Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Grafton

An impressive win in the Prelude has Terry Evans’s talented grey Sir Ravanelli primed to add the Cup to his record at Grafton. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Sir Ravanelli can add the Jacaranda Cup at Grafton to his record. Picture: Bradley Photos

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

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!

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 2: Sir Ravanelli

The Terry Evans-trained gelding wasn’t disgraced after a tough run first-up before a smart all-the-way win here last start. Looks too good again.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 7: Showdra

The filly worked home well to finish third at Eagle Farm last start. Back in grade and steps up to the mile for the first time.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 4: Franklin Corners

The gelding will take plenty of benefit from his first-up fifth to Sir Ravanelli. Drop in grade and extra trip are ideal.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 10, 13, 14

Race 6: 1, 8

Race 7: 1, 2, 9, 10

Race 8: 5, 7

Ben Looker looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge at Grafton. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ben Looker has a good book of rides and can go close in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - GRAFTON

RACE 1

Tootsie had a couple of things against her last start when fourth to Kristithegreat here on Oct 24. She was towards the rail when it was better to be wide in the straight and was dropping back from 1900m to 1725m with 10 days between runs. Form prior was solid with three placings. Ottoman Empire clear last on straightening but made ground in the straight when sixth to Skreatch over 1425m here that same day. Placed runner-up at both runs this track and distance. Sunyani closed off strongly from near last on the bend to finish a length third to Change The Date here on Oct 31. Looks like she should appreciate stepping up to 1700m.

Bet: Tootsie to win

RACE 2

Iberian Ruler sat last before running on strongly down the outside to finish less than a length behind Bold Smuggler over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast first-up on Sept 10. Always well back over the same trip there second-up then appreciated stepping up to 2110m at Lismore where when racing just behind speed and coming away to a big maiden win in a Class 1. Can go close again. Kristithegreat came from midfield with a strong run down the middle of the track to win her maiden over 1725m here on Oct 24. Good chance again. Chassagne has claims on his half head second to Bid For Fame last time out.

Bet: Iberian Ruler to win

RACE 3

Franklin Corners resumed from a spell with a handy fifth behind Sir Ravanelli in an Open Handicap over 1120m here on Oct 24. Back to a Bm66, he has won at the track and distance and handles the wet. Velvet Haze tracked the speed before racing away for a big win from Mayapple over 1300m on the Beaumont two starts back before a third to Monte Outlander at Coffs Harbour last start. Has a win and a third from his two runs on the heavy. Burdekin has closed off strongly to finish close thirds at his past two starts. Winner at his only run track.

Bet: Franklin Corners each-way

RACE 4

Geoff And Jenny is a debutant by Spieth trained by John Shelton. Sat wide and went to the line under a good hold when a half neck second to Rock Composer in his barrier trial here on Oct 31. Another Pedrille was in the market ($7) on debut when fifth behind Baranof at Kembla last November. Has changed stables twice since but can be a contender on her trial form. Brave Sailor is backing up from his fourth to Enterprise Lucia after racing wide throughout when second-up here on Oct 31. Revealer raced midfield on the rails and worked to the line okay when a two and a half-length seventh to Richattack when resuming at Taree on Oct 20. Will be better for the run.

Bet: Franklin Corners each-way

Trainer Annabel Neasham saddles up debutant Flying D’Amore. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 5

Flying D’Amore is a first starter by Russian Revolution trained by Annabel Neasham. The filly was good in both trials at Doomben and Sunshine Coast back in June before a break and again with her heat win at Eagle Farm on Oct 24. The Young Years has been good in all four of her starts. Placed in three including a long neck second to Skreatch here on Oct 24 and did it tough when a two and a half-length seventh to Toy Story at Taree before that. Own Tomorrow was carried wide near the 600m when ninth to Court Whispers when resuming at the Sunshine Coast on Oct 22. Ran a couple of handy races last campaign and had trialled well.

Bet: Flying D’Amore to win

RACE 6

Sir Ravanelli had a tough run out wide in finishing seventh to Jedibeel when resuming at Warwick Farm on Oct 2 before dropping back to country grade when an all-the-way winner of the Jacaranda Prelude here on Oct 24. Unbeaten here, won two from three at the trip and loves it wet. Sat wide back in the field and ran on well to finish second behind Sir Ravanelli last start. Drawn to get a better run. Swamp Nation stepped out for her first run for new trainer Glen Milligan when a long head second to Proverbial over 1250m at Taree on Oct 20. Placed two of three this trip. And winner on heavy.

Bet: Sir Ravanelli to win

RACE 7

Playgirl was first-up from a seven week let-up when finishing just under three lengths from Imprinted in a Class 3 at Coffs Harbour on Oct 13. She will appreciate dropping back to a Bm58, has drawn well, is a winner at the distance and placed her only run this track. Babayka led all-the-way to beat Burdekin at Lismore on Sept 7 and was beaten a half-length by Gee Bee Ess at the same track last start both in Class 3 races. Not far away when seventh at Murwillumbah in a Bm66 in between. Runner-up in only run on heavy. Flying Zamboni scored a handy win at Wauchope two starts back kept ticking over with a fifth over 1000m at Casino. Drawn well and handles the wet.

Bet: Playgirl to win

RACE 8

Showdra drifted back to get cover and copped a bump on the bend before running on late to finish a length and a quarter third to Bandasha over 1400m in a Bm66 at Eagle Farm two weeks ago. Look like she will appreciate step up to the mile for the first time and is back in grade. She’s Enuff ran a handy race when second in the Tabulam Cup on a firm track before a close third to Razzle Dazzle here last start. Has won on the heavy. Mystic Isle has been racing consistently and comes off a length third to Tauty at Lismore.

Bet: Showdra to win

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