Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle, Grafton

Aircraftman has been racing very well in town and drops back to provincial level at Newcastle and is primed to win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Newcastle and Grafton.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Newcastle 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!

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 5, No.2: AIRCRAFTMAN

The market says he’s only got one danger and he drops back to provincial grade off a series of good performances in town. This is his race to win.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.5: PODIUM

He’s been in much harder races than this in the past and is racing as a gelding for the first time and looks well placed to win his first race.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 5

Race 6: 2, 4, 10

Race 7: 1, 2, 6, 7

Race 8: 7, 9, 11

Kerrin McEvoy has a good book of rides at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Kerrin McEvoy will fancy his chances on Mojo Classic, Champions League, Optimo and Never Cry in the last race.

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 8, No.7: CABSAV

This can be the day for him to be winning again with Luke Rolls back on. He’s the only person to get him over the line in first place and he’s knocking on the door.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Robert Agnew races Cranach Dreaming here and she bolted in last start at this track and looks ready repeat that performance and win again.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NEWCASTLE

RACE 5

Newly Wed looks set to start a well backed favourite here following two narrow losses in Victoria last time in for Team Hawkes who are now giving her a go at the NSW way of going. She looks well placed here on the big track and cushy gate. Aircraftman finds an easier race here after three pretty good efforts at Canterbury this time in and finding a drier track won’t hurt. Sir Ratus hasn’t been seen since his debut in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes as a two-year-old. He’s trialled up to suggest a nice performance in his comeback to racing.

Bet: Aircraftman to win

RACE 6

White Boots will enjoy getting back on top of the ground so I’d be ignoring some of his latest form and remembering he won at Randwick on a Saturday earlier this preparation. Champions League just ran into a couple of stakes-grade horses at the midweeks last month and is better suited here. It will be a good training performance however if she wins off a little break while going from 1400m to 1850m. Outburst looked defeated twice in the straight before battling back to win at Scone so he’s a determined horse and won’t give this away too easily.

Bet: White Boots each-way

White Boots will appreciate getting back to a drier surface at Newcastle on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Optimo is first-up for new trainer Marc Quinn who would’ve liked what he saw in his new horse’s comfortable barrier trial win. He’s drawn well and has found Kerrin McEvoy to ride him. Verbek finally broke through at Wagga two weeks ago at start 11 after having ran seven placings. The confidence of that dominant win should help him take the next step. Cassy’s Sister goes well fresh and loves 1200m and she should get all the favours from the barrier and be in the box seat which takes her a long way in this race. They’ve put the tongue tie on Finally Realise for the first time.

Bet: Optimo to win

RACE 8

Mark Minervini wants to get New Republic to the Golden Eagle at the end of the year and if the horse wins on Thursday, he will set it for that race and the Four Pillars. He exploded in the straight at Mudgee to bolt in by more than three lengths. Strombus chased hard all the way here three weeks ago for a determined win and stepping up to 1400m now looks ideal. Never Cry has been in top form this prep and Brad Widdup has been placing him well and it looks to be the case again.

Bet: New Republic to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GRAFTON

RACE 5

Cranach Dreaming has turned the corner since emerging trainer Robert Agnew gave him a four-week freshen up and she bolted in last start here on a big track and it will be wet enough for her again to be hard to beat. Windabull took some time to get going but ground out a gritty win last start over a mile and he too has thrived since leaving a city stable to come to the bush and will keep coming at them. Style Seeker comes down from Brisbane with a few placings under his belt when just running into a few better ones. This is easier for him too.

Bet: Cranach Dreaming to win

RACE 6

Gracious Gracie is in a new stable now and we often see them go better with a change of scenery. She ran a respectable race at the provincials last time and is well placed here over a more suitable trip. Hello Handsome comes down from Queensland and drops in grade and has drawn the plum gate so he must be a good hope. Sportspak is an on-speed runner and probably leads here and is back to his best distance now. Not much has gone right for Onemoregriz of late and she should’ve won two runs back so her form on paper should be overlooked.

Bet: Onemoregriz each-way

Tegan Harrison (pictured) rides Great Marlow for trainer John Shelton.

RACE 7

Endangered Species goes great at the track, the distance and on wet ground and looks primed to be winning here with even luck. Great Marlow has drawn out a little worse than Endangered Species here but did beat it last start and was holding him well on the line that day but he doesn’t win out of turn. Cubic Zirconia ran above his odds last time and runs very well second-up and won’t mind the wet track here from a decent gate. Mister Smartee could win this at his best and loves heavy tracks.

Bet: Great Marlow to win

RACE 8

Cabsav has the talent to be winning here if he does things right in the run. He’s placed in his past three runs but hasn’t been able to get the job done. The booking of Luke Rolls is key because he’s the only jockey to have won on him. Nic Me some bolted in his maiden on the Sunshine Coast which was obviously encouraging but it was his ninth start and he only had one placing before that. Gobbled has been well sported in each of his three runs for new trainer Brett Dodson and he’s trialled up to do well again.

Bet: Cabsav to win

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