Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for the Gosford program

Form analyst Matt Jones is banking on his best bet capitalising on strong trial form when racing heads to Gosford midweek. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Gosford hosts the midweek meeting in NSW.

The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Jones runs the rule over the Gosford card on Wednesday in search of those elusive winners.

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!

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 3: FREE STATE

His trial form suggests he’s come back in good order after placing at the provincials and in town at his only two runs at his first preparation.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 8: KNIGHT

He ran just behind a few genuine city horse last start at The Gong meeting and he’s already putting together a good record.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No. 8: SCREEBE

She ran second on debut behind a pretty handy type and she was still going well through the line so she’s ready to go one better now.

QUADDIE

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 4, 9

Leg 4: 1, 10

TRAINER TO WATCH

Jason Coyle has Thinking Cap running in the seventh race and looks like a good value hope.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

James McDonald only has three rides, Screebe, Reverse and Knight, and all of them can win.

Screebe looms as the value bet on the midweek program.

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

RACE 1

Head Legislator looks to be relaxing better now and has got the cross over nose band on and he’s also resuming as a gelding so look for a more professional type this time in. Screebe was good on debut when running second behind a genuine Saturday horse who was looking for a kill. Screebe was strong through the line and natural improvement here make her a real threat. She looks to have style. Unrelenting was honest on debut in town and drops back a notch in grade here so look for him to test them. Correlate and Mantinello trialled up in similar fashion and both have drawn well with the latter already having the blinkers put on and he’s got a top team behind him.

BET: SCREEBE TO WIN

RACE 2

Free State resumes after Koby Jennings trialled him up on both occasions and he looked quite comfortable in the latest one to suggest he’s come back in much better order after two placings in his first preparation. Pumbaa Rua just needs to step away better and he’s going to be a force after a good debut run at this track last start when running better than the market suggested he would. Military Mama is an improver today off a sound debut run while Mendooran also runs here after coming out of the same race and has a better gate than Military Mama. Mendooran will be better suited to 1100m as well.

BET: FREE STATE TO WIN

RACE 3

Rejinsky bolted in first-up at Taree when resuming after a wind operation during a long spell. Despite the operation, he should be fine stepping out over more ground and don’t be surprised to see Aaron Bullock take a sit on him this time from a wide gate. Private Eye was given a break after winning his second start at Kembla Grange but it was on a heavy track. He has the inside gate and gets an easy run. Dawn Too Good was two lengths off Darleb to end his last preparation and he’s developed into a Saturday-class horse so if he gets anywhere near that this time in he’ll be running a big race here off a nice trial. Tapiconic’s previous form shows he’s up to winning a provincial race and the new change of stable may be what he needs to go to another level. This might be too short though.

Matt Jones’s best bet comes up in the second race.

BET: REJINSKY TO WIN

RACE 4

New trainer Annabel Neasham has got Ruddock over more ground and he was a commanding winning in town last start but he did it leading at Canterbury so be wary of that form as that track is very leader bias. He still won well though and he’s in great form this time in. Command King should enjoy a little more ground today and he’s third-up now so expect a big run. Castlecomer who here second-up last time in and can be forgiven for his first-up poor run when pulling up a little lame and be ridden more forward than planned. Look for a better result now. Noble Cause and Clear Blonde are the best of the rest.

BET: QUINELLA 1, 2

RACE 5

Reverse gets out 100m in trip which is a good thing because she was doing her best work late through the line. She did get all the breaks on debut but looks to have a future and will be well supported here. Thinking Cap will again be ridden by Tim Clark after he also gave her every chance to win last start and she didn’t let him down. She gets barrier one now and can slide up the inside again. Ready To Sore is looking for three in a row at this track but she’s up in grade with more weight and has a wider gate so things are tougher now. See how Rejinsky goes a few races earlier because it beat home Superstasia last start and she gets in here with a better gate and lower weight.

BET: REVERSE TO WIN

RACE 6

Knight ran third behind Bigboyroy and Air To Air last start at Kembla Grange and that’s genuine city form because it was The Gong meeting. He’s knocking on the door for another win. He’s well placed here and James McDonald rides. New Tycoon looks to be the main challenger after brining in good form to the event and he’s already put together a good record so must be respected. Joigny will be the one they’ll have to watch late from the rear of the field and she’s much better now at a mile. Estroverto has claims as does Oakfield Captain who will get an easier run this time.

BET: BOX TRIFECTA 3, 8, 10

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for the Gosford program