Weekend Best Bets: Find out who the experts are tipping

OUR experts give you an early shot at finding a winner as they look at the major races around the nation.

OUR experts give you an early shot at finding a winner as they look at the major races around the nation.

SATURDAY MEETINGS (AEST Times)

CANTERBURY (9 races, start 11.40am),

FLEMINGTON (9 races, start 11.55am),

DOOMBEN (8 races, start 12.22pm),

MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, 12.38pm),

BELMONT (8 races, start 2.08pm).

BEAT THE BOOKIE: VALUE BETS

CANTERBURY

SPORTSMAN PREVIEW: CANTERBURY

RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 90152

AVONACO

Race 8, No. 5

Has been in great form all winter, winning two of his four starts and proving very competitive each race. Hugh Bowman won on Avonaco two starts back and is back in the saddle here, the sprinter has drawn ideally in barrier two and will get the gun run tucked in behind the speed.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4.20

NIC ASHMAN (Daily Telegraph). Form: 61x48

SHAHRAZAD

Race 9, No. 6

Big win first-up on the heavy over this track and distance. Form suggests he drops off second-up but he has had excuses. Can go on with it this time.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3

STEPHEN ZAMMIT (Daily Telegraph). Form: 11472

PINDAN PEARL

Race 4, No. 5

Tim Martin has had this mare racing in fine form, working home well at Rosehill on June 4 and then she found plenty under pressure to score over 1900m there last time out. Goes up in grade here but this looks the ideal step for her. Will take heaps of stopping again.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3

JOHN DAVIS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 3x456

CANNYESCENT

Race 3, No. 6

Is unbeaten in two preps fresh and won’t mind the softer conditions under foot. Look ideally poised to keep fresh form statistics intact following length win from Mali Rose in 1200m Rosehill Open trial July 15. Has a touch of class.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.30

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman). Form: 85x28

DYLAN’S DYNASTY

Race 2, No. 12

Can be his own worst enemy at times but, at his best — and he would need to be — he is quite up to winning a Highway Handicap. Barrier 12 of 12 isn’t ideal but who knows where the best ground may be. He handles soft/heavy and has only 53.5kgs.

TAB Fixed Odds: $7.50

DARREN PRENDERGAST (SuperRacing). Form: 03756

SHAHRAZAD

Race 9, No. 6

Ploughed through the heavy conditions to score an impressive first-up win at this track earlier this month. Likely to encounter similar conditions and be hard to beat again.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

FLEMINGTON

SPORTSMAN PREVIEW: FLEMINGTON

MATT STEWART (Herald Sun). Form: 31015

ABILITY

Race 9, No. 6

Freshened and recent trial winner. Should be too classy.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.40

MICHAEL MANLEY (Herald Sun). Form: 221x2

DANIELA ROSA

Race 4, No. 3

Exciting filly who is nicely weighted against the older mares. Drops five kilos on her last start win over potential Group horse Euro Angel over 1600m at Flemington. Extra 200m should suit.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.60

DARLY TIMMS (Herald Sun). Form: 1x126

JERILDERIE LETTER

Race 8, No. 12

Past two have been good and gets a massive weight drop here which should make the difference.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.90

CHRIS VERNUCCIO (SuperRacing). Form: 24612

JERILDERIE LETTER

Race 8, No. 12

Past two runs in Melbourne have been excellent and gets some weight relief against the older horses. He should have the fitness to settle a lot closer.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.90

NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 12162

DANIELA ROSA

Race 4, No. 3

Classy filly who has resumed from a spell with two dominant wins and looks well placed to make it a winning hat-trick. In well at the weights after the claim and surprised she didn’t open favourite.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.60

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Jerilderie Letter, right, will get some weight relief from the older horses on Saturday.

DOOMBEN

SPORTSMAN PREVIEW: DOOMBEN

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail). Form: 1172x

STRATURBO

Race 4, No. 3

Produced a benchmark performance for this race when an impressive shortcourse winner at this track over the carnival. Has since been to Melbourne and failed (not dismally) but is better suited here. Drawn to get the gun run and stalk the favourite, who has a poor record at this specialist trip.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4.20

BRAD DAVIDSON (Gold Coast Bulletin). Form: 37531

PERSISTENT SHADOW

Race 1, No. 13

Happy to take on Royal Tithe here and I thought the $8 on offer about Persistent Shadow was a nice price. I like the way she worked to the line over the 1350m at Doomben last start and she clocked the equal quickest last 200m split of the race (with Invinciboy). The step up to the mile shouldn’t bother her and she should go close.

TAB Fixed Odds: $7.50

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

MORPHETTVILLE

BEN SCADDEN (The Advertiser). Form: 3x424

HOYLAKE

Race 2, No. 4

Handy stayer who should be close to his best after four runs this campaign. Wasn’t far behind Subiaso last time and expect him to be prominent from the inside barrier with Matthew Neilson in the saddle.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.20

LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 13x62

POMP

Race 3, No. 2

Talented youngster who was good winning two starts back before appearing disappointing on face value last time. Drawn out in the small field but has boom Hong Kong apprentice Kei Chiong in the saddle.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.50

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Note: Prices correct at time of publishing