Raceday focus: Best bets for Albury, Hawkesbury

Calescent blitzed them last time out at Canberra and despite having to carrying extra weight, another win is on the cards. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Matthew Dale has Calescent racing in great form. Picture: Grant Guy

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

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ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 7, No.1: CALESCENT

Her last start win was sensational and all she needs to do is run somewhere near that and she’s going to be too good for these.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.2: BIANCO VILANO

He’s a horse on the rise and finally gets a good gate which just makes things a bit easier for a horse that’s in top form and many of his rivals here have drawn out.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 3

Race 5: 2, 3, 5, 6

Race 6: 1, 3, 4, 6

Race 7: 1, 13

Trainer Donna Scott has a number of strong chances at Albury on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image

TRAINER TO WATCH

Donna Scott has big team heading to the races and horses like Improper, Legal Award and Halo Warrior can give her success.

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET

Race 5, No.14: STALKING

She’s searching for a kill after previously running in top Stakes races in the spring and she gets out of a more suitable trip second-up after running a close second fresh.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Tommy Berry rides good chances like Gulf Of Saros, Vandangle and arguably his best ride on the day in the seventh race, California Surreal.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ALBURY

RACE 4

Brilliant Speed should be much better suited to 1400m now after a nice fresh run for new trainer Paul McVicar who got him off Peter Moody. He’ll just need some luck from a wide gate but does have the speed to get across. Sleigh’s Belle is also going to enjoy getting out to 1400m now third-up and gets a better draw now so look for a better result. I Am Richenuff showed plenty at the trials but has drawn wide for his debut which makes things hard for a horse still learning. Noble Exception could be the big improver.

Bet: Brilliant Speed to win

RACE 5

Diamond Star is closing in on another win and ran second last time ahead of Champions League which is good enough form to win this race. She just needs luck from a wide gate. Come On Harry is also drawn out and what he does in the run will depend on how well he jumps. If he gets away well, he should push forward and may even lead like he did at Cowra when winning nicely on debut. Bianco Vilano has a good gate for a change and that may be what gets him over the line for another win after producing three top runs of late.

Bet: Bianco Vilano to win

Nick Souquet partners Bianco Vilano for trainer Ron Stubbs. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Hemmerle is on fire at the moment as a confident horse who had formed a great partnership with jockey Hannah Williams. He’s up in class but deserves to be running here and will give it a shake. Island Bay Boy will likely race positive from a wide gate but it might be worry if he gets a tough run in transit because he might be vulnerable late. Mad As Zariz almost won a Listed race last start. He rises 6.5kg in weight here and has never won over more than 1400m so there’s queries. Zakeriz is the likely leader and he ticks every box for this race.

Bet: Zakeriz to win

RACE 7

Calescent bolted in last time at Canberra and does go up in weight but over this sprint trip it shouldn’t be the reason if she doesn’t win again. She just needs to hold her form and that should be good enough to win again. It’s an Open sprint but Swagger is down in the weights after running honest in a Country Championships qualifier five weeks ago and there’s no Another One of Tap ‘N’ Run in this field and he runs well at home. Halo Warrior is at his best at this track and distance.

Bet: Calescent to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR HAWKESBURY

RACE 5

Stalking looked home first-up at Kembla Grange over 1300m, only to be pipped on the line. She’s much better suited to 1500m now and should be hard to beat in a Maiden Plate at the provincials after running well in top Stakes races in the spring. Easily the one to beat. Nano Star just got a bit tired late when going forward from a wide gate at Canterbury but she should be able to take a sit with cover one off the fence here and have more energy through the line. Smart Little Miss will need luck from the wide gate but if she gets cover, she’ll be in it for a long way and the same can be said about Afewchicewords.

Bet: Stalking to win

RACE 6

Vandangle has risen through the grades in the country and is ready for this now and it wouldn’t surprise to see him sit off the speed again and pounce late like last time. He had James McDonald on last time but loses nothing with the booking of Tommy Berry. Steplee should’ve finished closer in a Country Championships qualifier after losing momentum in the straight. He also has Shelby Sixtysix form. Bella Violet doesn’t win out of turn but generally runs in the top three and coming back to the provincials gives her another chance to find a win.

Bet: Quinella 3, 5

Tommy Berry rides Vandangle at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

The Poacher’s maiden win at Goulburn five weeks ago was good because he started slowly from the widest gate then mustered speed to go around the field to take up a position on the speed before kicking in the straight and winning. If he takes the next step here, it wouldn’t be a surprise. California Surreal peaks third-up and after winning fresh in town and running a close fourth behind the handy Mayrose last time she looks a great hope as the winkers come off. What A Peach had the blinkers on for the first time in her win at Newcastle and she showed determination to score. Expect the same fight again.

Bet: Exacta 3, 5

RACE 8

I guess they’ll be aggressive on Laurelin from a wide gate here after she was beaten when sent out odds on in town first-up when things didn’t go her way. With a tough on luck in the run we should see the best of her. Esteemed Lady doesn’t know how to run a poor race which is aided by her racing style which generally takes bad luck out of the equation. She’ll keep them very honest. Way To The Stars drops back in grade after getting tightened for room in the straight last time.

Bet: Laurelin to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets for Albury, Hawkesbury