Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Canterbury

A promising John Thompson-trained three-year-old can return from a spell in the best possible fashion. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Wednesday is at Canterbury.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury.

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 5, No.3: BARTOSELLI

Hugh Bowman trialled him up in May and after that said he wanted to stick with him. John Thompson has placed him very well here.

NEXT BEST

Race 4, No.5: TINNIE WINNIE

She smashed them here last start and there’s no reason why she won’t continue her winning ways over more ground which is ideal.

VALUE BET

Race 3, No.6: ARCH OF TITUS

This Snitzel colt looked great in his lead up barrier trial and has the blinkers on straight away to keep his mind on the job. The stable likes him a lot.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 5, 6, 10

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 2, 3, 5, 7

Race 7: 4, 5, 6, 9

As Chris Waller departs for England ahead of next week’s Royal Ascot carnival where he has Nature Strip and home Affairs ENGAGED, he can continue his hot form at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

TRAINER TO WATCH

I would be surprised if Chris Waller didn’t continue his success on Wednesday. Maritima looks like she’ll make a good start to her career in the opener. Operative, Tinnie Winnie and all four in the last are hopes.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Hugh Bowman will like his chances on Bartoselli, Lucky Variety and Karlstad while Sunborn and Contemporary are decent chances too.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR CANTERBURY

RACE 1

They seemed to do everything to hold back Maritima as much as possible in her only barrier trial and she cruised over 900m to run third but could’ve won if let loose. She’s drawn well so look for a top debut. Uncorked has good form behind her and the blinkers come off. The lead up trial was a pass mark but she’s had two and is ready to go. Lady Harlem didn’t get a lot of luck last time and is third-up now so has an advantage fitness-wise on most of these. Lucky Variety finished it off well after getting held up on debut behind what looks like a very smart horse. She’s going to benefit off that and Bowman is on from a decent gate.

Bet: Lucky Variety to win

RACE 2

Sirens Star might be a little green but looks to have the talent to do well here on debut. She should get the run of the race from the barrier and we’ll find out what’s under the bonnet with a leading jockey booked. Kirishi has only trialled in Queensland for Chris Waller and was entered for a few races but the weather stopped plans. She’s here now but hasn’t trialled for a little while but with McDonald on she’ll attract support. Valoria looks nice and forward for her first start. She has a wide gat but might be able to take a sit and flash home.

Bet: Sirens Star to win

Tommy Berry can claim consecutive races on Wednesday with Sirens Star and Arch Of Titus. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Operative looked impressive in his latest barrier trial and has drawn to get the gun run under James McDonald. He should go close here. Ever Bella returns off a long spell and she trialled up in comfortable fashion and Nash Rawiller rode her on debut and she should be a threat. Contemporary has strong form around him and is now second-up and ready to fire. Edna has undergone tie-back surgery and hasn’t trialled this time in so is a market watch on debut. Arch Of Titus looked the part in his barrier trial and the blinkers go on straight away from a good gate with a leading jockey on. He might be the one at decent enough odds to back.

Bet: Arch Of Titus to win

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RACE 4

Tinnie Winnie bolted in off a seven-week break and is even more suited to this trip now and should get all the favours from the good barrier. She’ll make her own luck with the leading jockey on. Yggdrasil is super consistent but struggles to win. She’s raced very well here at this trip of late and should be fighting it out again. Perfect Radiance ran second in a stronger race last time and likely leads them into the straight here and gives a good sight. She’s got the form behind here and is very fit for this.

Bet: Tinnie Winnie to win

RACE 5

Hugh Bowman couldn’t hold onto Bartoselli tight enough in his latest barrier trial and we should see this consistent type an even more improved runner at his third preparation and he’s drawn to get all the favours. Hard to beat and there’s plenty of stable confidence. King Kapa drops back to the midweeks after racing too keenly in a Saturday event at Randwick two Saturdays ago. The ear muffs go on pre-race and if he can settle, he’s a chance. Prince Invincible usually leads his races and should be suited by this track even though he hasn’t been here before. Aspen Chase deserves a crack at a city race.

Bet: Bartoselli to win

Reece Jones rides the Angela Davies-trained Pleading. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Sunborn won fresh off a let up this time in and just hated the Heavy 9 track last start even though her first-up win was on a heavy. Miss Fox has been going pretty well this time in without winning. This is one of her easier tasks against her own sex so she’s better placed now. Pleading looked quite comfortable in her barrier trial and hasn’t missed a placing when racing fresh and gets a claim and good barrier so she should look the winner at some stage and is ready to get the job done in town for the first time. Lepreezy also trialled up nicely and has won four times when produced first-up.

Bet: Pleading to win

RACE 7

Black Queen didn’t get the cleanest of runs first-up but was strong through the line on the Kensington track. She rises in trip which is a big help and a senior rider now goes on with a good barrier to enhance her hopes. James McDonald sticks with Kirkeby after he was sound first-up against a few fitter ones so expect a better performance now. Stablemate Karlstad is also an improver second-up. The result here depends on how much these three Chris Waller runners jump out of the ground off a fresh run. Tidal Creek beat Tinnie Winnie by four lengths in February and it races earlier at this meeting. He won here last start before going for a spell.

Bet: Black Queen to win