Weekend Best Bets: 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.

Photographs: Simon Bullard. Race 5 - 3:05PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES). Winner 'Hermosa Beach' ridden by Brenton Avdulla.

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

SATURDAY MEETINGS (AEDT Times)

FLEMINGTON (9 races, start 12.25pm), ROSEHILL (9 races, start 12.40pm),

DOOMBEN (8 races, start 1.28pm), MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, start 1.44pm),

ASCOT (8 races, 3.53pm).

BEAT THE BOOKIE: VALUE BETS

MOONEE VALLEY (Friday night)

DANNY RUSSELL (Herald Sun). Form: 11151

LAHQA

Race 6, No. 1

Will be short, but has placed behind potential top-liner last start and looks to have panels on the rest the field.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.50

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

ROSEHILL

NIC ASHMAN (Daily Telegraph). Tipsters’ Form: 6175x

RIVER WILD

Race 5, No. 1

Talented colt on the improve and has a fitness edge of Laucala. Weight a slight concern but sets up perfectly for this 1400m contest.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.30

STEPHEN ZAMMIT (Daily Telegraph). Form: 67534

HERMOSA BEACH

Race 2, No. 6

Matthew Dale has this mare really firing of late. She won at Canberra in December, then repeated the dose over 1400m at Randwick on January 16. Handles the wet and can put together a winning hat-trick here.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.60

JOHN DAVIS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 15722

PAINTED FIRETAIL

Race 8, No. 12

Hard not to be impressed by his return to racing after a four month absence. He hit the line with plenty of vigour behind River Wild at headquarters on January 16. Has a turn of foot, which should stand him in good stead in this Benchmark 78 Handicap.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.50

Painted Firetail has an impressive turn of foot. Picture: Simon Bullard

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman). Form: 40643

STAR OF MONSOON

Race 3, No. 8

Is from the Gerald Ryan camp. Just a quick note on breeding; if it’s not in the top dozen or so bred 2YO’s of the crop, I’ll give up. He’s by Lonhro out of a Danehill sister to Redoute’s Choice — and that’s just for starters. His trial was as good as I have seen from a 2YO this year. You can watch it at www.racingnsw.com.au, I hope you do. Trial, pedigree, trainer, jockey, barrier — it all adds up.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4.60

DARREN PRENDERGAST (Superracing). Form: 25x31

ANOTHER COCKTAIL

Race 6, No. 6

Former English stayer will enjoy the step up in distance after finishing close-up in two Australian starts. Hard to beat.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.80

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

FLEMINGTON

MATT STEWART (Herald Sun). Form: 16362

SUPIDO

Race 1, No. 6

High class sprinter with great turn of foot. Should gobble up this lot.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2

DARYL TIMMS (Herald Sun). Form: 2x311

PEMBERLEY

Race 9, No. 9

Lightly raced and taletented gelding that will appreciated his first crack at 1800m.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4

NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 04154

CAMDUS

Race 8, No. 9

Scratched from the Valley last Saturday in preference of this, racing in terrific order and looks well placed to complete a winning hat-trick.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.20

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

DOOMBEN

BEN DORRIES (The Courier-Mail). Form: 12

DREAM CHOICE

Race 5, No. 9

Turned in a promising debut for the Rob Heathcote stable and will be better for that. Nice barrier draw and in-form claiming apprentice James Orman on board.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4.80

BRAD DAVIDSON (Gold Coast Bulletin). Form: 14611

PIENKNA

Race 4, No. 12

Right Or Wrong is the best of the day in race six but he is odds-on and I’m not going to tip you something that short. I think the bookies have got the market wrong in race four and Pienkna should be favourite for mine. Last start, she beat all bar Three Sheets, who ran quicker time than the open class horses at the Sunshine Coast. She handles all ground and looks value at $5.50.

TAB Fixed Odds: $5.50

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Pienkna looks good value at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Jono Searle

MORPHETTVILLE

BEN SCADDEN (The Advertiser). Form: x1112

ALL EIGHTS

Race 4, No. 4

Absolutely smacked his rivals at first start for the Richard Jolly stable then raced wide and fought on gamely when beaten less than a length three weeks ago. Gives the impression he’ll appreciate the step up to 1530m and looks very hard to beat with 2kg claim for Caitlin Jones.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.50

LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 14141

SOLAR IMPULSE

Race 3, No. 5

Got back but finished off his race very smartly last time at Benalla. Drawn OK and looks more than capable of stepping up in class here with Jordan Childs taking the ride.

TAB Fixed Odds: $5

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

FEATURE RACE MARKETS

BLUE DIAMOND STAKES

Caulfield, February 27

$5 Extreme Choice

$7 Defcon

$10 Calliope

$11 Sword Of Light (nn), Weatherly (nn)

$15+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

AUSTRALIAN CUP

Flemington, March 12

$7 Mongolian Khan, Preferment

$9 Criterion (Unlikely)

$11 Almoonqith, Amralah, Bow Creek, Fawkner, Magic Hurricane, Press Statement

$15+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

GOLDEN SLIPPER

Rosehill, March 19

$3.50 Capitalist

$11 Astern

$15 Calliope, Defcon, Extreme Choice, Scarlet Rain

$26+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

Capitalist is a dominant favourite for the Golden Slipper. Picture: Grant Peters

DONCASTER MILE

Randwick, April 2

$8 Press Statement, Pride Of Dubai, Winx

$11 Azkadellia, First Seal, Kermadec, Turn Me Loose

$15+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

TJ SMITH STAKES

Randwick, April 2

$3.50 Chautauqua

$4.60 Exosphere

$11 Delectation, Japonisme, Terravista

$15+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES

Randwick, April 9

$3.50 Winx

$8 Highland Reel (Doubtful)

$11 Criterion, Mongolian Khan

$15 First Seal, Gailo Chop, Kermadec, Preferment, Press Statement, Spirit Jim

$26+ Others

FULL MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

Note: Prices correct at time of publishing