Best bets and inside mail for Gunnedah and Albury on Monday 20 January, 2025

All eyes will be on the well bred Rubrical when this granddaughter of Gallica steps out for the first time at Gunnedah on Monday.

Aaron Bullock has some good chances at Gunnedah on Monday (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass casts his expert eye over the NSW race meetings at Gunnedah and Albury on Monday.

GUNNEDAH

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 14: Rubrical

Rubick filly who won her recent trial in brilliant style.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 5: Kantishna

Super impressive first-up winner who can go on with it.

VALUE

Race 7 No. 7: Trumpty Dumpty

Crying out for 1600m; Aaron Bullock on today.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3,4,5

Race 6: 3,9,10

Race 7: 1,3,8

Race 8: 3,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock, as always, will be hard to beat in the Jockeys Challenge.

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 3: Baggage Handler

Probably the most promising horse racing there today.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 7: Urafiki 

Is ‘131’ for Danielle Seib. Beautifully placed again..

VALUE

Race 4 No. 14: Party Boss

Blue-blood from a top stable off a nice trial.

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INSIDE MAIL - Gunnedah

RACE 5

Kantishna is a well-bred filly (she is out of a Galileo mare) who has a tidy little C.V of one win and a second from four career starts. That win came on December 23 at Tamworth and was totally emphatic. Close My Eyes was likewise a first-up winner, in her case, it was here at Gunnedah over 1000m and she led all the way so 900m, barrier 4, same jockey - all ticks. Speaking of good draws and good jockeys, Divine Feminine has both of those.

Bet: Kantishna to win, exacta 5 to beat 3

RACE 6

Pensativa was $1.80 into $1.60 at Muswellbrook last start and understandably so given she was third in a quality Benchmark 64 on the Beaumont the run prior. She got rolled but she looked to be all at sea on the Heavy 8 so needs to be forgiven. Shaddap didn’t win by far at the Sapphire Coast last start but there was a degree of authority in the win. Market watch advised on Bolt Away Now.

Bet: Pensativa to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (9), 2nd Leg (7)

RACE 7

Arambys drew 14 at Port Macquarie on Sunday and was duly scratched. He hasn’t drawn a whole lot better for this but assuming he runs, he will be way, way down in class given his last run was in the Gosford Guineas when last of five behind Dance To The Boom and Shohisha. Gerry Harvey’s mare Chidiac is unbeaten in her two starts, both at Quirindi. This is harder again naturally but she has been winning easily.

Bet: Arambys to win

RACE 8

Cabral is a very interesting horse. The Wayne Brown-trained gelding was $61 into $31 the day he won at Tamworth in July last year, beating the aforementioned Kantishna as it happens. He has enormous potential and is clearly the one to be on unless the market says ‘not to’. Speaking of the market, we’ll get some idea about Sir Freddie as betting progresses. Keep in mind, he is a TAB Highway winner.

Bet: Cabral each-way, quinella 3,7, First 4 Nos. 3,4,7,8,9 (boxed)

INSIDE MAIL - Albury

RACE 4

Party Boss was a $20,000 Inglis Classic Yearling purchase by Gary Colvin. It was a bargain on breeding; he’s by Farnan out of a stakes-winning USA mare by the Kentucky Derby winner, Big Brown. Lots to like about the recent trial too. Master Patrick was fifth in the same heat, six-lengths away, but was never pressured at any stage. Well-bred, top yard, top jockey. Lightning Lizard has race experience.

Bet: Party Boss each-way, Master Patrick each-way, quinella 8,14

RACE 5

Luna Jet was also a $20,000 Inglis Classic Yearling purchase, this one by Matthew Dale. The daughter of Capitalist paid for herself in a matter of 62.63 seconds when she won $20,650 on debut at Nowra on New Year’s Eve. Has talent. Divron has some good numbers to take this out - and a good draw. Dalhart’s Victorian form is very good indeed. Apart from the draw, this is perfect. Hellberg had all the favours (great ride!) but put them away big time at Corowa last time out.

Bet: Luna Jet to win, quinella 7,10, Daily Double 1st Leg (7), 2nd Leg (4)

RACE 6

Urafiki was scratched from a Class 3 at Cowra on Sunday where she drew barrier 12. She has barrier 4 for this assignment and gets a kilo and a half off for Holly Durnan. Urafiki was trained in Sydney for a while but shifted to Danielle Seib. Easy to find, impossible not to like. Luke Pepper has Lord Finland in fabulous order this time in with a narrow second followed by an easy win and they are Nick Heywood’s only rides on him before.

Bet: Urafiki to win

RACE 7

Baggage Handler is a lightly-raced 4YO gelding which has raced just three times, starting off with a very impressive debut win on the Riverside track at Wagga back in December 2023. Let’s fast forward to the present and the horse has trialled twice last month and was truly outstanding in both. Been heavily backed in early betting and it is easy to see why. Antisocial ran some good races in some very strong races in and around the Hunter when Brett Cavanough had him. Shoresby sent out some good signs over the border first-up.

Bet: Baggage Handler to win (best bet), trifecta 4 (standout), 2,6,11 (boxed)

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Gunnedah and Albury on Monday 20 January, 2025