Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Grafton on 18 April 2023.
Best Bet: BROKEN HILL (Race 5)
Value Bet: DARK EURO (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
|
9 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
13 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
10 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
Cost: R72.00
Race 4
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners COSTA DE ORO may prove to be the best. She is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing eighth last time out over 1100M, she was just 3.2L back from the winner, this despite having to be held up from the top of the home straight to the 200M mark. She has cracked pole position and with better luck in running, she looks to be the one to side with in this line-up.
SHUKKAS is a 3yr old filly who has had just the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement to finish seventh second time out over 1300M, just the three lengths behind the winner, notwithstanding being bumped at the start and crowed over the closing stages. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
YUKANUMA tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in seventh place last time out over seven furlongs, just under seven lengths back from the victor. He is drawn one inside the latter and will have his peak run after returning from a lengthy 64-week spell and a change of trainers and is likely to attempt similar tactics today.
Race 5
BROKEN HILL goes for his hat-trick after victories for his new trainer, the first over five furlongs and the latest over six furlongs by a half-length and has won a subsequent barrier trial. He raced three wide behind the leaders that day, but then delivered a powerful finish to win going away. The gelding gets a handy draw three and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
EXCLUSIVE followed up his penultimate run victory over 1100M with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same c&d, just under two and a half lengths back from the winner, but he came the widest of them all into the home straight that day, before staying on well over the latter stages. He returns here after a 23-week break without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and whilst jumping from a wideish gate eight, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
SCHILLER BAY was bumped at the start and raced three wide without cover when finishing fifth in his latest outing over 1100M, two lengths off the victor, so that effort was encouraging. The gelding faces a wider draw ten, but nevertheless, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
CHARMED DESTINY had his consistency rewarded with his maiden win last time out over 1700M by 1.3L. He overraced in the early stages, but still managed to finish the best and although drawn wide in gate nine and is taking on stronger here, he may well be up to the task at hand.
TWOSRET is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she won over six furlongs three runs back, finished second over 1300M in her penultimate start, before ending up in fifth spot last time out a mile, 3.3L adrift of the winner, but it should be noted that she had to be held up between the 300M and 150M mark in that contest, so she should have finished closer to the winner than she is officially recorded. From her useful draw four, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.
VICTORY CHUCKLE was slow away and raced three wide throughout when finishing third in his latest outing over 1500M, 4.7L behind the winner, but the form of that race has bee franked. He will have to overcome a wide gate thirteen, but he should be doing his best work late.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, DARK EURO put his disappointing penultimate start over 1300M behind him when finishing second last time out over 1300M, three lengths back from the winner, when returning from a 13-week break. He tried to go from gun to tape that day and from his wide gate twelve, he is likely to attempt to do the same today and prove hard to reel in.
OUR BAEZ is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she won her penultimate run over 1300M and then showed plenty of toe before finishing fifth last time out over 1300M, three lengths back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She has her first run for her new trainer and has a cosy draw four. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here.
COMMANDING REIGN has won two of his last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs by 0.8L when employing frontrunning tactics. The gelding faces a wide draw eleven, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
