
Best Value Bet: Belmont Race 2 #8 Rock This Country
BENDIGO TIPS
RACE 2
Really low-grade race here and pretty keen to be on (5) Shockadoodledo. He’s had two career starts and has placed on both occasions. He’s been favourite in both starts and although he’s not won either, he’s run two good races. Third career start today and stays at the 1600m so should be very much ready to win. A helpful statistic is the fact that trainer Patrick Payne has had 14 starters at Bendigo in the past 12 months for four winners and four placings, returning a ROI of 166%.
RACE 6
Two that interest me here. (8) Won Ball returns from a six-month spell here. He won his first two career starts before being beaten 0.4L as favourite in a race at Morphettville. He’s been gelded in his time off and although he’s had a fair while off, he might just be better than the rest of these. The vablue looks to be (4) All About Nicci at near double figure odds. She went close in similar grade at this track and distance two starts ago before saluting pretty comfortably last start in Saturday grade in Adelaide. Back to midweek Melbourne grade here and gets the soft ground she prefers.
Value: (4) All About Nicci $10 Ladbrokes
RACE 7
Weir has three horses entered for this 2400m race which is always terrifying but I’m taking a chance on the Mick Moroney-trained (2) Mirimar. This horse is now having his fourth run back from a lengthy spell and he was very good when only beaten 0.4L last start despite stepping up from 1800m to 2400m. With that run under 2400m under his belt, he should be much better suited today and he’s also likely to relish the soft conditions.
CANTERBURY TIPS
RACE 2
I’d love to see them push forward with (7) Maid Of Heaven here. She was luckless on debut over the track and distance when she settled near the back of the field and only got clear at about the 100m mark. Her trials leading into her debut were good – she won her final one by 3.8L when she settled outside the leader. Barrier 7 is a bit tricky but if they can settle up on the speed she will be there for a long way.
RACE 5
Bit of a throw at the stumps here with (8) Love’s A Fantasy at $26. She was very well beaten first up but gets the blinkers on for the first time here. She’s run 2nd at her only start at the track and distance and if she can get across without too much trouble from barrier 9 she might just be able to run better than her price suggests.
BELMONT TIPS
RACE 2
Wide-open race with a number of horses on debut here. I was pretty interested by (8) Rock This Country at $11. This horse has had four trials – two were in January and both were fairly ordinary. But he then wasn’t seen again until July and both of his most recent trials have been good. He ran 4th in the first of those, only beaten 0.3L, and then won his latest. Both of those were on soft ground and that’s exactly what he’ll get here. He gets the blinkers on for the first time for raceday and gets even though the jockey booking doesn’t inspire me, he’s a decent each way chance.
(8) Rock This Country
$11
RACE 3
Very keen on (6) Fa’lion Machine, who ran enormously last start at Northam after settling a long way back in the field. She’s third up and up in distance to 1300m here and draws a much better barrier in 5. Should be able to settle a touch closer and with even luck she looks a massive chance.
(6) Fa'lion Machine
$3.90
RACE 6
We see another Gangemi stable import make its WA debut here in the form of the favourite (1) Crystal Spirit. Despite only having one win from 11 career starts, he’s run six 2nd placings and has gone close in some very solid Melbourne metropolitan races. If he brings that sort of form to WA, he should be winning this. The value could be (12) False Statement who has had two career starts for a win on debut (the form has since been franked) and an admirable 2nd placing last time out. He sat three-wide without cover in that last run and shouldn’t be underestimated, despite being a recetly-turned 3YO taking on older horses.
Value: (12) False Statement $9.00 Crownbet
RACE 7
Looks a nice race for (8) It’s Got It All, who was only beaten 2L after leading first up. Misty Metal won that race and in terms of winning form, there isn’t a horse in better form going around in WA at the moment. Should find the front here and will be much better off with that run under the belt. Looks hard to run down.
(8) It's Got It All
$2.80
