Summary of Best Bets
Best Bet: Race 3 – (2) Lucky Chance
Next Best: Race 2 – (1) Flashlight
Value: Race 1 – (9) Zoom
Race 1 – Maiden Hurdle – 3500m – 12:50pm
(9) Zoom – Two weeks on from a flat run. Stumbled at the last when looking in contention over this track and trip last start. The Flashlight form looks good from that race and, with natural improvement, should be hard to beat.
(8) Thurmond – Was two lengths off Vegas Jack four starts back on the flat and has been just going since then. His hurdle trial on July 20 was solid. Wilde and Parker have been this year’s ace partnership.
(7) Sunday Buzz – Given a month off after his last run. Disappointed on that occasion after a great jumps debut during the May carnival. Has the ability but you’d have to be betting on trust here.
(10) Flying Witness – Terrible at his first couple of jumps starts. However, he has been trialling well over the jumps and a much-improved effort against far superior horses last start suggests he could be a sneaky place chance here. Gordon aboard is a massive tick.
Selections:
(9) Zoom
(8) Thurmond
(7) Sunday Buzz
(10) Flying Witness
Suggested Bet: Hard to split the top two. Small bet (9) Zoom. Boxed exacta (9,8).
Race 2 – BM115 Hurdle – 3500m – 1:30pm
(1) Flashlight – Looks to have the A1 form after running Split to within three-quarters of a length last start. Split then came out and won by six lengths at Sandown. Flashlight gets a couple of weeks between runs now and returns to the scene of his debut victory.
(3) Untethered – Has plenty of upside and is unlucky not to already be a multiple jumps winner. Was far too good on a bottomless track at Hamilton last start. Should go forward again and will be hard to catch.
(2) Saint Eustace – A win and three placings from his past four starts shows he’s in form. Gets a rise in weight and does come back to the smaller obstacles. Potentially a tickover run heading towards Ballarat?
(4) Hula Beat – Was going okay in the small field when he took a tumble at the last. His jumps trial since then was very promising. Will find it hard to win this contest but can run a nice race.
Selections:
(1) Flashlight
(3) Untethered
(2) Saint Eustace
(4) Hula Beat
Suggested Bet: (1) Flashlight.
Race 3 – Moredon Hill Chase – 3800m – 2:10pm
(2) Lucky Chance – Produced a dashing display to win the Great Western Steeplechase two starts ago. Form lines through Saint Eustace read well and his fitness run on the flat since then was good. His front-running style will again be a feature and should suit the Casterton circuit. Can’t knock him. Best of the day.
(3) Charlie Messy Hair – Circumstances probably helped him win here last start, although he was tough to the line. Good run on the flat since then and, in a weaker race, can be competitive again.
(4) Christmas – Ran on well behind the smart Ongatiti at Hamilton. He beat Fierce Flight and Raise The Note that day, and both have since contested far better races than this.
(6) Goondiwindi – Trial form has been solid. Was going well before condition gave out on a bottomless track at Hamilton. Suspect a better surface here and the bigger obstacles will help him.
Selections:
(2) Lucky Chance
(3) Charlie Messy Hair
(4) Christmas
(6) Goondiwindi
Suggested Bet: (2) Lucky Chance.
Multi
(9) Zoom – Place
(1) Flashlight – Win
(2) Lucky Chance – Win
Multi price: $11.10
Early Quaddie
8,9 / 1 / 2 / 1,2,4
Spend: $6 for 100%
