Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for Day 1 of the Warrnambool Carnival on Tuesday, May 5th.
Day 1 consists of eight-races on the all-jumps racing card, including the Brierly Steeple, the Grand Annual and the Galleywood Hurdle.
Check out our race-by-race preview and betting tips for Day 1 of #TheBool below!
Warrnambool Racing Tips: Tuesday, May 5th
Best Bet: Race 4 - (5) Diamond Star Halo
Race 1 – Maiden Hurdle 3200m (Market)
(9) So Belafonte has been up for a while, he has had three runs since turning to the obstacles. The first was here at the Bool in a similar maiden hurdle, he was going fairly before jumping the last poorly and was well beaten into third. He then went to Terang and was poor, am willing to forgive that run. Last time at Pakenham he settled up on the speed, took over at the top of the lane but was headed over the last flight and just missed the placings. I like him back here at the Bool, this time last year he led for a long way in a highweight flat race, hopefully they use his tactical speed.
Race 2 - Whalers Hotel Maiden Hurdle 3200m (Market)
(3) Exemplar had been racing well towards the back-end of his last campaign, he was runner-up at Listed level and then wasn’t beaten far behind Shared Ambition when he was flying back in the Spring. His first go over the hurdles was poor at Pakenham, he was easy in the betting late and after settling mid-field, was eased down before the straight and failed to finish. He has been back to the trials and no doubt the Maher/Eustace team wouldn’t be sending him back over them if they didn’t feel he was right. He can bounce back and would love to see some support in the betting.
Race 3 – Maiden Hurdle 3200m (Market)
The locally trained (1) Brittanicus for the Wilde yard is having his first go over the jumps, he was only going fairly on the flat but it should be noted that his last win was here in February and he wasn’t far away three starts back after sitting wide without cover. He trialed here like most of the horses races today, he was a bit hit-or-miss when it came to the jumps but when he put in his best leaps he really looked like a veteran over the obstacles, but when he wasn’t he looked like the maiden hurdler he is. He has some ability on the flat so hopefully that he can get over them all safely and looks a good each-way bet at double figure odds.
Race 4: Champion Novice Hurdle 3200m (Market)
The smallest field of the day and (5) Diamond Star Halo looks a good thing. The Gai/Bott trained mare had her maiden hurdle run here four starts back, she was up on the speed throughout but put in a couple of ordinary jumps late which made her work to get the ground back but was too string late. She then went to Terang and was a well-supported odds-on favourite, led clearly throughout and was jumping well until stumbling through the last but after clearing it, bolted in by 7 lengths, She has had two flat runs since, a credible effort at Stawell when beaten as favourite two back asfter a wide trip. Surely it's just a matter of get over them all and she wins?
(5) Diamond Star Halo
$2.30
Race 5 – BM120 Steeplechase 3450m (Market)
Not a lot of confidence here. (7) Markwood could be a play if he gets out in price, I would probably need double figure odds to entertain backing him. He is a former Kiwi that won his maiden hurdle across the ditch and then at his very next start won a highweight on the flat at his Australian debut. Admittedly he hasn’t done a lot since resuming but he was good at the trials here last week. Play wide in the first leg of the Quaddie if that’s what you are dabbling in.
Race 6 – Brierly Steeple 3450m (Market)
With the 2-day carnival this year we don’t get to see these steeple chasers go around on Tuesday and possibly back-up in the Grand National on the Thursday, but it has still bought together a good group of jumpers going over the high sticks. I have a feeling that a lot of people will be on (2) Slowpoke Rodriguez, he has had three runs on the flat this time in and has been really good at the back-end of all of them. He hasn’t been missed by the race-callers each time either, referring to him being “right on target for the Bool” each time. He is a n amazing chaser that had almost two years off before last years prep culminating in the Grand National where he was well beaten as a $3.90 chance. You know that this has been the goal, I dare say that Rick Mac will be pulling out a memorable call if Slowpoke hits the lead over the last.
(2) Slowpoke Rodriguez
$3.40
Race 7 – Grand Annual Steeplechase 5500m (Market)
Unfortunately for those that frequent the Bool over the carnival this year, they won’t get to make the trek up the hill to watch the Grand National and appreciate the beauty and undulation’s of this brilliant jumps circuit. (5) Ablaze will start favourite in what is a cracking edition of the race. (1) Zed Em has just about every trophy that a jumper could want here in Oz, a Grand Annual (last year), a Brierly a Von Doussa... the list goes on. If he hits the front as they change direction you will hear the cheers form homes around the country.. (2) Gold Medals won this race in 2018, (3) Bit Of A Lad won the Brierly last year before failing when heavily backed in the Grand Annual. Then we get to the 8YO (5) Ablaze. The former Kiwi has had 8 starts since arriving in Oz back in the middle of last year. He won his maiden hurdle at his Australian debut by 15 lengths and then won the JJ Houlahan at his next start. His next five runs were on the flat winning three of them before having 5-weeks off and returning here to the Bool over the jumps. He was very short in the betting ($1.22) and after settling last, showed great acceleration to take the lead at the top of the straight and ran away to win by almost 5 (Bit Of A Lad second). He has been given a quiet trial, how do they beat him? It may take the ol champ Zed Em t wind back the clock... what a great race it will be.
Race 8 – Galleywood Hurdle 3200m (Market)
The Galleywood finishes the day, (1) Ancient King was a brilliant winner last start at Pakenham when returning to the hurdles. He has been racing poorly on the flat prior to having a 7-week break and going to Pakenham a little over a fortnight ago. He sat back in the field and improved approaching the straight, jumped the last well and took over and was way too good in the run home. The margin was 3 with 3.5 further back to third. There are a host of other chances and the last leg of the Quad looks as hard as the first.
(1) Ancient King E/W
$7.50
