Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Albury

A promising three-year-old from the Andrew Dale stable can kick off his latest campaign on a winning note. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Friday is highlighted by the Albury Cup meeting.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Albury.

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!

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 2, No.3: MOJO MUSIC

This three-year-old resumes off a 15-week spell and he’s been a model of consistency so far with four seconds and a win from five runs. He ran half a length second to Tap ‘N’ Run which has proved to be super form.

NEXT BEST

Race 8, No.7: BOSS LADY ROCKS

She’s had an eight-week break after a very good third placing at Moonee Valley and prior to that she ran second at this track and was close behind the smart Ten Bells in a Highway.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.6: MAURICE’S MEDAD

He’s just looking for a dry track after three Soft track runs this time in. And there’s no Anamoe to take on down here like there was in the Hobartville Stakes.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 5

Race 6: 1, 3, 9

Race 7: 1, 2, 5, 6

Race 8: 2, 6, 7

Brock Ryan has several good chances at Albury including Maurice’s Medad in the Cup. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Brock Ryan’s ride on Maurice’s Medad in the Cup will be crucial while Foxtrot Bravo and Nicci’s Song are also good rides for him on the day.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Ron Stubbs could walk home with a winning double if Bianco Vilano, in the third, and Boss Lady Rocks, in the last, race to their best.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ALBURY

RACE 1

Smarter Than You is building towards a win with two seconds from as many runs this time in at Goulburn and that form translates well for this part of the state. Miss Hoff hasn’t been seen at the races since her debut in 2020 and that was in the Gimcrack Stakes. She’s been off the scene for a long way and has been given a typical Waterhouse/Bott trial to have her forward for this from barrier one. They probably won’t let Burdekin fly under the radar this time after running a close third at Scone at double figure odds five weeks ago.

Bet: Smarter Than You to win

RACE 2

Mojo Music just ran into a better one before being spelled in December. He’s never run worse than second from five runs and another of those defeats came at the hands of Tap ‘N’ Run which super form. Bold Offa has a lot of speed and will look to lead this field into the straight off two on-pace wins this time in. He faces his toughest test now but is very fit and has drawn well enough. Controversial Miss is on the way up like many others here while Lord Domino gets an inside gate and should box seat in the run and have no excuses.

Bet: Mojo Music to win

RACE 3

Kelvedon Road won well two runs back before not figuring in the Canberra Guineas but this is a much easier assignment and he’s done well here in the past. Riddlero hit the line strongly in Victoria two weeks ago over 1200m and even though it’s his first time out to 1400m he looks ready for it. Two Ya Got rises in class but is in the hands of a top country trainer and from the barrier he’s going to get the run of the race.

Bet: Riddlero to win

Tahlia Hope (pictured) takes the ride on Riddlero on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Foxtrot Bravo doesn’t win out of turn but is pretty honest and it was no disgraced to get beat last start by In De Summertime who has been in red-hot form this preparation. The wide gate here is the only query for a horse who has won at 2400m in the past. Outahand bolted in here two runs back and ran pretty well at provincial level last week and if he’s ever going to win at 2400m now’s the time. Riding High has won up to 3900m over the jumps so there’s stamina there.

Bet: Quinella 5, 6

RACE 5

Toretto is flying and is effective on all surfaces and has run second here at his only run at the track. The big positive is that he’ll relish the step up in distance fourth-up. Manderboss bolted in at Canberra over a mile a fortnight ago and of that he’ll naturally have support. But he does get back in his races so barrier one probably isn’t ideal for a horse who likes to get clear air to make his run down the outside. Wise Dragon is going well in lesser grade so it will have to step up to keep the good form on paper going.

Bet: Manderboss to win

RACE 6

The veteran Eurosay is placed well here with a claim and he was just beaten home by Toretto at Goulburn last time and it runs in the race before this so that performance will help in deciding how good a chance Eurosay is in this easier race. Miss Verbier comes up with modest Victorian form but that’s often good enough to succeed in country NSW and this isn’t the hardest Benchmark 58. Hardware Lane would be right in this but isn’t a certain starter from a wide gate.

Bet: Eurosay to win

Maurice's Medad looks a good chance in the Albury Cup. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Five Kingdom will test his rivals here because he’s tough and likes to race on the speed and he will be in this for a long way. Matt Dale has placed him very well and he even drops a bit in weight for this off two solid runs. If Maurice’s Medad races here it’s because he’s searching for a drier track. If he runs here, he can show punters just how good he is because he’s underrated in Sydney. Entente also drops back from a Group 1 race and this might be what he needs to find some confidence.

Bet: Maurice’s Medad to win

RACE 8

Boss Lady Rocks has been freshened since running well at Moonee Valley and the start before that she got beat in a photo finish here. She gets barrier one and if she gets even luck, she’s the one to beat. Nicci’s Song is back fresh and must be respected considering she’s won twice from three first-up runs. Just A Flash also fires first-up while Lunar Hero shouldn’t be completely dismissed off a poor last run.

Bet: Boss Lady Rocks to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Albury