Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury, Sapphire Coast

A Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gelding looks well placed to make it back-to-back wins at Hawkesbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainers David Eustace (left) and Ciaron Maher have found an ideal race for Jamesonheart to make it back-to-back wins at Hawkesbury. Picture: Getty Images

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Hawkesbury.

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!

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET

Race 9, No.3: JAMESONHEART

He was a class above his rivals first-up, has a nice turn of foot and should get all the favours from the good gate here while some of his rivals have drawn awkwardly.

NEXT BEST

Race 8, No.1: KIRWAN’S LANE

He’s giving the field weight but so he should because he’s the best horse in the race. He’s ready to peak third-up at a track and distance where he’s already won a Group 3.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.7: QUINTILLION

He should improve off the debut run at Newcastle where he kept coming at them and going up to 1500m now looks ideal.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 4, 5, 7, 10

Race 7: 3, 7, 10

Race 8: 1, 2

Race 9: 3, 6, 12

Trainer Brad Widdup has a number of good chances at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image

TRAINER TO WATCH

Brad Widdup looks to have placed his horses well again and Travelling Kate, Short Shorts and Ausbred Flirt are nice hopes.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Andrew Adkins has picked up a few good rides like Hard To Say, Ottilie and Ausbred Flirt who he will need to ride well from an awkward start in the last.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Open race according to the market. Shipshape looked the part in his latest barrier trial and has a decent enough gate here under a jockey who rode him in his last heat. Felix Majestic has race experience and is now third-up and will be peaking on the speed but needs luck from the draw. Nibidano might try to swamp them late while Clovelly was pushed out to finish off a second barrier trial so should be nice and forward for this.

Bet: Shipshape to win

RACE 2

Hard To Say has drawn well for the on-speed horse that he is. He’s already contested a couple of Stakes races in his first five starts so he’s naturally well placed here and the class factor must take him a long way. Aergentado will be wide from the start here but could land outside the leader and improve off a fresh run. Whinchat is with a new trainer now and has had two winning trials. Should be hitting the line well. His last heat was impressive.

Bet: Whinchat to win

RACE 3

Lucky Variety wasn’t knocked around much in a barrier trial and has raced in town at her only two runs to date so the stable must have a good opinion of her. She looks to have returned in nice order with a good gate and top apprentice to ride. Counter Move is on the quick back-up after running in very average conditions on debut here. A firmer track helps. Selfless Act looked the part in a barrier trial and she should be running a big race from a good gate under a top jockey.

Bet: Selfless Act to win

Dylan Gibbons partners Travelling Kate on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Bak Da Man won here two weeks ago in fine fashion over Onemore Sapphire which is a good enough pointer for him to go on with it. Travelling Kate drops back in grade at her home track. She will put herself into this race and be hard to get past. She doesn’t win out of turn but gets the right conditions here. Stella Glow comes out of a Highway run first-up and should appreciate getting up in ground here at the provincials. That Highway was a good race too.

Bet: Travelling Kate to win

RACE 5

Oriental Tycoon has run in two city races to date and gone well without winning. He has a top stable/jockey combination behind him with a cushy gate to do well at this level. Quintillion started long odds-on debut and will be double figures again despite looking like he wants the extra ground now off an encouraging run first-up. He might be the each-way hope here. Stablemate Buillt drops back in grade with top form behind him and the jockey booking is key.

Bet: Quintillion each way

RACE 6

Rosovo got well back and didn’t get any luck early before ratting home here fresh and the extra ground is a positive. Duke Of Buckingham can produce something first-up and has won twice at this track from three attempts. Ellenmac is also well set-up for this out of a good form race and is very fit now, Shouldn’t have any excuses. Awesome Wonder comes out of a hot stable and has won fresh. Won at the track at her only attempt.

Bet: Rosovo to win

Talented apprentice Zac Lloyd rides Rosovo for trainer James Cummings. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Russbuss has the barrier blanket on for the first time in an effort to start better and she’ll go forward from the wide gate. Local gelding Tocomah won here two week ago and going up to 1100m now looks perfect for him. With cover in the run, he’s a good hope. Ottilie looks to keep her good early record going under a new trainer who has picked this race out after she won at the track last time in and she’ll be right on the speed.

Bet: Tocomah to win

RACE 8

Kirwan’s Lane has to give away weight here but he should due to his class and he’s got super form around him this time in. He is ready to peak now third-up and has won at the track and distance. Lord Ardmore should find this easier as an improving horse thanks to the run last start, while Palmetto is in the same boat and wants the speed on. The class of Kirwan’s Lane should be enough to get him home though.

Bet: Kirwan’s Lane to win

RACE 9

Jamesonheart showed a nice turn of foot to put them away at Goulburn first-up and he has drawn to get a nice run. Ausbred Flirt is trained on the track and will appreciate a little more ground here after running on well fresh. She has drawn awkwardly though so a well-judged ride is needed. Camaguey has a habit of running second but has the city form around him to do well here.

Bet: Jamesonheart to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury, Sapphire Coast