Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Armidale

An ideal barrier will help a promising young gelding to break into the winners’ circle. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Gosford and Armidale.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gosford and Armidale.

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!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 1, No.3: ADIOS

He looks to be peaking now off two second placings and should be positive from the gate in a race where he looks well placed to win.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No.3: CAPTAIN KENNY

He’s well bred and have been given plenty of time to ensure he kicks things off in bright fashion. The trials just keep getting better for him.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 4, 7, 9

Race 6: 1, 2, 5

Race 7: 1, 3

Race 8: 4, 5, 6

The Tulloch Lodge stables of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (pictured) has a couple of good chances at Gosford. Picture: Getty Images)

TRAINER TO WATCH

Form stable Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott can win the third with Star Sparks while Tea Leaves is interestingly placed first-up over 1900m.

ARMIDALE

BEST BET

Race 5, No.3: NICATOR

He’s had a win and a placing from two first-up runs and he looks like he’s ready to improve that fresh record off a trial just behind a Stakes standard horse.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Brooke Stower can have a day out with the likes of Aarkus, Diamonds Galore, Island Grange and Previso looking like good chances.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 5

No Question is looking for 1900m now after grinding away over a mile at Hawkesbury last time and Hugh Bowman sticks. Moorabinda Mick is also building up to this but is jumping up from a 1400m race so he’ll need to be good but is fourth-up and fit enough. Lovin’ Feeling is on a quick back up which should be seen as a positive for John Sargent who is a top trainer of middle-distance horses and stayers so back his judgment in sending her to this trip third-up. Kamea ran into a red-hot horse last time so ignore the beaten margin.

Bet: No Question to win

RACE 6

Narrated raced yesterday which makes it easier for the rivals here. Microna might just be challenging her for the lead. He’s led his past three runs and was a surprise winner last start at Hawkesbury when you consider his $15 starting price but his form wasn’t that bad leading up to the race so don’t think it was a fluke win. Tea Leaves only got out to 1400m at his first preparation so it’s interesting that he’s kicking this one off at 1900m but he’s had three trials and it’s an obvious plan.

Bet: Microna to win

In-form jockey Regan Bayliss is looking to go back-to-back on Microna. Pictured: Getty Images

RACE 7

Rick’s Mania has won both his trials ahead of his debut and the last one was a six-length win. He’s drawn wide but has Hugh Bowman on and should do well fresh. Captain Kenny didn’t win his latest trial by as much but looked very comfortable in running home quick enough. Miss Maz has also trialled up well but has also drawn awkward so will need luck but she’s had race experience unlike the other two mentioned here. Deep Romance is a chance to if she runs from the widest gate.

Bet: Captain Kenny to win

RACE 8

Passistas is trying to stay undefeated at start four and this is no doubt her toughest test after three wins in the country. She has a wide gate so it will be interesting to see what tactics are adopted. Eyewitness will be positive from her gate like she was last start when winning at Wyong in a $50,000 race and she’s won second-up in the past so there should be a lot of confidence in her. Alpha Go will also press forward from the gates and give a good showing as will Attribution who will get to the front easier than most if she wants to at a track she’s already won at.

Bet: Eyewitness to win

ARMIDALE

RACE 4

Jousting has been on fire of late and is clearly loving his new life at Tamworth after coming up from Victoria with no wins in 25 starts. He bolted in last time and is well placed here from a good gate (3). House Wins has placed at his past three but this is a much tougher race. The same can’t be said about stablemate Kacper Boy who drops back in grade off a Port Cup Prelude ninth placing and before that he wasn’t far off winning at Tamworth. He pops up and wins one occasionally and this might be the day. Holy Empress goes much better second-up and is looking for this trip.

Bet: Quinella 3, 4

RACE 5

Deploys Alone hit the front inside the final 200m here two weeks ago and looked home but French Marine fought back to nab him on the line. He’ll be hard to beat again. Nicator goes well fresh and has trialled up well alongside a Stakes performer so this sets up well for him from an ideal gate and a claimer on to give him a winnable weight. Fudginit has been up and down but does have upside after a good last start win and she gets in here with a low weight.

Bet: Nicator to win

Trainer Stephen Jones has Nicator coming along perfectly for his return to racing at Armidale. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 6

Previso can probably take a sit from a wide gate and will look to pounce late. Forget the fact he was beaten by sixth lengths at Newcastle last start. The horse that won is flying and will be heading for Stakes races. Ziggi Rocks has been freshened after beating the in-form Jousting five weeks ago. He’s got the ability to win if this strategy is the right one. Beat That drops back 100m in trip off a win a month ago this plan should be the right one. Aristograts finds a much easier race now and is third-up.

Bet: Previso to win

RACE 7

Wine O’clock has run three ripper races from his past four starts and gets the dream run in transit and has more wins in front of him as he takes a sit behind the leaders. Clogs can push forward from a wide gate. He’s up in grade and needs some luck in the first part of the race but he did win his maiden by more than three lengths last time out. Chestnut Scaffa is the likely leader and is loving life under a new trainer.

Bet: Exacta 2, 1