Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth

A lightly-raced filly from the Jay Hopkins kicked off her campaign with a good win first-up and can make it two in-a-row on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Friday is at Tamworth for their feature Cup meeting.

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

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!

TAMWORTH

BEST BET

Race 6, No.8: PREFER TO BE READY

The Jay Hopkins-trained filly showed promise in her first preparation but has clearly come back a much better horse, winning at the provincials in fine style first-up and can go on with it here.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.3: GO SEEKING

He’s put in two super trials and looks suited to this race on debut and the booking of top jockey Brenton Avdulla only adds to his appeal.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.6: FENDER

He’s been racing in much better events than this and hasn’t been disgraced so the $9 looks nice odds for him now that he’s down in grade and has a much better barrier.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 5

Race 6: 2, 5, 8

Race 7: 1, 5, 6, 7

Race 8: 6, 8, 11, 14

Trainer Cody Morgan has a strong team heading to his hometown Cup meeting. Picture: AAP Image

TRAINER TO WATCH

How do you go past Cody Morgan here with his big team. Jocat, Hombre, Macleay, Majestic Wings are hopes while he has good chance in the Cup here with Wren’s Day, Edit and Acrophobic.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Brenton Avdulla has come out to Tamworth to ride Bandersnatch in the cup while he should be impressed with first starter Go Seeking in the second race.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAMWORTH

RACE 1

Last Bid Liam has been in great form of late and handles all conditions and has the barrier to win if he’s good enough. Iron Hat hasn’t run a poor race to date and should be in the finish again even if he might be looking for 1200m now. Miss Teak had to change directions a few times in her only barrier trial but she looked to have a bit under the bonnet and we’ll find out even more during Friday’s race. Canny Prospect just got beat on debut and he’ll be right on the speed and giving himself every chance with some natural improvement from the debut run.

Bet: Miss Teak to win

RACE 2

Go Seeking was set alight early in his trial and he opened up a big lead before cruising late and jogging over the line over 900m. He’s got one of the best riders in NSW on him for his debut too. Tamworth race fans will get to Willie Pike ride here again and he’s on Seminara here and she was honest on debut when running into one better and her new rider won’t hurt her chances from barrier two. Lightfast has come up to Paul Messara’s stable from Michael Moroney’s yard after not showing much but he’s had a good spell and those Victorian horses who come to country racing in NSW usually do well.

Bet: Go Seeking to win

RACE 3

Jocat has placed six times from eight runs to date and is third-up now for new trainer Cody Morgan and she’s peaking after getting held up for a stride or two at a crucial point last time. Hombre likes to race on the speed and he just keeps running into one better and Pike rode him here into second three runs back and this time he has barrier one. South was gelded after running ninth of 12 on debut and he’s had a spell to mature and should come back a better horse. He was only beaten four lengths on debut too when getting back to last.

Bet: Hombre to win

William Pike will ride Hombre for trainer Cody Morgan. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Dr Evil has been in fine form of late as he gets up to his best distances and going up a little more to 2100m looks ideal based on the way he ran 1890m when winning nicely at Newcastle. He may have got onto the best part of the track that day but he was still very strong. Picaro wasn’t disgraced in the Orange Cup when running into two in-form Bjorn Baker runners. Winter Moon might be the one to consider at odds after running fair at Mudgee and he’s really fit now.

Bet: Dr Evil to win

RACE 5

Simpkin has been set for this race after putting in a top run over 1200m at Newcastle last time. He’s primed to run 1400m now and despite a wide gate he’s still a hope because he likes to get back and run on. The Dramatist will probably also sit back and he’s been in fine form for his whole career to date and had excuses last start when second at Scone. The cross-over nose band is back on Macleay who drops back in grade and is better suited here.

Bet: Simpkin to win

RACE 6

Auntie Monnie is back on her home track where two of her three career wins have come. She handles all conditions but with 10 placings and three wins, she can fall short in her races. She’s in form though. I liked the way Prefer To Be Ready won first-up at Wyong when rounding the field and winning with a bit in hand and it’s hard to see her going backwards off that run from a cushy gate. Majestic Wings was beaten fair and square by Auntie Monnie seven weeks ago but meets it 4.5kg better this time.

Bet: Prefer To Be Ready to win

Dylan Gibbons (pictured) will partner the Jay Hopkins-trained Prefer To Be Ready. Getty Images

RACE 7

Fender hasn’t raced in an even this easy in a little while now and was impressive first-up in a Stakes race considering he got trapped four-deep without cover from a wide gate but stuck on. He’s drawn barrier one now and all his wins have come from low gates. Bandersnatch has to give away 8kg to most of the field which is the only issue. Kinloch upset stablemates to win the Provincial Championships and he gets all the favours from the gate. Bobbing has the last crack at them as usual.

Bet: Fender to win

RACE 8

Tough way to end the day. Trumped Up has only missed a placing once in six runs here and he lost it at the start first-up when getting away slowly before running into second. Mr Cruise has proven this time in that when he’s at his best he can win races like this. Lady Rupert drew better last time and it helped her win and she’s now in even further in gate one and is third-up and 1000m is ideal.

Bet: Trumped Up to win

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