Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Dubbo and Tuncurry on Monday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets and value selections for Dubbo and Tuncurry on Monday.

Commando Jack is Shayne O'Cass's best bet of the day at Dubbo on Monday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Form expert Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets and value selections for Dubbo and Tuncurry on Monday.

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DUBBO TIPS

BEST BET
Race 4 No.1 COMMANDO JACK: Gets his chance today for a well-earned win this preparation.

NEXT BEST
Race 2 No.10 CASINO DIVA: Shapes well for 2200m now; fit and in form.

VALUE
Race 6 No.8 YOU HAVE TO GO: Only win in 19 starts was a big one and it was her at Dubbo.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,4
Race 5: 3,6
Race 6: 3,4,8
Race 7: 1,2,5

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Clayton Gallagher is on 97 wins for Brett Robb at a strike-rate of 25 per cent.

DUBBO INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: Maiden Plate (1000m)

FEMELLA (9) is a daughter of Brave Smash on debut here in the right style of race with an acceptable draw and prolific winning jockey Braith Nock to steer. She’s in good hands with Todd Howlett and so far as she herself is concerned, the trials were quite encouraging. I’M OPINIONATED (10) is a maiden yet has won almost four times her purchase price. That’s because Damien Lane only had to find $2,000 to buy her as a yearling. Best run so far is at this t/d.

BET: FEMELLA (9) to win, exacta 9 to beat 10.

RACE 2: Class 1 Plate (2200m)

CASINO DIVA (10) has developed a racing pattern of slow early/fast late. You could nearly argue that she should have won her last three starts with a bit of luck on her side but whatever the case, everything she has done suggests 2200m won’t be an issue. What could be an issue though is if she concedes too big a start to the local MISS CLAMOROSA (11) who finished ahead of her at Wellington when they met on March 28. Brett Robb has got this filly flying.

BET: CASINO DIVA (10) to win, quinella 10,11, box trifecta 1,4,10,11.

RACE 3: Maiden Handicap (1600m)

HARRY TUDOR (1) has got to be the best bred horse west of the Great Divide surely. He’s by Frankel with dam-sires including Sadler's Wells, Seattle Slew, Lyphard, etc, etc. Granted, he has been a bit costly from a punting angle but he has placed eight times in 13 starts so he is reliable in that regard. Big weight, bad draw the concerns. PRIZES GALORE (2) is going to eat a mile and more, just like her father Prized Icon. WOLF CLUB (3) has claims but is poorly drawn.

BET: HARRY TUDOR (1) to win, PRIZES GALORE (2) to place.

RACE 4: Benchmark 58 (1600m)

COMMANDO JACK (1) has come back in fine shape this preparation. He kicked it off with a very honourable seventh of 14 in the CDRA Heat on Feb 28 which he followed with consecutive thirds at Wellington and Orange with his regular rider Clayton Gallagher on each time. No reason why he can’t run out 1600m this time from box 2 in the shape he is in. CALL ME TERRY (4), likewise, has been excellent in all three of his 2025 starts. He split a couple of handy horses at Scone last time out.

BET: COMMANDO JACK (1) to win, exacta 1 to beat 4.

RACE 5: Class 3 Handicap (1400m)

EGYPTOLOGIST (6) has been known to be difficult to load at time, so let’s hope first of all, he goes in and comes out of the barriers like the rest of his pretty respectable opponents here today. The son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was fast closing runner-up at his first run in the Central West for Brett Thompson then won his next two. Placed two from two first-up. RITZSUN (3) has a tidy record of two wins, a second and a third from seven starts and what is noticeable, he’s run well in some very deep races including a fourth in Wilbury's Wyong Highway.

BET: EGYPTOLOGIST (6) each-way, quinella 3,6, Daily Double 1st Leg 6, 2nd Leg 2.

RACE 6: Benchmark 58 (1200m)

YOU HAVE TO GO (8) is adorned in the same colours as his worn by his grand-dam’s father, that being the Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe. Diatribe was famed for the whirlwind finish of his, You Have To Go is the same sort of horse in that respect which accounts for why he has only managed 1 win from 19 starts. What is of added significance is that his win was here at Dubbo with Bucko on. His record on the horse is four rides, one two, two placings. Never easy to win a Benchmark 58 after a maiden win but BYRON’S FARM (3) won easily first-up.

BET: YOU HAVE TO GO (8) to win, quinella 3,6.

RACE 7: Class 1 Handicap (1000m)

ARCHAIC FORCE (2) was a $125,000 Inglis Classic Yearling and is worth it on pedigree for starters being by Cosmic Force out of the New Zealand Oaks winner, and stakes-producing mare, Bramble Rose. Has good talent but a bad draw. QUICK SHARP (5) is a half to Darleb, Very Sharp, Sharp Shock, etc. Point there is, all this mare, Shamtastic's offspring, can gallop, and this one is no exception. WASTED DAYS (1) is a Brett Robb local who won on debut and was spelled four starts later after almost beating the well above average Palazzo Prince. Good trial on March 28.

BET: ARCHAIC FORCE (2) to win or if scratched Quick Sharp to win.

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TUNCURRY TIPS

BEST BET
Race 7 No.4 TAKING THE MIKKI: Only won 3 from 20 but placed 11 times and handles heavy ground.

NEXT BEST
Race 1 No.6 FLEE WITH ME: Interesting horse, resuming, so market watch advised.

VALUE
Race 3 No.12 SCARLET MONARCH: Ran fourth to Canonbury winner Blitzburg on debut at Newcastle. Fast horse.