Nick Quinn: TAB expert gives his best bets for Cranbourne and Newcastle on Saturday

TAB resident ‘rain man’ Nick Quinn believes Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr can land another feature at Cranbourne on Saturday. BEST BETS, ANALYSIS

Our Playboy ridden by Damian Lane wins at Flemington last Saturday. Picture: George Sal–Racing Photos via Getty Images

At the TAB they believe in their resident ‘rain man’ Nick Quinn, to the point he’s been given the keys to the big green vault, and the punters friend is confident he’s found some winners at both Cranbourne and Newcastle for the big weekends racing out of the metropolitan area.

BEST BET

Scissor Step (Cranbourne Saturday, Race 3, No. 1)

VALUE BET

Kokoro (Newcastle Saturday, Race 7, No. 7)

LAY OF THE WEEK

Noname Lane (Morphettville Saturday, Race 1, No. 1)

CRANBOURNE 

Race 3 – 1:45PM Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix 3YO Handicap (1200 METRES)

Scissor Step comes into this off the back of a narrow defeat at The Valley behind Generation and on a challenging program he shapes as one of the better winning chances.

His last two runs have been at Group level and from gate one he should get a nice run in transit.

Scissor Step heads the market at $2.80 after opening $2.70.

For mine the danger is at double figure odds in Cheerful Legend.

He won well at Mornington two starts back and at $11 is worth a saver.

At longer odds there has been early specking for Chartres backed from $26 into $21.

Suggested Bet: Scissor Step the win.

Race 7 – 4:20PM TAB Cranbourne Cup (1600 METRES)

An incredibly open Cranbourne Cup where if you find the winner the value will take care of itself.

The money has come for Our Playboy, backed from $6 into $4.40.

He is on the quick backup after winning well at Flemington last Saturday and has won both his career starts over 1600 metres.

The only negative is the wide draw of 17 but with all four emergencies drawn on his inside he will jump from gate 13 should they all come out.

On an each-way basis he looks the safe play in a challenging race.

Buffalo River drops back from Group 1 level having finished just over five lengths away last start in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala.

He will be up on speed and in it for a long way.

Age Of Chivalry returned to the winners list at Flemington last Saturday with a tenacious win and is another with leading claims.

Suggested Bet: Our Playboy the win.



NEWCASTLE

Race 6 – 3:20PM VISIT KARAKA 2022 ‘THE BEAUFORD’ (2300 METRES)

This looks a nice race for King’s Charisma to win his first Australian race and keen to be on him around the $3.70 mark.

He worked into the race nicely last start in the Hotham Handicap and stuck on well to finish 3.9 lengths from the winner Great House.

I anticipate he’ll strip fitter on what could be a big day for the Australian Bloodstock team.

Shared Ambition is racing in terrific order and has already been backed from $4.60 into $4.20.

Shared Ambition has chased home Think It Over at his past three starts and should find this assignment easier.

Yonkers can be hard to catch but won the Shannon three starts ago and, on his best would certainly be a winning chance.

Suggested Bet: King’s Charisma the win

Race 8 – 4:40PM THE HUNTER (1300 METRES)

Lost And Running burst onto the scene winning six of his first seven career starts and heads the market for Saturday’s The Hunter.

He was slightly underwhelming in his first two runs back this preparation but returned to form with an eye catching fourth in the TAB Everest before finishing second to Eduardo last start in the Classique Legend Stakes.

Lost And Running opened $2.50 on Monday and was backed into $2.30 by the time final field was declared.

He is now $3.20 after drawing gate 17 and while he is still a winning chance, it is obviously a less than ideal draw.

Top Ranked is a fascinating runner, set to make his Australian debut and has been backed from $6 into $5.

Now trained by Annabel Neasham he won six of his 12 starts before relocating and most importantly is a perfect five from five first-up from a spell.

With James McDonald in the saddle he looks a strong each-way chance.

At longer odds there has been money for Prime Candidate, backed from $26 into $15.

The Bjorn Baker-trained galloper has been a model of consistency this campaign running third in all three runs including last start at Flemington.

Suggested bet: Top Ranked each-way.

Originally published as Nick Quinn: TAB expert gives his best bets for Cranbourne and Newcastle on Saturday