Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Armidale

A Melanie O'Gorman-trained galloper can open his new campaign with a win when he tackles the Clubs NSW Benchmark Handicap at Armidale on Tuesday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Tuesday is at Armidale in the Northern Tablelands.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for 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!

ARMIDALE

BEST BET

Race 7, No.3: SO COUNTRY

Has the best form in the race bar none, it all comes down to how he handles the Heavy 10 track conditions.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.1: GO SEEKING

Lightly-raced son of Sebring who seems to be headed in the right direction. Should remain prominent throughout.

VALUE BET

Race 1, No.10: ELECTRIC DAISY

Winless after 29 starts but her last two starts have been one P.B after the next. If it’s going to happen, it will be on Tuesday.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 1 Nos. 10, 11

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3,7,8

Race 6: 1,3,6,7

Race 7: 3

Race 8: 4

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg: 6

2nd Leg: 6

Jockey Ashley Morgan is enjoying a stellar season and can add to his tally of 117 winners on Tuesday.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan and James McDonald are tied on 117 wins in New South Wales in the 2021/22 season. Going to be a close call when they hit the line on July 31.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ARMIDALE

RACE 1

Tammy Boyd, according to Racing NSW. only has one horse in work at Scone at present and it’s a 29 starts maiden by the name of Electric Daisy. All things being equal, it could be a big day for both horse and trainer because it looks like the daughter of Testa Rossa is on the cusp of a well-earned, if not overdue, first win after those back-to-back seconds last month. Global Sensation has placed at two of his seven starts but it is important to note that he is trained here now by Stirling Osland. Go well. Seething Zonkey has placed at the venue and her only win was on a Heavy track.

Bet: Electric Daisy to win

RACE 2

Go Seeking is the first of three major players on the day for Tamworth trainer Melanie O’Gorman. This well-bred son of Golden Slipper winner Sebring has only had the three runs and the good news is that the best of them came at his last start. Drawn four so expect him to be prominent from the outset. Indiana Falls hasn’t fared as well in terms of barriers but she is a very fit mare who has the local advantage. Jade is still looking for her first win at start 29 here but bear in mind that she is trained here and has placed 10 times, two of four at the home base.

Bet: Go Seeking to win

RACE 3

Russian Standard had his first five starts for Mark Newnham and placed at three of them. Not wishing to be unfair to the son of Capitalist but he is a horse that ‘goes quick but stops quick’. That said, Armidale should suit him right down to the ground and as Antony Manton would say, he might be ‘off and gone’ before these others get warm. Big watch on the horse’s new stablemate, Acontango who, likewise, makes his debut for Cody Morgan having been trained elsewhere. Trial was a beauty. Master Of Rewards looked the part in his trial win at Scone a few weeks back. Feeling Friskee has claims, so too All Beans.

Bet: Russian Standard to win, exacta 11 to beat 13

Trainer Cody Morgan can land a race-to-race double with Russian Standard and Redeeming Spirit. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 4

Redeeming Spirit is another Cody Morgan recruit that is well placed to start winning. This daughter of I Am Invincible has three starts up in Queensland for Toby and Trent Edmonds and went very well at two of them. Plenty to like about the filly’s trial at Scone on May 25. Amber Deluxe has raced times for five placings. The Brett Dodson-trained mare has drawn a little wide which is a negative but she races on the speed which is a positive - especially here are Armidale. Broadbeach Dancer has placed at two of her four starts and should be at her peak fitness now.

Bet: Redeeming Spirit to win, exacta 11 to beat 2

RACE 5

Casino Silk is a Ross Stitt-trained filly who seems to have inherited at least some of her sire, Casino Prince’s, wet track ability. For the record, Stitt’s miss has raced five times on Heavy tracks for a win (that’s her only win) and a third (her only third too). Can’t leave without mentioning that she is a last start Heavy 9 winner. Jesellix has only won once in her 19 starts but she has placed seven times including her last four leading into Tuesday. You would think that almost guarantees her a medal. Hasalake goes in if she runs, otherwise, Rock The Dreams is elevated to ‘best of the rest’.

Bet: Casino Silk to win

RACE 6

Flying Banjo has won twice in 26 starts and one of them was at this very same course and distance on Anzac Day. His most recent start was at Moree on May 10 where he came from a long way back to beat all bar the winner. The extra 100m could be the key to unlocking a third win. Wine O’Clock is on the cusp of his third win it seems after he finished second by the narrowest of margins also at Moree last time out. Was runner-up at his only attempt at this track and distance. Scatman, a stablemate of Flying Banjo is a last start winner who has placed at four of his five runs at the Armidale 1400m.

Bet: Flying Banjo to win

Jodi Worley (pictured) rides Flying Banjo for trainer Paul Grills.

RACE 7

So Country only has to handle the Heavy track and he probably just wins, The Melanie O’Gorman-trained son of Shamexpress has raced five times for a win and four seconds so it almost goes without saying that he is a monumentally consistent horse. Trialled well in a deep heat at Scone. Kensington Kid has won seven races and placed 13 times. On top of that, the son of muddie Your Song is okay in the wet when it comes to that. Shooting Zaa has run some tip-top races this time in. Awesome Miss and Taketheshot are in the mix.

Bet: So Country to win

RACE 8

Gobbled is one of three horses trained by Brett Dodson who obliged punters by declaring the son of Star Witness as the best of the trio. This three-year-old bay has raced 10 times for a win and four placings, three of those are seconds. The most important point to make is that Gobbled’s only win so far was at this track and distance. Fight On Shades rates 60 which is a fair way above most of these and that has to count for something. Unknown on the heavy though. Vain Rich is a player, so too Phil Gould’s flashy mare and last start winner, Leaglese who was very strong through the line at Glen Innes.

Bet: Gobbled to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Armidale