Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for Wednesday, January 31st, where we’ve provided our best bets across the country for Sandown, Kembla Grange and Ascot.
We’ve picked out 10 races in total across the whole day’s racing, so hopefully we find a few winners to build the bank for the coming weekend!
KEMBLA GRANGE TIPS
RACE 2
It’s a very average card on offer at Kembla today but there are two horses I’m interested in backing. The first is (3) Hong Qigong for Team Hawkes and Brenton Avdulla. He’s first up from a spell today and he resumes this preparation as a gelding. I actually backed him first up last preparation when he went down by a nose at Canterbury. This is the easiest race he’s run in to date, and the talent is there (he finished 2nd to Pierata on debut) so if the gelding operation has switched him on, then he should be able to win this. If he doesn’t, he’s permanently sacked. $2.60.
TIP: (3) Hong Qigong
RACE 7
Our other bet at Kembla is (5) Fleeting Stryke in Race 7. This mare is having her fourth run back this campaign, and although her finishing positions and margins don’t look appealing on paper, her runs have been somewhat meritorious. First up she was only plain but the winner of that race is pretty smart (Brave Song) and the trip was short of her best; second up she went down by just a head over 1400m at Randwick, and last start she finished midfield behind the hugely promising Sugar Bella. That’s another strong form race and she drops back from that company to a midweek race with just seven runners at her home track, where she’s had six starts for two wins and two 2nds. Draws well and should be capable.
TIP: (5) Fleeting Stryke
SANDOWN HILLSIDE TIPS
RACE 1
Pretty keen to back this Mick Kent debutante (6) Jungle Fish and I’ll lock in the $5 because she could start even shorter. This isn’t the strongest race and she comes into this without a public trial (though I’m sure she would have had a private Cranbourne jump out). The telling factor for me has been the money for her since markets opened. She went up $9 and has since been backed into $5, and that’s a great sign from this stable. I’m fairly confident I managed to locate her Cranbourne jump out, which showed enough for me to be happy backing her. The biggest danger looks to be Weir’s (3) Hermanito.
TIP: (6) Jungle Fish
RACE 2
(2) Won Ball debuted with a very impressive win at Geelong over 1130m, leading all the way to score by 3.75L. Weir brings him straight to town on the back of that and doesn’t bother putting on a claiming apprentice, instead opting to use Damian Lane and carry the full 59.5kg. As I always say, when Weir brings these horses from weaker provincial/country races to the city, they generally measure up straight away, and based on the strength of that debut win, he should measure up in this grade. The drop back from 1130m to 1000m is the only slight query, but it’s Weir so there really isn’t much to worry about.
TIP: (2) Won Ball
RACE 5
Normally these types of races don’t really appeal to me, and this one isn’t much different, but there’s a few I can entertain backing here. A great lead in these 2400m races is finding horses that have run at the distance at their last start. (8) Corrs won easily at Geelong last start over this distance, and if you look at his form in general this preparation, it’s been very good except for two sub-par performances prior to his last-start win. I’m a fan of this stable/jockey combination and if the horse can continue in the same form as he showed last start, he should be very competitive here at $5.50. (6) Poppiholla has been struggling to win another race but she was working her way back into form before a slightly disappointing effort behind Corrs last start. Though she’s deep into a preparation and it seems unlikely there’s room for improvement, Weir has a knack of getting these horses back into form mid-prep, and with that 2400m run under her belt, she could improve out of sight today. Looks the value at $11. I’ll be saving on (10) Bonville who is knocking on the door and finds a winnable race.
TIP: (8) Corrs / (6) Poppiholla EW
RACE 6
Very keen to bet into this race with three horses standing out. I’ll be following my money with (11) Isle Of Capri who really should have gone close to winning last start at Caulfield but was badly held up for most of the straight. That was the horse’s first start in Melbourne after a maiden win at Newcastle – a formula we’ve seen Waller employ with a bit of success in recent months. Oliver retains the ride today and from barrier 5 he should have no issues getting a clear run. $4.60 seems a reasonable price. The biggest danger looks to be (9) Savvy Belle at $5.50 after four consecutive placings, the last two of which have been over this track and distance. Damian Lane takes over for the ride today and I’m expecting her to go very close once again. The value could be Weir’s (3) Rising Hope. This mare won at Bendigo three starts ago and then went to the city and was beaten a head by Addison in a decent race. She finished right alongside (7) So Splendid in that race, yet So Splendid is half the price of Rising Hope in this. Last start Rising Hope pulled up lame so forget that run, and if the track is in the Soft range then it will suit her even more. At $15 she simply looks over the odds.
TIP: (11) Isle Of Capri / (3) Rising Hope EW
RACE 7
Two horses I’m interested in here. Once again I’m following my money with (6) Krusty, who ran a big race once again last start and is knocking on the door for another win. The horse is rock hard fit and provided they are able to make ground throughout the day, he should be motoring home late. Mitch Aitken takes 3kg off once again and we’re getting $5. I also think (1) Jest For The Road is a big chance at $6.50. He’s had two runs back from a spell, which resulted in a win first up and a narrow 2nd placing last start behind Chippenham. I think that’s good enough form for this race and he steps up to 1600m at his third run back now, so with barrier 1 and Chris Caserta taking 2kg off, he rates highly.
TIP: (6) Krusty / (1) Jest For The Road EW
RACE 8
Another two that looks decent bets to close out the day at Sandown. (13) Our Chiquilla produced a big run last start at Sandown Lakeside, coming from back in the field to run 2nd on a day that was hard to make ground. Gets senior jockey Damian Lane take over from apprentice Ethan Brown, who has ridden the horse at its past two starts, so with a good draw and the step up in trip to 1400m, I’d expect her to give this a big shake. $4.60 is acceptable. Also backing (6) No Commitment at $6, though I would have loved to get a piece of the $13 they put up! This horse’s first up run was sound, running home strongly from well back in the field to finish midfield, beaten 3L under 60.5kg. The form out of that race is reasonable, and if you look at its last preparation, you’ll see it produced a similar run first up before winning second up when stepped up to 1400m. They follow the same path here with the step up in trip second up, and with a bit of weight relief, I think he’s ready to win. Needs a good ride from the sticky draw. (11) Vin Fiz and (12) Macattack are both worth including at good odds.
TIP: (13) Our Chiquilla / (6) No Commitment EW
ASCOT TIPS
RACE 2
(4) How To Fly looks your winner here and I’m prepared to step in at the $1.80. She should be undefeated and looks more than capable of stepping up to midweek city grade here. Pike takes the ride, she should jump straight to the front and win. (3) Sunboss the only danger for mine.
TIP: (4) How To Fly
RACE 3
Another shortie here with (3) Driftstar and again it’s William Pike in the saddle, this time for Simon Miller. Pike doesn’t often ride for Simon Miller, so when he does it’s worth paying attention. This horse has had two trials leading into its debut today, and the latest one over 1000m was particularly impressive. It skipped away to win by 5L under a hold, and although the time it ran was only fair for the day, it had plenty to offer. Pike actually rode (7) Colourful Chloe to a trial win as well so it’s telling that he chooses to ride Driftstar despite not piloting it in its trials. The biggest danger for mine is (10) Universal Appeal, who, although was pushed out in its latest trial win, did run a much better time than Driftstar on the day.
TIP: (3) Driftstar
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