Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

A Kris Lees-trained gelding was impressive winning first-up and can make it back-to-back victories at Canterbury on Friday night. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Kris Lees has French Marine in good order to make it back-to-back wins at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Grant Guy

Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury, Orange and Port Macquarie.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

CANTERBURY

BEST BET

Race 4, No.2: FRENCH MARINE

Talented Kris Lees-trained galloper that can go back-to-back to start this preparation.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.4: TWILIGHT AFFAIR

Classy leader that will take some running down first up from a spell.

VALUE BEST

Race 6, No.3: CHATEAUX PARK

Second-up from a break, this Jason Coyle-trained galloper can return to the winner‘s list.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4

Race 6: 1,3,7,8

Race 7: 1,3,5,9

Race 8: 4,7,8

Dylan Gibbons can continue his hot form at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Star apprentice Dylan Gibbons has already had five winners this week and can add to that tally on Friday night.

ORANGE

BEST BET

Race 2, No.4: IDA‘S RULES

Found one better at this track and trip last week. Ready to win a maiden on the seven day back-up.

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 5, No.9: KEROESSA

Daughter of All Too Hard returning from a break. Has trialled well and comes from right yard.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

Citizenship was a $900,000 yearling purchase two years ago and finally makes his highly-anticipated debut. From the astute Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, you can expect he is well prepared for his maiden run. Only trial was last February where he looked good behind Brosnan and has received market support for debut. Boston City returns after placing in three of his four starts in his debut prep. Trialled up well in the lead up. Dolly Bird chased home the very promising Passeggiata at Gosford last time. Don’t think she meets any horse of that quality here.

Bet: Citzenship to win.

RACE 2

Blue blood Fameux is an Exceed And Excel colt out of Group 1 winning mare Daysee Doom. Trainer Annabel Neasham has given him four trials to prep for his debut, winning his latest in style at Warwick Farm. Gets the coveted inside gate for his debut run. Queen Of Dragons is another on debut. Was doing her best work late chasing home Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Empire Of Japan in her latest trial. Stablemates Ravenclaw and Cigar Flick have both trialled well but will need to overcome sticky gates.

Bet: Fameux to win.

RACE 3

Coriolis has been knocking on the door and is ready to blow it down. Was caught deep last start at Randwick but battled on to finish a gallant second over 1200m. J-Mac on now and a better draw are both big ticks. Capital Queen is on debut but has shown plenty of promise at the trials. Expected to run well from the draw. Divots has been entered in multiple races in recent weeks but keeps drawing awful. It’s no different here; she’s drawn 15. Monitor betting moves on other first starters, namely Electric Avenue.

Bet: Coriolis to win.

James McDonald rides Coriolis for trainer James Cummings. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

French Marine was a dominant three length winner first-up at Beaumont. A noted second-up performer, he can run well again stepping into town. Dylan Gibbons’ claim gets him in better at 59.5kg. Oryx led the field up when winning at Hawkesbury. Drawn to settle in a forward position comfortably again and can feature in the finish. The Great Houdini returns from a 182 day spell. Showed plenty with a win and a second in two first prep runs. Sparring a chance off a strong The Valley win last time.

Bet: French Marine to win.

RACE 5

Twilight Affair strikes a winnable race in her return from a break. Has a win and a second in two starts at this track and trip. Will lead and take plenty of running down. Jasiri broke the maiden with a determined effort at Goulburn first-up. Needs to make the jump to city grade here. Twig really got to work late to win at Goulburn last start. Has four wins and four placings in 11 starts. Sunborn is third-up now and is better than what she has shown recently.

Bet: Twilight Affair to win.

RACE 6

Chateaux Park is a dual acceptor but can win at Canterbury. The Jason Coyle-trained galloper was excellent first-up from a spell running on for fifth. A winner and two-time placegetter second-up, he can go close here. Dimaggio is racing in incredibly consistent form with two wins and three placings at his past seven. Led all the way at this track and trip last time. Unrelenting has placed in two from four this prep, including a narrow third at Warwick Farm last time. Must overcome tricky gate.

Bet: Chateaux Park to win.

The Jason Coyle-trained Chateaux Park looks a good chance on Friday night. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Consistent type Semana is yet to miss the placings in four starts. On the short back up from Canterbury on New Year’s Day where she looked the winner, only to be gunned down by her stablemate in a desperately tight finish. Has a nom for Saturday as well. Chenin drops way back in grade after struggling at stakes level last time. The Mark Newnham-trained mare is certainly up to this. Beirut Miss got a confidence builder at Goulburn last time and should derive plenty of benefit from the win while Vittoriosa can perform well fresh.

Bet: Semana to win.

RACE 8

Whangaehu deserves a win after placing at his past four runs in town. The Proisir gelding was nailed late by Chris Waller-trained stablemate Fuller at this track and trip but can go one better here from a better draw. Fuller will be the main danger to his chances again off that win but carries 3kg extra from that performance and faces a tougher draw. Travelling Kate was third in the same event and certainly wasn’t disgraced, finishing within half a length of the leading pair. Putting that form line above all others. Main Stage can’t be discounted of the others. A winner here before.

Bet: Whangaehu to win.