Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Grafton

Sir Ravanelli is going to be tough to beat in the Christmas Cup but trainer Daniel Bowen feels his mare can put her best foot forward and figure in the finish. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL.

Trainer Daniel Bowen expects Beef Week Princess to show her best on a quick back-up at Grafton on Sunday.

Trainer Daniel Bowen has declared in-form grey Sir Ravanelli as the horse to beat in the Christmas Cup but believes his talented mare Beef Week Princess can figure in the finish at good odds.

The daughter of Casino Prince finished down the track at Ballina last week but Bowen feels there was a reason for that and expects her to run a much better race this weekend.

Prior to that run, she was a two and a half-length sixth at Doomben in late August and won two starts later won over 1526m at Lismore back September 21.

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Jockey Matthew McGuren rides Beef Week Princess in the Christmas Cup. Picture: AAP Image

“When she can back from her last spell, her ultimate goal was going to be the Lismore Cup because that’s where her owners are from but unfortunately, we ran out of time,” said Bowen.

“She always takes a couple of runs to get fit and I had her in the (Lismore Cup) Prelude and it was a slowly run race and she just knocked up.

“I always had it in the back of my mind to go back to 1500m for the Rousillon two weeks later because I knew she was fit for that distance and she got up a good odds that day.

“Unfortunately, she pulled up with a little injury forcing her to miss the Cup and was eight weeks between runs.

“She is such a good doer and really needed the run at Ballina last week.

“She’s a funny horse who doesn’t go for some jockeys but she does go well for Matt (McGuren).

“Sir Ravanelli will be an odds on favourite and will probably be too fast for her but dropping back to 1200m on the back-up, she is going to run through the line and she can run a place at decent odds.”

In the opening race, Bowen saddles up Peak Road who is chasing back-to-back wins.

The five-year-old had lost form but Bowen put it down to a few niggling things and when his owners wanted to sell the gelding, Bowen purchased him and back himself to turn him around.

When his previous owners first bought him from Melbourne, his first run for us was slashing but then he lost form,” said Bowen.

Luke Rolls partners Peak Road in the first race at Grafton.

“They wanted to move him on so I bought and worked with him hoping I could get him back into form.

“I kept him at the shorter distances until he got his confidence back and he started to run a couple of nice races.

“He finished third at Ballina behind Devocean who isn’t a bad horse.

“I had to run him at Lismore over shorter distance and then needed another run before last week’s race at Ballina so I took him to Casino and he ran a nice second.

“He jumped up to 1900m last week and won well.

“He is going up another 300m but he has had the work and I think if he gets a nice run, he can win again.”

In the final race, Bowen is unsure if Backseat Promise will run with the prospect of a wet track as she didn’t handle it last weekend but Tasuma will be there and he gave a good push for the gelding.

“He is just getting fit and starting to come right,” he said.

“His run at Casino two starts ago was good then up Ballina the other day, he jumped up in distance from 1300m to 1900m. He loomed up but his peaked on his run peaked about 200m out.

“Dropping back to the mile might be a fraction short for him but he will be finishing off strongly and I think he is an each-way chance at odds.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 2: Sir Ravanelli

The Terry Evans-trained gelding is in superb form with back-to-back wins at this track. Drawn perfectly to bring up the hat-trick.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 2: Due Diligence

Came from well back to win smartly first-up last month. Has since trialled nicely and can overcome the wide gate.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No. 4: Peak Road

Scored a handy win over 1900m last start and looks a good value chance stepping up to 2220m.

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 6 Nos: 2, 5

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 10, 13, 14

Race 5: 1, 6, 8

Race 6: 2, 5

Race 7: 1, 8, 10, 13

Ben Looker can take out the TAB Jockey Challenge at Grafton.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Top jockey Ben Looker looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – GRAFTON

RACE 1

Peak Road has found his groove again in recent starts and followed a handy second at Casino over 1300m with a win over 1900m at Ballina last weekend. Should handle the Sept up to 2220m. Kristithegreat broke her maiden at start three over 1725m here on Oct 24 and followed up with a Class 1 win over 2200m here on Nov 8. Steps up to a Bm66 here and drawn out. Bill Peyto was last in two runs over 2253m and 2300m but should be forgiven for them. He comes into this with placings at three of his last four starts and will be thereabouts again.

Bet: Peak Road each-way

RACE 2

After two close placings at Lismore, Golden Garden pulled up with respiratory issues when last at Murwillumbah on Oct 10. After a freshen-up he returned with a solid fourth behind Ottoman Empire over 1700m here on Nov 8. Will be better for the run and can give this a shake. I’m Picturesque jumped from 1425m to 1700m when she led and finished fifth in that same race after leading. Backing-up eight days later when a three-quarter length second behind Tudor Cathedrals. Has had to cross from wide gates in those two runs but has barrier 1 this time. Temple Of God also comes through those same races when fourth and fifth. Won’t be far away again.

Bet: Golden Garden to win

RACE 3

Sir Ravanelli is the class horse of the field and he is in superb form. Led all-the-way to win the Jacaranda Prelude over 1120m before winning the Cup by a length and a half over 1100m despite racing three and four-wide all-the-way. Drawn perfectly, unbeaten at the track and won over this trip here. Beef Week Princess will take huge benefit from her run over 1400m last week off an eight week break. Has proven herself on the quick back-up before. Winner at Lismore two starts back and has won at this track. Air Marshal is in terrific form this campaign with two wins split by a close second. Will be prominent again.

Bet: Sir Ravanelli to win

Sir Ravanelli can bring up the hat-trick at Grafton. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Geoff And Jenny had some last specking on debut and gave a sight when a length fifth to Revealer over 1000m here on Nov 8 after being taken on in front. Drawn out again but will be better for the experience and drops in weight. Daimyo ran a couple of handy races in his first campaign despite being unplaced. Resumed from a spell with an eye-catching half neck second in that same race behind Revealer. Genuine chance. Transition is back from a spell. Closed last campaign with a length second to Filthy Rich here on Sept 11. Drawn to get a perfect run.

Bet: Geoff And Jenny to win

RACE 5

Eau Vite has had two solid runs back from a spell and is ready to peak third-up. Caught late by Olivia’s Spirit when resuming here on Sept 26 before a third to My Eloise in a Bm58 at Muswellbrook last start. Drawn well and looks tough to beat. Written Fame scored a big win first-up Murwillumbah before failing when tailed off behind Olivia’s Spirit after racing wide here on Oct 31. Has since trialled and expect a better performance here. Former Victorian gelding He’s Essential is resuming for a new stable. Recent trials have been good and drawn well.

Bet: Eau Vite to win

RACE 6

Due Diligence was impressive winning first-up and can make it two in-a-row. Went back from a wide gate and came with a strong run to beat Wilderness Star and Avoid Me on the Beaumont on Oct 30. Has since trialled very well here on Nov 16. Allay followed a length and a half fourth behind Zattastar over 1310m at Lismore with a neck second to Uncaged over 1250m at Kempsey on Nov 10. Steps up to 1410m but was a length third over this trip at Lismore back on Sept 21 and has placed second at her only run here. Too Much Heaven has had a couple of handy runs back from a spell and should be ready to peak.

Bet: Due Diligence to win

RACE 7

I Am Good At This has been terrific all campaign with his only blip a tenth behind Whodat in a strongly run TAB Highway at Randwick on Oct 21. Was a winner over 1720m here before that run and has since finished a close second at Ipswich. Drawn wide but is the one to beat. Rose Between Thorn was specked from $51 into $26 and ran a bold race to just miss catching Change The Date over 1400m here on Oct 31. Backed that effort up with a big win from Vermeer again at this track 16 days later. She gets back and will just need a touch of luck from the inside gate but sure to be in the finish with clear running. Tasuma just peaked on his run over 1900m at Ballina last weekend. Drops back to 1610m and the blinkers go on.

Bet: I Am Good At This to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Grafton