TAB On The Punt: Nathan Exelby previews the meeting at Eagle Farm

Queensland racing expert Nathan Exelby is confident weight won’t stop Invincible Al notching another win. BEST BETS, QUADDIE

Invincible Al is Nathan Exelby’s best bet. Picture: AAP

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club’s turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting in his new TAB On The Punt column.

BEST BETS

Invincible Al, R5 No.1 – $4.60

Proven here at Eagle Farm and no reason he won’t be just as effective – if not more so – returning out to 1200m again. Weights are against him, but love the way he found the line last time.

Loveisili, R6 No.4 – $6

He’s had three runs back from a long break now and really put the writing on the wall at this track last time, where he battled on strongly over on the inside when the winner came down the centra. Extra distance can be a help. He can be a big threat to the favourite Joymaker here.

Ventura Ocean, R8 No.8 – $2.40

Made a good impression at his Australian debut when fighting on strongly over 1200m. Gave Wren’s Day 3kg there and fought him off. No concern going to 1400m and without huge speed in this race, Andrew Mallyon should be able to roll forward and have him in a good spot.

MONEY TALKS

Race 1: Chico Milagro $2.40-$2.60, Wonderful Riri, $5-$4

Race 3: Linthorpe Lad $17-$12

Race 4: Seefeld $8.50-$7

Race 8: Ventura Ocean $3.30-$2.40, Scottish Mist $9.50-$6.50

Race 9: Kubrick $13-$9, Word For Word: $3.30-$2.90

Golden Slipper (Rosehill, Race 7)

Profiteer $4.50-$3.50, Stay Inside $4-$5, O’President, $17--$12, Four Moves Ahead, $9-$5.50

THE QUADDIE

Race 6: Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin BM80 (2206m)

This is a pretty thin looking staying race where JOYMAKER is the $2.15 favourite. She’s going well and is proven over this trip at Eagle Farm, but she’s not the type I want to dive in and take a short price about, as she’s only won five from 35. I’m keener to be with a horse like LOVEISILI ($6), who put the writing on the wall last start at just his third run back from a 455-day break from racing. He gets nice weight relief for Justin Huxtable and old form says the extra trip is no issue and perhaps even a positive. STARDOME was average last time but could be an improver third up.

Selections: 4 Loveisili, 5 Joymaker, 3 Stardome

Loveisili is building to a win. Picture: AAP

Race 7: Sky Racing BM 70 (1300m)

GOLLY HUTT hasn’t won for a tick over a year and 14 runs, but he’s never gone better. Has bumped into a couple of smart ones in his latest couple of starts and acquitted himself well. From a good draw, this looks an easier assignment. JAKAMA is another that arrives in career best form, having bolted in at Ipswich his past two starts. Produced a slick sectional to post the latest win and gets nice run from the draw. ALL IMPORTANT did well on unfavourable heavy ground last time and is good enough to win this, but I query his Eagle Farm form. MONTEZ failed to fire first up but Brad Stewart goes on and he’s capable of much better.

Selections: 4 Golly Hutt, 9 Jakama, 10 Montez

Race 8: Pimm’s Class 6 Plate (1400m)

VENTURA OCEAN was scratched from the wet track at the Gold Coast last week and instead returns to Eagle Farm where he made a big impression at his first Australian start. Held a prominent spot there and held off Wren’s Day, who won impressively next time out. Up to 1400m looks a plus and he seems to have enough pace to get across from this gate. ENTERPRISE PRINCE went forward last time and gave a big sight. This is a lesser grade race and he seems to be getting very close to snapping that 532 day losing sequence. BARODA is good enough to win, but not sure she’s at her best this prep. SCOTTISH MIST and LUNAR LIGHT are hopes coming off recent consistent form, but do prefer the top two picks.

Selections: 8 Ventura Ocean, 2 Enterprise Prince

Race 9: QLD Guineas Day 1 May Class 3 Plate (1600m)

A few of my old nemesis’ line up here and once again I am finding them irresistible to overlook! SLOW HANDS is just three from 31, but he’s been mostly consistent in Australia and his last start was good. With Brad Stewart to ride off a good gate, I’m hoping he can be closer in the run and be close enough to get them down. MOSSHIKI is another I’ve tumbled into many times. Naturally I dropped off when he put it all together at the midweeks. The key was being able to stay in touch when the pace slackened off early. He then produced a big sectional to win. So often we see horses go back-to-back after they have been out of the winning list for a long time. The Waller duo WORD FOR WORD and KUBRICK both have hopes, but are racing below their best.

Selections: 3 Slow Hands, 7 Mosshiki, 11 Word For Word, 2 Kubrick

AWAY FROM HOME

MICRO (Mornington, Race 1, $2.20) ran well in the VRC Sires when he didn’t have a lot of room. Out to 1500m looks no concern and the $2.20 looks fair enough.

Sydney has a super day of racing if they go ahead. Thought STAY INSIDE ($5) was hard to beat in the Slipper, while I’m also giving a rough hope to THE ELANORA ($21) in the Rosehill Guineas. He will relish the extra trip and can handle the going.