Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford

A John Thompson-trained gelding stays at his perfect distance third-up and can make it two in-a-row. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Pure Hydrogen can make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.

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!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 1: Pure Hydrogen

The John Thompson-trained gelding got to his right distance of 1600m second-up and won smartly. Can go back-to-back.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 2: Stanislaus

Being slow into stride cost him over 900m first-up. Drawn out but will appreciate stepping up to 1100m.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 3: Tinka’s Lad

Racing well this campaign. Has two wins and a second from three starts this track and distance and can add to his record.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 5 No. 2, 8

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 3, 8

Race 6: 1, 3

Race 7: 3, 4, 9

Race 8: 2, 4

James McDonald ventures to Gosford for three rides and all are leading contenders. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald only has three rides for the day in Mexico, Captain Amelia and Stanislaus all three are will be hard to beat.

INSIDE MAIL - GOSFORD

RACE 1

Mr Caleb was caught three-deep without cover and loomed up at the 300m but the wide run told late when he finishing a length and a half third behind Snowman over 1400m at Kembla on Aug 12. Steps up to 1600m for the first time but drawn to get an economical run. Yet He Moves tracked the leader when third to stablemate Gago when resuming over 1500m at Hawkesbury on Aug 8. Harper’s Siren has had no luck her past two starts when held up at Newcastle and knocked down at the start at Hawkesbury. Avonview has claims on his length second to Crazy Russian at Hawkesbury on Aug 8. The blinkers go on here.

Bet: Mr Caleb to win

RACE 2

Pier Pressure showed good ability in her first campaign which saw her place twice from four starts. The first was a third to Bases Loaded in a maiden on the Kensington track and the other was in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce when third to Militarize after coming from near last along the rails. Worked home nicely behind Dalaalaat in her Newcastle trial. Tender Streak has been runner-up in each of her three starts, the latest beaten three-quarter lengths by Disney Castle at Kembla after racing wide. Catchy Tunes held on for second to Wooloowin after leading here two starts back. Came from midfield when third to Miss Couver at Newcastle last start.

Bet: Pier Pressure to win

RACE 3

Mexico was more than competitive in high quality races last season and can land his first win when he resumes in a maiden. Was runner-up to Arkansaw Kid in the Inglis Banner and was less than three lengths off Barber in the Golden Gift and Learning To Fly in the Inglis Millennium. His trials have been good. Global Empire was hampered late when fourth to Mural Crown at Canterbury before a second to Miss Couver at Newcastle. Will be thereabouts again. Rapido, a $700,000 Easter Yearling, is a Capitalist colt on debut. Handy second to Fire Star in his latest trial after racing wide without cover.

Bet: Mexico to win

Mexico (right), finishing second to Arkansaw Kid in the Inglis Banner, can land his maiden win at Gosford. Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 4

Pure Hydrogen jumped awkwardly and was last throughout behind King Of Naples when resuming over 1300m at Randwick. Appreciated stepping up to 1600m and dropping back in grade to score by nearly two lengths from Lady Redwood at Kembla. Stays at the 1600m and can go back-to-back. Socrates was backing up eight days after a fourth to 2000m at Coffs Harbour when he went to Eagle Farm and finished a length second to Sheza Firecracker over 1600m on Aug 12. Sidereal has been freshened for the drop back to the mile after his third to Vincenzo over 2000m at Kembla on Aug 5. Commander Bell covered extra ground and was only beaten a long head by Prime Impact over 1600m at Newcastle last start.

Bet: Pure Hydrogen to win

RACE 5

Jack Duggan has improved each run as he has stepped up in distance and will appreciate getting to 2100m here. Cam from just worse than midfield when a three-quarter length third to Nyota over 1800m at Hawkesbury last start. Celestial Fury settled just ahead of Jack Duggan in that same race and beat him home for second by a short neck. Was runner-up over 1600m before that. Diamond Drummer stepped out for new trainer Kylie Gavenlock and got the job done with a long neck win from Nicodemus over 1850m at Newcastle two weeks ago. Sir Godric stepped up to 2000m for the first time last start when fifth to Vincenzo after winning over 1500m before that.

Bet: Jack Duggan to win

RACE 6

Captain Amelia won a debut win over 1100m back in March then jumped straight to an open two-year-old when eighth to Kimochi on the Kensington. Was very unlucky in finishing just under four lengths from Kristilli in the Group 2 Percy Sykes after being locked up on the rails. Trialling well. Ponca only had the one ruin last campaign when last at Warwick Farm in April and sent back to the paddock. Kicked off previous preparation with a second followed by back-to-back wins. Spicy Hotpot came widest on the bend and ran home to finish third behind impressive winner Boston Rocks at Wyong.

Bet: Captain Amelia to win

Captain Amelia can start her campaign on a winning note. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 7

Tinka’s Lad has been in fine form this campaign with only one blip when last in a Midway at Rosehill two starts back. Was a Kembla winner and narrow runner-up before that and a handy third to Wooloowin there last time out. Cool Lad followed his Goulburn victory with close third placings behind Never Fails at Kembla and Flying Tyrol Nowra. Secret Spy broke his maiden with a good win here two starts back before stepping up to a Bm64 when fifth to Silvanito at Newcastle. Ironbark Artie will be better over further but could sneak a place.

Bet: Tinka’s Lad each-way

RACE 8

Stanislaus was slow away and settled second last when fourth to Our Kobison over 900m first-up at Newcastle. Will appreciate stepping up to 1100m. Was a close second at Warwick Farm over this trip last time in. Capital Heart returned this campaign as a gelding and kicked off with a win as a short priced favourite from Lady Jezem at Kembla. Legolas is better than his first-up run when reported to stewards he held his breath. Had trialled well prior. Tongue tie goes on and worth another chance. Tawfiq Star kicked off his campaign with a nice win at Goulburn.

Bet: Stanislaus to win

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