Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Taree, Albury

A Scott Singleton-trained filly can continue her terrific form and make it back-to-back wins at Taree. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Scott Singleton has a promising filly in Hard To Dismiss who is looking to make it back-to-back wins at Taree. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Taree and 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!

TAREE

BEST BET

Race 7, No.8: HARD TO DISMISS

Three runs this campaign are ‘321’ so clearly she is a horse on an upward trajectory. Super impressive here nine days ago.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.10: GRECIAN LASS

Kris Lees trained Fastnet Rock filly who went close at Wyong at the end of last prep. Nice trials for the return.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.9: CABSAV

Form has been a bit patchy but she looked good when she won her maiden back in August and Nov 28 trial was terrific also.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 4,6,8

Race 5: 2,3,9,10

Race 6: 1,3,7,8

Race 7: 8

Grant Buckley in the parade ring, before race 3, during Magic Millions race day, at Wyong Race Club. Picture:Peter Clark

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Grant ‘Bucko’ Buckley always gives his fans a run for the money in the TAB Jockeys’ challenge.

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 1, No.1: BOSS LADY ROCKS

Local mare whose record at the track/distance is three starts for two wins and a nose second.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.3: VINTAGE DIESEL

Would only have to run up to that last run at Wagga to get the prize in this line-up.

VALUE BET

Race 6, No.3: INCENTIVE

Donna Scott/Blaike McDougall combination; the horse itself went super in it’s only trial.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAREE

RACE 4

Bonchevo is a lightly-raced son of Bon Hoffa who posted the second of his two career wins (from only six starts) when he resumed at home at Coffs Harbour on December 30. Drawn the outside gate but he was probably going back anyway. Ready To Chase is quite a consistent horse; two wins, six seconds and two thirds. Ran a good race in a good race here eight days ago. Memphis Squaw doesn’t win out of turn but could sneak onto the placings.

Bet: Bonchevo to win

RACE 5

Cabsav is a John Shelton-trained gelding who has been mostly cold rather than hot in his six starts but that day he did win at Grafton, he actually looked pretty good. Crucially, he was first-up that afternoon as he is here and his trial leading into this was fantastic. Thunderbolt Two has only won once in 21 starts but has placed 10 times including fairly recent second to Miracle Day at Newcastle! Zelburg is last start maiden winner by a big space.

Bet: Cabsav each-way, box trifecta 2,3,9,10

Mikayla Weir partners Cabsav at Taree on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Wiki has quite a handy little C.V of 10 starts, one and five placings. It is true to say that even when he doesn’t place, he is invariably never far away. The son of Sidestep ran fourth at Scone last start in what was a decent Class 1 line-up. Go well again. Essoess was $4.80 into $3.60 when he won at Port Mac on New Year’s Day. The ‘negative’ is that it was a pretty moderate field but he did have to carry 60.5kg. Hurricane Max has only won four times in 47 starts but he can never be ruled out.

Bet: Wiki to win

RACE 7

Hard To Dismiss is a Scott Singleton-trained All Too Hard filly who has really hasn’t put a foot wrong in all seven starts. She has come back in great order too; the numbers tell us as much being ‘x321’. Worth noting that the win was here at Taree as recently as eight days ago and it was might impressive too. Zaru has been on the podium 11 times in 15 starts but only once was he the winner and when you at some of his SP’s, he has been a costly Rubick to follow. The reason he always starts short is because he can always win whatever he goes around in.

Bet: Hard To Dismiss to win, exacta 8 to beat 2

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ALBURY

RACE 4

Prince Nicconi was fancied for good reason when he resumed at Wagga on December 6 but his chances went south when slow away in the 1000m race. The Danny Williams-trained colt has been back to the trial and ran a neck second to Highway winner Ten Bells. Bianco Vilano is one of Ron Stubbs’ big chances here at home. This Foxwedge mare resumes here, bearing in mind she ran very well here on debut. Dunvegan has placed at six of his 10 runs which has to count for something.

Bet: Prince Nicconi to win, exacta 5 to beat 3

RACE 5

Former Hayes galloper Victory Chuckle was beaten at $2.30 at his first tun for Craig Weeding but ran an honourable second. Punters who kept the faith were rewarded 12-days later when he went back to Corowa and bolted in. Seems to be a happy horse at present. If the best Sharlie turned up here, she would just about win. The Donna Scott-trained mare is way down in class off quite a reasonable run in the Ted Ryder Cup on Christmas Eve. Dhiaga is trained at Wodonga but just loves it here at Albury.

Bet: Victory Chuckle to win, quinella 4,5

Blaike McDougall rides debutant Incentive for trainer Donna Scott. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Incentive could be and probably is in fact the horse most likely to go on and race in better races than this. He is well bred Capitalist colt who could have won his trial by a hundred yards if they wanted. Debuts at home, not a flash gate, but has the flash jockey and trainer. Stella Siren has the race experience going for her and it’s good race experience too, namely three wins from her six starts. Form reads well. Ron Stubbs has a good opinion of Prophet’s Daughter from a previous conversation.

Bet: Incentive to win

RACE 7

Important Product will find this Benchmark 58 at Albury considerably easier than his Boxing Day assignment which was that TAB Highway 550km away at Royal Randwick where he actually ran a pretty good race. Should be able to run top three here. Spirit of Freedom won on debut her like a ‘good horse’. Been downhill since there were good signs in that recent trial, Snowbella has drawn to succeed.

Bet: Important Product to win, quinella 5,13

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