Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wyong, Narromine

A progressive John O’Shea-trained horse is coming off an impressive win at Wyong and is set to make it two in a row. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

John O'Shea returns to Wyong with last start winner Duke Of Gordon and the gelding looks hard to beat again. Picture: Getty Images

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

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!

WYONG

BEST BET

Race 5, No.3: DUKE OF GORDON

The John O’Shea-trained gelding is back to the same track he won at last time and really loves it wet. He won with a bit in hand two weeks ago which is a good sign going up in grade. He looks to have a lot in front of him.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.3: CRAZY TRAIN

She ran above her odd fresh at Hawkesbury and was really charging through the line. She’s got good from around her and this is her chance to grab another win.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 6

Race 6: 1, 2, 3, 8

Race 7: 2, 4, 5

Race 8: 1, 2, 5

In-form jockey Sam Clipperton looks set for a good day at Wyong. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

I think Sam Clipperton can have a race-to-race double in the sixth and seventh events with Crazy Train and Daichi while Native Rock isn’t without a hope in the last.

NARROMINE

BEST BET

Race 5, No.1: BLACKADDER

He’s got to give away weight to much of the field but he’s easily the best horse in the races and a claim makes it easier for him well down in grade. A bog track would be the concern though.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Rodney Northam will fancy his chances when he saddles up Miss Dungog, Tango Stepz and Second Half.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WYONG

RACE 5

Duke Of Gordon has thrived on heavy ground of late and won here last start in good fashion. It looked like he had a bit left in hand when winning which bodes well for this rise in grade. Allthehills came from nowhere to win here three weeks ago at his 10th start. He hasn’t won or placed in his nine previous runs but he thrived with the tongue tie off. He looked like he wanted a mile too. Gwan So is another last start winner who is well placed here as is Launch Attack who beat home Packer last start and it come out and won at Nowra on Tuesday.

Bet: Duke Of Gordon to win

RACE 6

Crazy Train was doing her best work on the line first-up and she’s got plenty of good form around her. She didn’t get the best of luck last time and should be going well now at a track she’s won at before. Publicist put in a typical Waterhouse/Bott trial which was good to see and he’s a horse on the rise no doubt and this track should suit. Mascherata’s record doesn’t read great but she’s been in some high-class races and ran a nice second last start off a four-week break so off a fortnight’s break she should be better now. Cream Rises should be himself right into this and beat most home.

Bet: Crazy Train to win

Matthew Dunn’s Crazy Train will take good improvement from her first-up run and looks tough to beat.

RACE 7

Cushy runs well here so there’s no surprise he’s kicking off his campaign at the track. The first-up record doesn’t look flash but he hasn’t run too baldly fresh. Sabino handles wet ground and has only missed a placing once in six starts. The problem is he’s only won once. He puts himself on the speed and makes his own luck so expect him to be in it for a long way. Daichi looks well placed here and has won second-up. He was beaten by an underrated horse last time and does handle wet ground and gets the gun run from the gate.

Bet: Daichi to win

RACE 8

Sachello won fresh last time in and has good enough form around her to be going close here. She’s had two trials for this and should be primed to win from an ideal barrier. Selhurst Park has only missed a placing once in eight runs to date and makes his own luck on the speed. He’s hard to get past. Crimson Rock led and won last time and loves wet ground so relay on him to give a good showing here and the blinkers coming off hasn’t hurt at all.

Bet: Sachello to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NARROMINE

RACE 4

Dalavin won two in a row before going to a Highway where he ran 10th but don’t judge him too harshly for that. He was caught deep on a testing track from a wide gate and he should be getting a much easier run in transit this time back in grade. Don’t be surprised to see him back winning again. Moetta has drawn out but has the speed to get across and take up a position. Her second-up performances are a concern though. Tango Stepz gets back onto a softer track which helps her a lot and Titration should be finding this a lot easier after a nice run at Doomben last time out. He peaks now third-up.

Bet: Quinella 1, 4

RACE 5

Blackadder gets in with a winnable weight here and should be getting the gun run from the gate as he drops well back in grade. Hard to see him not being in the finish in a very weak race. Shecago is going better than the form reads and gets all the favours from the draw. Sweet Home Alabama doesn’t win out of turn but is better suited to 1300m now after scoring a pass mark first-up. It just looks like the top weight has their measure here if he carries the weight.

Bet: Blackadder to win

Trainer Clint Lundholm has dropped Blackadder back in grade and the horse should figure prominently. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Gusonic has drawn out but has the speed to get across and take up a position. He’s been set for this and ran third first-up in a Country Championships heat behind Another One so the form is super. A little luck early and he’s hard to get past. Alpha Go has been in tougher races than this so is suitably placed here and he loves getting his toe into the ground so there’s plenty to like as the tongue tie goes on for the first time. Zouologist didn’t finish far off them in a $75,000 race last start at Albury and he just needs a touch of luck from a tricky barrier and he’s right in the finish.

Bet: Gusonic to win

RACE 7

Second half has just got better and better with each run at his first preparation for Rodney Northam and it’s hard to see him going backwards here. He holds his form or keeps improving and he’s tough to beat against a lot of horses who have reached their career peak. Legal Award will like the conditions thrown up here and he really improved last time out and is better than the record suggests. Crowdy Bay had a kill at Armidale last time after running in better provincial races so look to see a confident horse again.

Bet: Second Half to win

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