Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Port Macquarie

A talented mare from the Grant Marshall stable can maintain her unbeaten record over the track and distance while a lightly-raced gelding can continue his good form. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL.

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Port Macquarie.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Port Macquarie.

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!

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 4, No.2: LEAVE ME SOME

She’s a proven city performer and gets back to a track where she’s won three races and they’ve all been at 1200m. She goes well fresh and it’s hard to see her not being in the finish.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.7: JET PACK

He won first-up here last time in so it’s a good plan to come back to Port fresh and any rain will help his chances of having more success at the circuit.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No.3: GOLDEN GALAXY

He ran sixth of seven in a barrier trial but wasn’t put under a huge amount of pressure and if he starts at $40 he might be worth an each-way bet.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 7

Race 6: 1, 3, 4, 5

Race 7: 1, 2, 7

Race 8: 1, 2, 5, 10

Jockey Luke Rolls has a number of good rides at Port Macquarie on Thursday.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Luke Rolls gets on some good chances like Little Prophet in the last while Leave Me Some looks hard to beat in the open sprint on the day.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Nathan Doyle is not just taking a sizeable team here, but all five horses could win their respective races. Jet Pack looks like the leading contender.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 1

Scanlan looks to be the one they’ll back here of two second placings including one at this track last start and she’s drawn to get the ideal run by a jockey that knows her and a soft track won’t matter. Tiva Bay went down on debut as an odds-on favourite and was beaten by nearly six lengths. The jockey said he raced greenly throughout and would’ve taken plenty out of the run. If that’s the case he’s worth another chance under a top stable. Straya Pride comes here off pretty good provincial runs and he’s drawn to get the perfect run. If he brings his best he can break through in easier grade.

Bet: Straya Pride to win

RACE 2

Young Bailey Wheeler would be full of confidence still after riding his first ever winner last Saturday and he rides debutant Mr Bingo here. He’s trialled up the son of Deep Field to a win and looked decent. Taking The Mikki was chasing him home in that trial and the two have drawn similar. We’ll pick Mr Bingo to finish in front of Taking The Mikki. Tupelawara was pretty solid first-up at Muswellbrook and should take a lot out of it while Golden Galaxy might be the one to jump out of the ground at odds off a soft trial.

Bet: Golden Galaxy each way

Trainer Terry Evans (pictured) has Not Taking it ready to break through for her maiden win.

RACE 3

Is this the day for American Anthem? She’s placed four times from eight starts and might even try and lead all the way here from an inside draw. Hard to see her not in the finish and the sting out of the ground suits. Power Conductor gets barrier one and the track shouldn’t be chopped up too much at this point of the day for this improving type. Not Taking It went close to winning here at his past two runs and wasn’t bad at his first run here last time in. She peaks third-up and handles wet tracks.

Bet: Not Taking It to win

RACE 4

The consistent Cassy’s Sister comes here off a six-week freshen up and as long as the track isn’t heavy, she’s the top pick. She’s on her way to city racing soon and the form around her, including Edit and Undeniable, is superb. Juventus is generally at his best first and second-up and this isn’t the hardest race Kris Lees has put him in to date. Leave Me Some has won three times at this track and distance so she’ll attract some support due to that record and she almost won in town two runs back and was more than honest on a Heavy 8 track in a Midway race in July.

Bet: Quinella 2, 3

RACE 5

Jet Pack won here first-up last preparation and handles wet ground and has put in two encouraging trials to suggest that fresh record and be further improved and by this stage of the day they’ll probably get off the fence so barrier five is a plus for him when likely travelling one off the fence and positive. Klopp was pretty determined in winning here a fortnight ago and is also handy on the wet and an extra 100m in trip doesn’t hurt. Offyarocatwo has drawn a little better now and just needs to hold his current form to be in the finish again.

Bet: Jet Pack to win

Ashley Morgan rides Jet Pack for trainer Nathan Doyle.

RACE 6

Lobster Noodles won at her debut for the Mart Stewart stable which wasn’t a huge surprise because former Victorian-trained runners generally come up to this part of the country and do well. She led and just got stronger through the line over 1400m and 1500m won’t be an issue. She just needs a drying track. Too Much Class drops back in grade a little and gets an easy run in transit. If the track is in the soft range, it will give Surjin a hope while Bak Da Man was doing his best work late over 1350m against an undefeated horse last start.

Bet: Lobster Noodles to win

RACE 7

Can Five Crowns stay undefeated at start three? He’s been pretty determined to date and is by Sacred Falls so he should relish a wet track if the rain comes. Dalgarno came widest at this track to win by two lengths and he’s another ex-Victorian who has thrived since coming up to Newcastle under Nathan Doyle with two wins from three starts. Vicky’s One looks primed for 1500m now after running on strongly over 1350m two weeks ago and she looks well placed here.

Bet: Quinella 1, 7

RACE 8

Colt Prosser’s pair Slice Of Heaven and Little Prophet aren’t separated by much in the market but he says the former might be the one to back due to its experience. Little Prophet is a yard watch because she can be a bundle of nerves in the parade ring. If she looks relaxed pre-race she’ll go well. It took all of the 1010m for Lucky Sham to win first-up but she still looked soft enough on the line in the fairly narrow win. Absolutely Foxy peaks now third-up and has been given an easier assignment and likes to get her toe into the ground.

Bet: Slice Of Heaven to win

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