Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Albury, Gosford

A Mitchell Beer-trained gelding gets his favoured track conditions second-up and will prove tough to beat. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Albury and Gosford.

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

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!

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 6, No.2: HARDWARE LANE

City performed galloper who strikes a rain affected home track that he will relish.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.1: ALEMBEE

Two-time runner up in three starts. Finds himself in a winnable maiden second up from a break.

VALUE BEST

Race 4, No.1: HEY DENNY

Won in some style in his only start last preparation. Returns from a spell and can do the same again.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 3

Race 5: 1, 3, 4

Race 6: 2

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 5

Talented apprentice Jett Stanley can build on his impressive tally at Wagga on Thursday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Apprentice Jett Stanley has been riding well with 11 winners from his past 40 rides. Gets a decent book again.

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 3, No.1: BOSTON CITY

Placed at four of his five starts, he finds a winnable race to shed the maiden tag.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.1: AMBASSADORS

On debut for a new yard. Capable of a strong showing if he can overcome the wide draw.

VALUE BEST

Race 8, No.1: KING CHARMING

Lightly-raced gelding that just missed first up. He can go a couple better at a price.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 3, 6

Race 6: 1, 2, 7

Race 7: 2, 4, 5, 9

Race 8: 3, 6, 7, 12

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ALBURY

RACE 4

Hey Denny is a lightly-raced son of Denman returning from a 20-week break for start two. The Phil Sweeney-trained galloper was a winner at handsome $21 odds in his only start, displaying a powerful sprint from the back to prevail. He has trialled well in the lead up to his return so another forward showing first up shouldn’t surprise. Martha Lavinia is having her first start for new trainer Fiona Schneiders. She got the maiden out of the way at Werribee last start before moving home base. Toronto Rain has to be considered among the chances after finishing no worse than second at her first three starts.

Bet: Hey Denny to win.

RACE 5

Bold Triumph can live up to his in the second leg of the quaddie. The son of Turffontein placed in three of his four runs in his debut campaign with two of those coming on heavy tracks similar to what he will face first up. He should get back and be rattling home. Kingofsomewherehot has appreciated the switch from the city to the bush. Has placed in both runs for Donna Scott and can run well again. Fox Appeal was solid first up from a break and can only improve off that showing.

Bet: Bold Triumph to win.

Trainer Mitchell Beer (right) prepares Hardware Lane who looks hard to beat. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Local trainer Mitchell Beer will look to enhance his Country Championships hand in the penultimate event. With Sunrise Ruby trialling on Wednesday at Wagga instead, Hardware Lane is his top seed here. The son of Scissor Kick was beaten less than a length in town last start and returns to country grade. He’s adept on rain affected going. Stablemate Well In Sight in an Albury specialist with all four wins of her wins at the venue. A Highway winner last prep, Baledon certainly has the talent to win. It’s just a matter of if he’s ready to do it first up.

Bet: Hardware Lane to win.

RACE 7

Improper is a home tracker that has been edging closer to her second win. The Donna Scott-trained mare has placed at three of her past four runs, twice at this venue. Rain affected going should be no issue for her while a strong effort last start over 1300m should have her primed for the seven furlongs. Amen Brother led all the way last time to break his maiden at Wagga. Expecting Danny Beasley will attempt to execute a similar plan again and give rivals something to catch. Smart Poppy and Prooinga both can’t be ignored. They’ll have to carry weight but have been racing well.

Bet: Boxed trifecta 1-2-3-5

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 5

Fairway Star has made the most of a few good drives this preparation to kick start her career. The daughter of Spieth has a win and two placings in three runs this time. She battled on strongly for at her first crack at the mile last start at Newcastle when stepping up substantially in trip and should reap the benefits of the experience. Bucks Party made a winning debut at Wyong and is poised to settle close to the speed again from the gun draw. He could be tough to catch. Spitfire has been racing ultra-consistently over the mile this prep.

Bet: Fairway Star, Bucks Party quinella.

RACE 6

Ambassadors is a former Peter and Paul Snowden-trained galloper having his first start for Nathan Doyle. The son of former star sprinter Zoustar had two placings in four starts for the powerhouse Sydney yard. His trials in the lead up indicate he’s got plenty to offer should he can overcome a tricky draw in barrier 12. If he can do that, he wins. Headstart should be ready to peak third up over 1200m now in his maiden preparation. His effort at Port Macquarie last start had merit. Surreal Lady has the ability to win a maiden, placing at two of her four starts to date.

Bet: Ambassadors to win.

Jay Ford rides the David Pfieffer-trained Mad Darcey. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Mad Darcey got the maiden win out of the way at Warwick Farm last start and finds the right race to double the dose. It took 10 start for the David Pfieffer-trained mare to get on the board she should get plenty of confidence from performance. Sticks at the 1200m here from a top draw in barrier two. Smart Little Miss won at the same track and trip last start and goes up 2kg from that display. Ron Quinton elected to scratched from town on Wednesday to target this. Tintookie was luckless behind the Quinton runner the other day and can certainly feature.

Bet: Mad Darcey each way.

RACE 8

King Charming is only lightly-raced for a five-year-old with two wins and two placings from seven starts. The David Pfieffer-trained gelding returned from a break with a third behind Big Happiness at this track last month. Expecting him to improve off that as he steps up to 1200m now. Hamiki has been racing well and only found one better last 1200m at Wyong. His early speed could prove crucial to overcoming the wide draw. Retiro ran credibly despite not much going right at Kembla last time. He should get his chance from a better draw.

Bet: King Charming each way.

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Albury, Gosford