Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Randwick (Kensington)

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman is poised for another winning day at Randwick, while a wet track should pose no problems for a talented Matt Dunn-trained colt.

Trainer Matthew Dunn. Picture: AAP

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones runs the rule over the midweek meeting on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday.

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!

BEST BET

Race 3, No. 2: Magic Ruler

He’ll handle a rain-affected track and proved last time in he was a talented horse and his trials suggest he’s ready to go first-up.

Sam Clipperton will ride the Matt Dunn-trained Magic Ruler. Picture: Getty Images

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No. 2: Hilal

We’ll have to trust the trials here and back him to explode on debut for a top stable. He looked quite good in his latest heat behind Inglis Millennium favourite Profiteer.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No. 8: Raccolto

Another horse we’ll have to take on trust off a quite trial for Team Hawkes where it looked like she had a stack more to offer.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 5, 8

Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 9

Race 6: 1, 5, 9

Race 7: 3, 9

TRAINER TO WATCH

JOHN THOMPSON only has two runners going around at his home track, No Question and Laila Vega, and both may produce at decent enough odds.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

HUGH BOWMAN might just have a day out with good winning hopes like King Of Sparta, Wheelhouse, Joigny and Mossman Gorge.

Hugh Bowman is set for another big day at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

RACE 1

Hilal looked very comfortable in both trials for Team Hawkes and Tommy Berry rode him on both occasions. You get the feeling he’s ready to let rip here on debut and he looks ready to go. Syracuse also looked the part in her latest trial and James McDonald has also been on her in both heats and she too looks above average but also has a wide draw to contend with. Expect King Of Sparta to sit off the speed from a wide gate and be doing his best on the line. He might swamp them late. It’s a mistake to underestimate the Freedman stable with their young horses and Single Honour looks to be another promising type who gets the gun run in transit.

BET: HILAL to win.

RACE 2

Wheelhouse is in a new stable after three-straight seconds during his first preparation and he’s been given three trials under Chris Waller, who takes him straight to town off a long break and the punters have come for him already. Chris Williams isn’t riding The Denzel (or any horse in this race) but has done plenty of work on the young horse and said he wished he was riding him in this race because the stable has an opinion of him. Favreau got to a Group 1 last time in and put in a great first-up run over 1400m in that prep. look for him to be rattling home late and the wet track isn’t an issue. Raccolto looks to be flying under the radar and no doubt is overs here.

BET: RACCOLTO each way.

RACE 3

Skedaddle debuts here and should have the speed to get across from a wide gate and perhaps sit outside the leader. She is bred to handle a wet track but connections don’t want it heavy for her first run. Magic Ruler won’t be worried about a wet track and he showed more than enough during his first preparation to suggest he’s a great winning hope here. Lady Of Luxury put in an eye-catcher in a good race first-up in the Gold Coast to suggest she’s come back a better horse. No question ran eighth of nine in his latest trial but don’t be fooled by that result. He was under a tight hold.

BET: MAGIC RULER to win.

RACE 4

Joigny has been knocking on the door for a while now and almost won here two starts ago. She’s had time to freshen up to come back to 1550m and I think that’s a good plan. Joliette also hasn’t won for a while but keeps getting support and she’s no doubt good enough to be in the finish here but is she in the best form? Lamu drops in grade in a race without a top chance so she’s well placed even if she might want further. Bizou is now ready for this trip after running on well over 1350m last time and she’s third-up and ready for a peak run.

BET: JOIGNY to win.

Trainer Matthew Dunn has a great winning chance with Magic Ruler. Picture: AAP

RACE 5

Guise gets an easier race here after mainly running in town in Saturday grade for a while now and we can forgive her for a last place finish the other day when not getting much luck. Majella is also back in grade and the standard of the race won’t bother her but a wet track might. Laila De Vega will like getting back to her home track after a couple of good efforts at Canterbury and if she holds that form she’s a huge chance. Chocolatier is on the quick back up and is one of the toughest in this race with two wins at the trip.

BET: LAILA DE VEGA to win.

RACE 6

Proud Mia is back in form and shoots for four-straight here after dominating in lesser grade. She’s the likely leader in this race and should give a kick and be hard to chase down. Mossman Gorge carries 5.5kg more but deserves it and has won at this track twice and is a real 1000m specialist who has the last crack at them from off the speed. Geist will also likely sit off the speed after two good wins at the provincials and there’s no doubt that she’s good enough to be a city winner. Zeftabrook goes well fresh and was given a winning trial as he resumes here from the inside gate and with a low weight.

BET: Exacta 1, 5.

RACE 7

Flexible strode through the heavy ground to win at Warwick Farm a month ago and she rises in trip here. She is a horse on the rise with more wins to come but she’ll still have to be an improver to win again and there’s no reason to think she won’t. Mars wants a drying track but is going to be better second-up now while Snitzify will make them work hard for a win here. His form has been for some time now and he’s been managed well this time in. Escaped will try and lead them into the straight and is he gets things his ow way he’ll take full advantage.

BET: SNITZIFY to win.