Race day preview: Best bets, inside mail for Grafton

Following a narrow second when resuming, a lightly-raced five-year-old is ready to launch and claim his maiden win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Wednesday is at Grafton.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones 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 1, No.4: NOBLE MISSILE

He just ran into one too good first-up off a long spell here last start and is well placed here to go one better at his home track.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.2: BEEF WEEK PRINCESS

She’s been going well without winning and dropping in grade now should be what gets her over the line in first.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.10: STAR OF HARADA

He can cause a minor upset here after a series of nice runs including a second placing in the Tamworth Town Plate three runs back.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 5, 8, 9

Race 6: 2, 3, 5, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 10

Race 8: 2, 6, 7

Trainer Annabel Neasham (pictured) has placed Northuldra ideally at Grafton.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Respect the placement of Annabel Neasham here with Northuldra. She’s clearly sending him to Grafton in search of an easy win after competing in much tougher races than this to date.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Luke Rolls can cause and upset in the main race on Star Of Harada while Press Freedom and Discreet Lady have their claims.

GRAFTON

RACE 1

Noble Missile is going to start short here after just running into one better first-up here from a bad barrier. He’s drawn much better now and should prove hard to beat at his home track. Seaczar looks the main challenger after running a solid fourth first-up here when getting bumped around a bit in the straight and he will take improvement out of that run. Sportspak has been leading over more ground of late but drops back to this trip for the first time in a while so might take a sit in behind the leader. Magic Prophet gets in light here and won’t have as much work to do this time.

Bet: Noble Missile to win

RACE 2

Beef Week Princess has been running on well from off the speed all preparation and that will happen again but this time she might just claim an overdue win. With even luck she’s right in the finish and is well placed here against her own sex. She’s Rewarding has been super consistent of late and has placed both times she’s raced here and will stalk the speed as a very fit horse. Princess Zeddy also runs well here but is a backmarker who doesn’t win out of turn so she needs everything to go right from start to finish to win this but she could swamp them late.

Bet: Beef Week Princess to win

RACE 3

Cherokee Cherry drops on grade here after going too hard in front last start at Newcastle. A drop back in trip won’t hurt and she likes the sting out of the ground. Mahomes ran third last start but the winner, Proost, has come out and won again in very easy fashion. The only problem is he’s trying to win for the first time at start 26. Consensio was also in that race last start and gets a better draw now and he either leads or box seats here.

Bet: Cherokee Cherry to win

Jockey Ben Looker rides Cherokee Cherry for trainer Paul Shailer.

RACE 4

Solarosa should be running this trip and is very well placed here as a very fit horse but she might be a query on a wet track if there’s any rain about but she has the weight to win this. I’mtimmyzou geos from 1600m to 2220m now after being run down last start when leading. Can he run this out? If he can control it from in front he gets a chance but it also wouldn’t surprise if he took a sit. Seething Chuck might be overs yet again here at a trip he should like and he’s bred to enjoy soft ground so he might be a little overs.

Bet: Seething Chuck each way

RACE 5

There’s plenty of support for Maroon Magic here on debut even though she’s drawn wide which has to be a concern for a debutant. She’s in a good yard however so respect the placement. Listen has also drawn out but if she can slot in with cover midfield she’s a good chance fourth-up at her home track. She’s got a win in her soon. Northuldra was in the market six weeks ago at Canterbury when struggling, but this way easier and she’s had a barrier trial since and did get to Group 2 grade as a filly.

Bet: Northuldra to win

RACE 6

The veteran Trogir goes better with a fresh run so look to see and improving horse here but he would like a drying track. Peregrination has a fresh win to his name and has run in stronger races than this so he will be liked by punters here knowing he handles all conditions. Leica Bita Fun has also had success first-up and the blinkers go on for the first time and he’s worked in them so he should be quite focused for this assignment.

Bet: Leica Bita Fun to win

Star Of Harada looksa good chance at odds at Grafton on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 7

Aheadofhistime and Leave Me Some went over the line together last start with the former getting the win and they’ll eyeball each other from the barriers here and it’s hard to split them. Perhaps Aheadofhistime to just finish in front of Leave Me Some again. Exclusive has a wide gate and 63kg to overcome so he’s been set a task but he’s coming out of stronger races than this and brings winning form to the track. Look for him late. Star Of Harada looks the one to consider at decent odds after finishing just over a length behind Exculsive last time and he should get an ideal run from the gate. He ran second in September in the Tamworth Town Plate and loves wet ground.

Bet: Star Of Harada each way

RACE 8

Brett Dodson has the two favourites here and is naturally finding it hard to split Full Press and Gobbled who is shooting for three-straight wins. He thinks Full Press might get more favours if the speed is on here. Emmy Regina was good first-up and has won at the track and distance so look for a top three placing here. It looks to be between these three if they run to their best.

Bet: Emmy Regina to win

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