By John Schell
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1: 1. Casino Bear won over 2200m at Grafton early in December and he’s since finished fourth and third at Armidale and Kempsey respectively before a couple of just-behind-the-placing efforts at this track and Coffs Harbour. He doesn’t win out of turn but is racing well enough to bounce back to top form here. 2. Fighting Magnus hasn’t been beaten far in his latest two starts at Tuncurry and Port Macquarie. 5. Hallowed Son was placed at Quirindi when last produced and he has a solid place strike rate. 4. Cassie’s Lad broke his maiden at Quirindi on Boxing Day and is capable of going on with the job.
How to play it: Casino Bear to win.
Race 2: 1. All Hunky Dory formerly raced in Hong Kong and resumed after more than three years away from racing with a second at Tamworth before winning at this track when second-up. He has the talent to go on with the job and win again here. 2. Spiritly placed at Port Macquarie before a
couple of fourths at Coffs Harbour and here. 3. Idol Shot was a winner here before a close-up fifth here last time out. 5. Yamba’s Girl can be a factor if she can up to a second here two starts ago.
How to play it: All Hunky Dory to win.
Racing returns toTaree on Tuesday, with an eight-race card.Credit: Getty
Race 3: 8. Jed hasn’t been disgraced in his most recent runs either side of a spell and gets another chance to make an impact. 2. Thebes was placed at Scone in July and a repeat of that would give him a chance in this. 1. Wezza has been placed in three of eight starts and has place claims again. 7. Hoo Haa has five placings from 19 starts and while she was safely held into second placing at Wyong last time out she will find this an easier assignment against this opposition. She can be placed again.
How to play it: Jed to win.
Race 4: 10. Little Bubbles ran third at huge odds here three starts ago before failing and then showing improvement when close-up in fourth again at this track last time out. She gets her chance to break through with a win in this. 1. Craig’s One debuted with a midfield effort at Kempsey as favourite and is worth plenty of thought. 4. Queen Calanthe has placed in four of 10 starts and
has claims again. 7. Tuncurry is resuming from a spell and is an improver.
How to play it: Little Bubbles to win.
Race 5: 6. Skates On is fresh for this, having been safely held in his latest three starts. He is handy at his best though, and there’s no reason he can’t return to his best form here and sprint well. 5. Cool Fix has a great record and is rarely far from the action. She resumes here and should be primed to run well. 3. Floss’s One was a Kempsey winner before being spelled then resumed in Highway grade at Randwick with a down-the-track effort. 1. Starry Jack placed at this track when resuming from a spell and is worth some thought again.
How to play it: Skates On each way.
Race 6: 1. Toy Story doesn’t win often but has been racing well to be around the money in recent runs. He should be in the thick of things if anywhere near his best. 2. Nipper Bee is a last-start Inverell winner and another bold showing is on the cards. 7. Meghan hasn’t been far away in her latest two starts and warrants thought. 8. Welcome Back scored a surprise win here two starts ago and is not out of this.
How to play it: Toy Story to win.
Race 7: 14. Hell Of A Fox has placed in two of her six starts and resumed from a spell with a sixth on the Beaumont track at Newcastle behind Alliri. She was a trial winner leading into that and should have derived benefit. 4. Rush Fortyfive debuted with a solid enough effort on the Beaumont track and can improve on that up to this distance. 10. Tikiroo comes out of the same race Hell Of A
Fox contested and wasn’t far behind it in that event. 2. Namoi River was safely held at Nowra when resuming but can improve.
How to play it: Hell Of A Fox to win.
Race 8: 3. Cabsav hasn’t won for a while, but his form hasn’t been too bad, including a fourth at Grafton before a second at the Gold Coast and then a last-start sixth at the Gold Coast when beaten just over two lengths. This looks a suitable event for him to bounce back into winning form. 5. Zaru was placed in a couple of runs at this track and Newcastle before a last-start fifth on the Beaumont track. He’s handy at best and has Aaron Bullock to ride. 11. Solutionist wasn’t beaten far behind Island Legend at this track at her latest start and should show up with a repeat of that effort. 8. Island Legend is a last-start winner here that has claims again.
How to play it: Cabsav to win.
Best Bets
Race 1 (1) Casino Bear
Race 7 (14) Hell Of A Show.
Best Value
Race 5 (6) Skates On
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
