Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kembla Grange and Dubbo

Team Snowden look to have found the right race at Kembla Grange for a debutant they’ve taken their time with. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Peter and Paul Snowden will debut Magadan in the last race at Kembla Grange on Thursday. Picture: AAP

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones runs the rule over Thursday’s meetings at Kembla Grange and Dubbo.

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!

KEMBLA GRANGE

BEST BET

Race 7 No.6: MAGADAN

The Snowdens have taken their time with Magadan but going by his latest barrier trial he looks more than ready to start racing and with a good gate and leading jockey on he can start in fine fashion.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No.3: DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

He looked just as good as Everest horse Mazu when they met in a recent barrier trial and his trainer picked out this race for him a month ago.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3

Race 5: 1, 4, 6, 7

Race 6: 1, 3, 13

Race 7: 6, 8, 9

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Hugh Bowman will fancy his chances when he hops on Stroke Of Luck, Ruinart and Acceber.

DUBBO

BEST BET

Race 8 No.3: HAMPTON COVE

He’s got a good gate and should be able to get the run of the race. He’s in fine form and will enjoy the track as long as he can get into toe into it. He shouldn’t have any excuses.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Rodney Northam will no doubt be confident with all three of his runners today and Mangoola and Gold Lunar head his change along with Kinship.

Hugh Bowman has some good rides at Kembla Grange. Picture: Mark Evans-Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL

KEMBLA GRANGE

RACE 4

Intuition came from off the speed to win here two weeks ago and she does drop back 100m in trip here which is probably a concern for an off-speed horse who needs speed to win. The trial of Duke Of Buckingham looked good but it was made even better considering he was cruising in behind Everest horse Mazu and he’s won at a mile already. Burning Need has raced here all three times this prep and she’s been very good each time and she looked home over this trip last time but got nabbed on the line. She hasn’t won over more than 1200m but that shouldn’t be a query here with the right run.

Bet: Duke Of Buckingham to win

RACE 5

Oxford Vision hasn’t missed a place in five career starts but hasn’t won either. He is looking for more than 1000m but can still run a race here fresh against an average enough field. Mancconi is an on-speed type who will improve off the fresh run and it’s interesting to see him going back to 1000m. Imran should be ready to go off two trials and an in-form jockey on. Oceans One probably leads them into the straight and will make them run well to get over the top of him.

Bet: Oxford Vision to win

RACE 6

Omni Man won fresh over this trip last prep but it was off no barrier trials and this time in he’s had two heats to get ready for this. He should be leading them here and will be very hard to run down. Espirito has won both times he’s run at his home track so he’s obviously well place here second-up after a fresh win. Forms Of Fear has drawn out but has the speed to get across and take up a position and he’s won here already while Bayezid should enjoy getting back onto a bigger track.

Bet: Omni Man to win

RACE 7

Magadan jumped well at his latest barrier trial and finished it off in comfortable fashion and with a strong team behind his he’ll have plenty of support from a good gate. Awesome John also looked the part in a barrier trial under Brenton Avdulla who also rides him here fresh. One Destiny is super fit for this and getting out to 1300m should help him here in what looks like a weak race. Union Army has placed at both runs at the provincials to date but will still need to lift to win this and can now that he’s third-up.

Bet: Magadan to win

DUBBO

RACE 6

Ticket To Anywhere has run two seconds fresh and loves heavy ground so he’s going to be well supported here despite the wide gate. Individualist has won his past two but is up in grade here and is off a freshen up which is a positive for him. They may have figured him out. Iron Hat’s only win came on a heavy track and he’s placed well here by a good trainer. Morezmo comes off a last start win which was coming and she’ll go well here if the track improves.

Bet: Ticket To Anywhere to win

RACE 7

The Big Seal has drawn out but has gate speed to get into a handy position. He can run second a lot however but is generally in the placings so look for a decent run. Capital Gamble resumes under a new trainer after showing more than enough to suggest she’ll go well here off two barrier trials. Money Not My God has been racing very well and will be on the speed and giving this a good crack. Sammiballerina ran well enough at Muswellbrook to suggest she can go well here and should be taking bad luck out of the equation.

Bet: Capital Gamble to win

RACE 8

Hampton Cove is going well and is knocking on the door ahead of this race and is well placed in this grade from and inside draw. Planet Ex has run two seconds leading into this but has won four races and did get trapped wide while the winner snuck up the inside last start to win so with better luck he’s got to be a hope here. Gossip has drawn out but has been consistent in lesser grade so deserves a crack at this level.

Bet: Hampton Cove to win

RACE 9

Zachariah has drawn out but gets back anyway and he came from off the speed first-up and ran into fourth off no barrier trials so he should be an improved horse in a new stable here and at his new home track which he saw last start. It’s also the new home track for Sea Princess who comes up from a Victorian stable and those types usually do well in the NSW bush and a wet track wouldn’t hurt. Lucky Crumpet broke through at start 15 two weeks ago and has been racing in strong parts of the state.

Bet: Lucky Crumpet to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kembla Grange and Dubbo