Favourites win plenty of races. But the real thrill, and often the real value, lies in finding the one the market hasn’t fully caught up with.
Betsy’s Bolters, proudly supported by Unibet, is our weekly search for punting gold. We dive deep into the replays, sectionals and market profiles to uncover runners flying under the radar, horses sitting at double-figure odds but with far more upside than their price suggests.
These aren’t wild darts. They’re calculated swings at big prices.
All odds are courtesy of Unibet (correct as at 19/06/26 @ 1115)
Ipswich – Blair Gibson
Race 1 No.1 Red Defcon ($26/$6)
(1) Red Defcon has been going around against better horses than this. Don’t love the big weight but anything near her best form and she has the class to run over them late. At $41 I’m happy to have a small e/w play for an interest.
Morphettville – Mitch Lewis
(2) Free Beer may have found the right set-up here and can run a big race at attractive odds. He is unbeaten in three starts on heavy ground and boasts an excellent third-up record of 4:2-2-0.
Flemington – Matt Welsh
(5) Recuperato has drawn awkwardly down low but sheesh, not sure she could have trialled much better! She’s a straight-track winner as a 2yo and think she’s in for a good campaign.
Race 9 No.11 Palladium ($61/$13)
(11) Palladium looks a massive price based on his sixth placing in that same Flemington race. He settled near the rear from a wide draw after being a touch slow away but worked home well late. From gate three he should settle much closer and his current odds look far longer than they should be.
Donald – Matt Welsh
Race 1 Backing both No.7 Manzoray ($15) and No.18 Lord Lonny ($16)
(18) Lord Lonny has had two 1000m runs this campaign and worked home well enough in each for a horse looking for 1600m. Will settle much more forward up in trip and can run a race at big odds.
(7) Manzoray is the first runner for Timothy McGuigan as a trainer. He was formerly trained by Ciaron Maher and has had over a year on the sidelines. He might well need this run first-up on a heavy track, but I was quite taken with his work behind Soldier Boi in a jump-out, when strong through the line. Has been held together in all his work and draws for a good run in the race.
Reckon (8) Postcards can win this on debut. Nice on speed jump-out win at Burrumbeet back in April and two jump-outs since have both had merit. He can lead them up and take a stack of catching.
