Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Warwick Farm, Grafton

A promising two-year-old from the Richard Litt yard is ready to peak third-up and claim his first victory at Warwick Farm. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Richard Litt (pictured) has Arch Of Titus ready to break through for his maiden win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Warwick Farm and Grafton.

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!

WARWICK FARM

BEST BET

Race 2, No.1: ARCH OF TITUS

He’s third-up now and rock-hard fit for this off a couple of heavy track runs. The claim gets him in with a good chance and he has the race experience on his side.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.5: WAVERIDER BUOY

She was put away after a second placing on debut and has obviously come back a better horse going by her trial form and she’s bred to handle the wet and get better with age.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 3, 9

Race 5: 2, 3, 4, 8

Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 12

William Pike can bookend the meeting at Warwick Farm. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

William Pike can have a good start to the day with Waverider Bay and a good end to it on Marooniyah in the last.

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 6, No.6: ARAMIS

His win at Gosford last start was coming but the way he did it was most impressive and if he holds that form and perhaps improves a touch he’ll be hard to hold out here.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Kris Lees has placed Our Candidate well to win the opener while Gem Song isn’t the worst hope in the Ramornie Handicap later in the day.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WARWICK FARM

RACE 4

Cotton Fingers was in on Saturday at Randwick but has been saved for this. It’s an easier race but the reason he was scratched on the weekend was because they didn’t want to run him twice on a heavy track so early in his prep. He does handle the ground and was a good winner first-up. Beep Test faded late fresh but had the wide gate and got flushed wide on the turn so it was fair enough. She’s drawn barrier one now which helps a lot and the added fitness does too so she’s a major player. Bright Flight got beat by a smart one five weeks ago so forget that margin while Sonnet Star is well placed here down in grade.

Bet: Cotton Fingers to win

RACE 5

Media Starguest handles wet ground and looks to be in the right race here and deserves a bit of luck here after his last run in a fair form race. Tough to beat if he gets the breaks. Highly Desired just keeps turning up and running good races for Claire Lever and he’s on a quicker back up now so must be running better here and that should translate into a very competitive run. Cyborg gets in with just 53kg and I know he doesn’t have city form but is the type who could be in the finish at his best with a bit of X-factor about him.

Bet: Cyborg each way

Trainer Norm Gardner prepares Cyborg who looks a good chance at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 6

Essonne looks to stay undefeated here and is coming into it off a freshen up which was the method ahead of her last run. It was only a Midwayrafe but the form out of it stacks up. Rita May is unknown in the heavy but has talent while Glittery had excuses last time but might be a false favourite. I Call Junee Home is a speedster who will take up a position and scoot over the heavy ground and look the winner for a long way as she drops in grade and gets conditions to suit.

Bet: Essonne to win

RACE 7

Marooniyah loomed up to win last start but was just beaten by a better one on the day but they gapped the rest of them and she’s on a quicker back up now and must be a better hope. The problem for her is the horse that best her that day was Stormy Rock who just happens to line up here and there’re no weight pull thanks to a claim by Reece Jones. He’s run three seconds from as many second-up runs. Gusonic is the one they have to catch out in front. Overlord has the last crack at them with the tongue tie off for the first time.

Bet: Marooniyah to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GRAFTON

RACE 5

Diasonic is by far the highest rated horse in the race which is why he gives away a lot of weight to the field. He is third-up now and ready to fire. Contreras carries 4kg less and is shooting for three-straight wins now and is dropping back in trip and should sit just off the speed and not too far back now. Princess Sparkles has a key jockey change now and she should be getting a quiet run in transit then getting her best chance to sprint home hard.

Bet: Diasonic to win

RACE 6

Whitewater is on the back up here off a good run in the Group 3 Winx Guineas on a bog track and he’ll appreciate a better surface here. Bootscooter is only coming off Highway races but has been running very well in them and won last start and probably should’ve won the start before that too. It’s hard to not like the way Aramis won at Gosford last start which was coming off a few earlier good efforts leading up to it. He just needs luck from the barrier. They’ve put the blinkers on Harvey’s Way which should be a good move after his sluggish performances of late.

Bet: Aramis to win

Ranges can take out the Ramornie Handicap for Peter and Paul Snowden. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Ranges has the gate speed to lead or sit outside the leader from a wide gate and he’s going to be in this for a long way. Stablemate and race favourite King Of Sparta will need more luck from his wide draw and if he’s three-wide with cover in the run he’s going to be rattling home. Prime Candidate will also be on the speed from a wide draw so the tempo is going to be strong enough to set it up for something at the back. On ability, Southern Lad could swamp them late but he’s been sacked by many punters so far. I like McCormack at huge odds if he gets a run.

Bet: McCormack each way if he gets a run or Ranges to win

RACE 8

Rupertson is on the way up and well placed here with a decent gate and Group 1-winning jockey on. Dark Euro is the local who will give it a shake down in grade here and he ticks every box on paper. Cabsav is another well placed local horse who has won twice on this track but has drawn the carpark which makes it tough but he’s fit and in the right form. Kapsali is another with his best racing in front on him and it’s a shame he’s drawn wide too because he looked the part in his recent barrier trial.

Bet: Rupertson to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Warwick Farm, Grafton