Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Goulburn and Armidale on Monday

Racenet form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the NSW meetings at Goulburn and Armidale on Monday, presenting his best bets, value selections, quaddie picks and inside mail.

Keagan Latham has some good rides at Goulburn on Monday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Racenet form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the NSW meetings at Goulburn and Armidale on Monday, presenting his best bets, value selections, quaddie picks and inside mail.

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GOULBURN TIPS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 3: King Taurus

First run for Danny Williams; has trialled quite well.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 9: Serial Offender 

Easy winner of her maiden last start and can keep progressing.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 9: Haberfield

Can only be better for that encouraging debut.

QUADDIE

RACE 5: 1,6,9

RACE 6: 3,5

RACE 7: 9,11

RACE 8: 1,6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Keagan Latham could skip out to an early lead in the Jockeys Challenge.

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GOULBURN INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5

Stormfield is a racy type bred at Widden; his first two dams are by Paul Perry’s star colts Stratum and Choisir. This will be the Gary Portelli trained three-year-old’s second career start but his first in blinkers and first as a gelding. Bombard is a typically quick son of Spirit Of Boom and is ready to go to the races now off two excellent trials. Has the draw to win. Huka Falls ran a respectable race in a good quality Midway maiden at Wyong.

Bet: Stormfield to win

RACE 6

King Taurus generates quite a degree of interest here given that this is his NSW debut for the new stable, that being Danny Williams who trains here at Goulburn. The five-year-old was a real eye-catcher in his one run before being sold. Last trial was a ripper. Hot Toddy has been a fair bit costly throughout his career but he has gone close a few times and if anything, his pattern has probably held him back a touch. The Main Event has barrier 3 and Jeff Penza.

Bet:King Taurus each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (3), 2nd Leg (1)

RACE 7

Serial Offender is a very well filly. Her grand-dam Regal Cheer won the Coolmore, her fourth dam Regal Chamber placed in a Slipper behind Guineas and Encounter. The Matthew Dale-trained filly was a popular ($1.45) and predictable winner at the Sapphire Coast last start and won like a horse that would win again. Magic Forest went to Dubbo first-up and won. She is trained here by Danielle Seib but she got dealt the visitor’s draw! Scoffa is pretty reliable.

Bet: Serial Offender to win

RACE 8

King Of Hearts is a half-brother to In Secret. This son of Sebring is trained for Kim Harding by Craig Carmody – they won at Canterbury with Zan last Friday night. As for King Of Hearts, he has zero early pace but he will invariably get going late. This is within his reach/limits. Stay Tuned is third-up off a 1200m then 1400m at Kembla both times so just couldn’t have had a better build-up to this perfect race. My Blue Jeans is getting close again.

Bet:King Of Hearts each-way, quinella 1,6, box trifecta 1,6,7,11

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ARMIDALE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 10: Torn

Best horse in the race but with the worst draw.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 7: Sharpen The Knives

Been costly but consistent; now or never again time.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 10: It’s A Written

Building up to a win and is pitched in at the weights.

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ARMIDALE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4

It’s A Written is owned by racecaller and presenter Anthony Manton who (with others) won last Friday’s Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai. This mare has been very good indeed in her three starts at this, her second preparation. It is clear she is nearing a win and has both the draw (5) and weight (53.5kg) to deliver. Former Godolphin gelding International has finished runner-up in his two starts for Nikki Pollock. Drawn wide here. Strassman has trialled up keenly.

Bet:It’s A Written to win, Strassman to place

RACE 5

Bold Hoi Ho has been on an upward trajectory this time in, bearing in mind, he has only raced on three occasions during the current campaign. Notably, second-up, he was runner-up to the handy My Mum’s Toyboy then had no luck in the Kempsey Cup in as much as he got too far back. Local hope Extreme Merger is flying, that much is clear given he has won three of his last four. Vis I Do has won two out of four at this venue. Mystery Lad goes in.

Bet:Bold Hoi Ho each-way

RACE 6

Holy Mackerel was always too good to be a maiden for as long as she was. In fact, it was start number 16 that she finally broke through. That was November 10 here at Armidale where he has every chance, that’s true, but she won comfortably in the end. Paris Lad looked the winner on paper last Sunday here but was beaten. Has to step up this time – but can. Hypothermia was $21 when she won at Grafton but was going alright in hindsight.

Bet:Holy Mackerel to win, quinella 1,4 trifecta 1,4,5,7

RACE 7

Swanbrook Gem has a compelling record at this same track and distance of two wins from three starts. As for the ‘other’ one, that was last Sunday when and where he clocked on seventh of 10 but it wasn’t quite as bad of a run as it might seem. Hate the draw, like the horse. It could be that apart from the wide alley, Swanbrook Gem’s biggest danger could come from the stablemate Electric Evie who has won here at Armidale. Thrownunderthebus and Enterprise Legend are contenders.

Bet:Swanbrook Gem and Electric Evie each-way, quinella 6,9, exacta 6 to beat 9

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Goulburn and Armidale on Monday