Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Narromine, Albury

NSW form expert Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over the meetings at Narromine and Albury on Monday.

Trainer Todd Howlett has some good chances at Narromine on Monday

Here is the inside mail and best bets for Narromine and Albury racing on Monday.

NARROMINE

RACE 5

Full Commitment has raced four times so far for two thirds, a fourth at Scone to Dont Call Me Honey (goes well) and a sixth on the Beaumont in a decent quality country maiden. The bad news is she has drawn wide but the good news is two-fold, one is up to 1300m, the other is Mitch Stapleford takes 2kg off. Lots of eyes on Zaraizatycoon here on debut. For one, he is a half-brother to Tags and secondly, his trial at Dubbo was out of the world impressive.

Bet: Full Commitment each-way, quinella 7,8, box trifecta 7,8,10,11

RACE 6

King Rupert, another Mitch Stapleford ride on Monday, was all at sea on the Heavy 9 at Randwick last start in that Highway. Have to forget that one and remember him for his hits such as third to Wilbury and Gallant Star in his December 2 Highway. Timmy is a reliable racehorse who opened his new campaign with a distant third to subsequent booming Coonamble Cannonball winner Compelling Truth. Can figure. Cheap Gas is a player.

Bet: King Rupert to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (2), 2nd Leg (12)

RACE 7

Mike won twice during his last preparation, both wins at Orange over 1290m and one on a Heavy 8 so he has that wet box ticked off. Granted that may be the only box he can tick at first glance, but he rarely runs poorly and he was in some pretty high quality Class 1’s etc last time. Worth a look, each-way, at the odds. Press Forward paid a price for barrier 11 of 14 at Wellington. He is so much better catered for here with box one on Monday. British Statesman was a very close runner-up in the same race at Wellington.

Bet: Mike each-way

RACE 8

Christa is a daughter of Golden Rose winner and now Turkey-based stallion, Epaulette. This Todd Howlett trained mare has won two of her three starts, she beat Helcibell on debut and then came out and beat a handy 58 field also at Scone. Resumes here off two good trials in two very, very deep Heats. Wise to give Fletchlo a get out of jail free card for that last one at Dubbo on the Heavy 10. It’ll be wet again but probably not that bad. Musical Affair has a fabulous strike-rate of five wins and 10 placings from her 25 outings.

Bet: Christa to win (best bet)

ALBURY

RACE 4

Cyborg is a Norm Gardner bred/.owned and trained son of the aforementioned Mitch Stapleford’s grandfather’s best horse - Magic Albert. Cyborg has won seven races, four of them on Soft tracks so there is every chance that Albury will be in his ‘sweet spot’ on Monday. Spitfire was beaten under five-lengths in the Country Cup at Scone and three and a half at Warwick Farm after that. Reads well for this! La Sante is too consistent to leave out.

Bet: Cyborg to win, quinella 4,8

RACE 5

He’s My Warrior did some good things in his four runs for David Payne, notably those back to back thirds at Gosford and Hawkesbury, prior to being relocated to Ron Stubbs at Albury. The son of Hallowed Crown was $4.20 into $2.80 here on June 7 but it seems the market seriously underestimated a seriously good prospect in Cooee who beat him by a neck. No Cooee this time. That said, the Victorian visitor King De Lune has been on an upward trajectory the whole time. The Woke Waiter caught the eye big time first run for Erin Maher.

Bet: He’s My Warrior to win, quinella 1,2, box trifecta 1,2,5,8

RACE 6

Starlight Girl has an interesting back-story; she was a $250,000 weanling (wow) but only made $180,000 when re-sold at the yearling sales. The third time she was sold was to her current connections and that was for $12,000. She’s won circa $45,000 for them in just three runs! She does look ‘the one’ here but she may well have some competition from the locally trained Super Sunny Seeya who has won at home and will/ should be fitter for the excellent first-up run here on June 7.

Bet: Starlight Girl to win, quinella 3,4

RACE 7

All Astern is quite a valuable mare from a broodmare view later on; long story short, she is from the Fastnet Rock (and lots more) family. She still has lots to offer on the track with just eight starts on the board for two wins and two placings. One of those was a close, on-pace, second hetre over this same trip first-up but here’s the punchline - she is unbeaten in her two second-up runs. Champagne Sharon has raced twice for local Queen Donna Scott, winning the first one - here. Wannaloan will/should be hitting the line.

Bet: All Astern to win, exacta 2 to beat 3BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS

NARROMINE

BEST BET

Race 8 No. 12: Christa

Beat Helcibell on debut; won 2 from 3 and is resuming off a good trial in a deep Heat.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 2: King Rupert

All at sea on the bog track in the Highway last start. Has form around far superior horses to these.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 10: Hedged Your Bets

Victim of the on-pace bias at Scone first-up. Fitter and every extra metre suits him.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 7,8,10,11

Race 6: 2

Race 7: 1,2,8

Race 8: 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Talented apprentice Shannen Llewellyn has a fantastic book of rides at Narromine.

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 8: Sacred Shikoba

Unplaced in 8 starts so far but most runs were actually rather good. Go well in this.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 1: He’s My Warrior

Beaten a neck at his first run for Ron Stubbs by a very, very good stablemate.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 8: Cyborg

Is at his best with the sting out, closed off well at Nowra and has 7 races.

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Narromine, Albury