Best bets and inside mail for Newcastle and Tamworth for Tuesday April 1, 2025

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selections and exotic tips for Tuesday’s meetings at Newcastle and Tamworth.

Meridiana (yellow cap) runs home for third on the Kensington track at Randwick last start. Picture: Bradley Photos

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selections and exotic tips for Tuesday’s meetings at Newcastle and Tamworth.

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NEWCASTLE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 3 No.5 EL PASO: Lots to look forward to from this scopey Dundeel 3YO on the way up.

NEXT BEST
Race 6 No.4 DIVINE BENE: Dominant first-up, chances soar of it stays wet today.

VALUE
Race 7 No. 14 MOUNT BONA: Won like a good horse at Scone. Could be ‘something;' if she repeats that here.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 3,5,9,12
Race 5: 2,3
Race 6: 4
Race 7: 10,14

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Andrew Adkins will ride El Paso, among others, at Newcastle

RACE 4: Benchmark 64 (1890m)

FIORSUM FRED (3) has accepted for the Mornington Prelude at Tamworth today. FLYING STEP (12) was bred, is owned and trained by Bruce Cross. A cleverly designed mix of speed and stamina, Flying Step has some compelling numbers including those three seconds (one at this trip) from five runs at the venue. On top of that, she absolutely excels on wet tracks, the wetter the better. CASANOVA (9), the horse related to Phar Lap, has hit his best stride now and can keep winning.

BET: FIORSUM FRED (3) to win, FLYING STEP (12) each-way.

RACE 5: Midway Maiden Handicap (1250m)

STILL EXCITED (3) has accepted for Canberra tomorrow. Avid trial watchers and breeding buffs have been eagerly awaiting her to step out in the wake of her debut run. The daughter of Galaxy winner I Am Excited (same trainer/owners) has talent beyond provincial grade. That said, she has a worthy adversary and even a major obstacle to overcome in Jason Coyle’s superbly bred first starter SEMIBREVE (2) who has a bright future.

BET: STILL EXCITED (3) to win or if scratched SEMIBREVE (2) to win, quinella 2,3.

RACE 6: Class 1 Handicap (1250m)

DIVINE BENE (4) has been very well placed throughout by Adam Duggan. The horse was never going to lose first-up at Beaumont off his form and impressive trial in the lead up. This is a step up for him now but he has a good racing pattern, a favourable draw, a weight claim and if it stays wet, his chances soar. MERCANTILIST (6) was an odds-on debut winner at Gosford on debut. Only just got there but it’s not easy to win first time out.

BET: DIVINE BENE (4) to win, box trifecta 4,5,6,11.

RACE 7: Class 1 Handicap (1500m)

MOUNT BONA (14) was unlucky on debut at Tamworth which is why his easy win at Scone 12 days later would have come as no surprise. Just as a matter of interest, I can’t remember, off hand, seeing a horse get across a Heavy 10 as well as he did. It was like he was on top of the ground and the rest were on quicksand. Seems promising. Kris Lees and Judy Wanless’ epic blueblood ROAD TO PARADISE (10) won here on debut on December 7. Market the best guide. BLUEPINOT (2) started fav in the Grand Prix in the winter.

BET: MOUNT BONA (14), BLUEPINOT (2) each-way.

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TAMWORTH TIPS

BEST BET
Race 1 No.2 NEVERMISTA: Done enough on raceday to like but have to love the trial!

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.5: SMOKE ON THE WATER: Cleverly named son of Jukebox – and unbeaten too!

VALUE
Race 4 No.10 FLEETLY: Closed willingly at her only two starts to date, extra 200m perfect.

RACE 4: Maiden Handicap (1200m)

FLEETLY (10) is a filly by Cox Plate winner Adelaide out of a mare by peerless European Miler Henrythenavigator. With that in mind, all credit is owned to the filly for being so competitive in her two starts over 1000m where she was the one doing the best work late. Steps to 1200m today. Loads of interest in the new local and half to Bivouac, HALO PHENOMENA (6), who trialled like an atomic bomb here the other day for Cody Morgan. SETHFIRE (4) will be strong late.

BET:FLEETLY (10) to win, exacta 10 to beat 6, quinella 6,10, box trifecta 2,4,6,10.

RACE 5: Benchmark 58 (1000m)

ARCHAIC FORCE (6) may well be absent. That being the case, all roads IMHO lead to Jan Bowen-bred, owned and trained mare VANDELIGHT (13) who has run more good races than bad and by a sizeable majority too. Placed three of four this time in. ENNIROC (5) was placed at Moe on debut for Logan McGill and is ‘2’ and ‘1’ in his only other two starts up here in NSW for Ray Hartley. Hard to fault and easy to like.

BET: ARCHAIC FORCE (6) to win or if scratched, VANDELIGHT (13) each-way.

RACE 6: Benchmark 82 (1400m)

SMART SHOT (6) is one of those times when numbers tell it better than words can. How about; 3 wins and 8 placings from 18 starts, 6 runs at the venue for a win and 2 placings. Six runs at the trip for a win and 3 seconds. The Cody Morgan-trained gelding was midfield in that very strong Country Champs Heat here on March 9. INVASIVE DREAMS (8) is ‘1163’ in four runs for Kristen Buchanan. Go well again. MACLEAY (5) has claims.

BET: SMART SHOT (6) to win, MACLEAY (5) to place, exacta 6 to beat 8.

RACE 7: Class 2 Handicap (1200m)

SMOKE ON THE WATER (5), a cleverly-named son of Jukebox, was in a Deep Purple patch of form (pardon the easy pun) at his first and only prep so far. That much is obvious given the James Dobie-trained gelding won at Gunnedah on debut then went to Newcastle and beat them again, easier this time. Aaron Bullock was there each time, he’s there again on Tancred day. KING LARRY (2) should probably be 3 from 6, he pretty much threw it away last start in that 66 at home.

BET: SMOKE ON THE WATER (5) to win, quinella 2,5, exacta 5 to beat 2.