Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Grafton

A former Sydney mare now with Nathan Doyle is poised to notch her maiden win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Nathan Doyle has a found an ideal race for new recruit, Starboreta, to break her maiden at Grafton. Picture: Grant Guy

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

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 1: STARBORETA

She’s more than matched it with them at the provincials under Team Hawkes. New trainer Nathan Doyle is giving her a kill here.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 5: GOLDEN POINT

He went great fresh at Grafton and just missed out second-up. He’s placed well and has won on a heavy track and is making good progress as his career kicks off.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 8: REAL GENT

The best wet tracker on the card? He’s won four times on heavy ground and has been going well over the shorter trips this time in.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1

Race 6: 4, 8, 9

Race 7: 1, 6, 8, 11

Race 8: 1, 4, 10

Hugh Bowman makes a rare visit to Grafton on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

It’s an easy one; Hugh Bowman. The champion rider has a good book of rides and would be disappointed if he didn’t win a couple of races.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Fleur Blanch only has two running, Tigertude and Phoenix River, but don’t rule out a winning double.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GRAFTON

RACE 1

Luz Long rarely runs a poor race but the problem is he’s only won once in 10 attempts, with six placings. He’s by El Roca and he’ll enjoy a wet track and has placed here twice from three attempts. Clay Pan Boogie should handle the conditions and has been freshened for this for a new trainer and has a leading country rider on for good measure. Portafortuna has a heavy track win to his name which was his only victory and he’s run second at his past two and lost both by small margins so he’s obviously knocking on the door.

Bet: Luz Long to win

RACE 2

Imprinted has his first NSW start after coming up from Victoria and these types generally come up to this part of the state and have success and the previous form should be enough to give punters a bit of confidence. Markievicz was previously trained by Anthony Cummings in town and has been hitting the line well of late in this part of the state from wide gates. She drips back 100m here but has a better draw to be closer in the run and won’t get trapped wide this time. These two look the best chances in a race that’s there for the taking.

Bet: Quinella 2, 8

RACE 3

Golden Point won at odds in his first start for Stirling Osland and was very good in running second three weeks ago when being strong on the line. He must be peaking now and gets the run of the race from the barrier. Significant Rule gets in well here at the weights and broke his maiden at the provincials a few starts ago when trainer by the Waterhouse/Bott yard. Klopp hasn’t run lees than half a length off the winner at his past two and is bred to handle wet ground while Wuddacuddashudda is a bit up and down but good enough on its day.

Bet: Golden Point to win

Stirling Osland (right) prepares Golden Point who looks hard to beat. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 4

First starter Tigertude was given a fairly easy time of it in his only barrier trial which was a winning one which bodes well for his debut against a field of horses who mainly haven’t shown much to date. Newitt saves his best performances for this track which gives him and advantage even if he’s got a wide gate while Seaczar likes heavy ground and even though 1000m is short of his best the conditions will make it feel like an 1100 race at least.

Bet: Tigertude to win

RACE 5

Starboreta is placed here for a kill for new trainer Nathan Doyle who has picked her up from Team Hawkes who trained her to a few good performances at the provincials at her first preparation and she won her trial leading up to this run and the wet track shouldn’t be an issue. Attestar has drawn wide but has the gate speed to negate that and being by Star Witness she should enjoy the wet ground and she comes off a career best run so look for a good back up. Wanjina Rose was good fresh and although she’s drawn wide it might be the best part of the track to be running on by this point of the day.

Bet: Starboreta to win

RACE 6

Jet Pack has been pretty consistent so far and come off a win and loves soft ground and the 1200m and look from him to sit off them and come home hard late. Hauraki Gulf likes to get to the front and has hit form since coming to Jim Jarvis from the Maher/Eustace year and will give a good showing here and be in this for a long way. Flying Pretty is a wet tracker which really brings her into this and she should get a good run one off the fence and it’s her chance to grab a rare win. Titration is an on-speed horse who should be peaking now.

Bet: Exacta 4, 8

Jockey Stephen Traecey will partner wet track specialist, Real Gent.

RACE 7

This looks open. Havieron is thriving under new trainer Jim Jarvis and peak now third-up and will handle the wet track. He just missed last start but did have every chance to win. Acoustix carries the top weight but deserves it and will take plenty out of his first-up second placing. He’s won twice second-up and placed two more times from six attempts. Storm Attack has decent midweek Brisbane form behind him and gets in well at the weights for a leading trainer. Real Gent comes into his own on heavy ground and looks the value.

Bet: Real Gent each way

RACE 8

Demykani Miss tends to save her best for her first-up runs and she presents here off one trial and from a nice gate she’ll give a good showing and the wet track is a bonus. Phoenix River put in the eye-catcher first-up a Grafton when coming from the back of the field to run third. She’s unplaced in all three heavy track runs though. Bay Of Bengal loves it wet and has a good racing pattern to suit the conditions. He’s only won twice from 25 attempts but this is winnable.

Bet: Demykani Miss to win

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