Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Friday, January 24th.
We'll be focusing on the meetings at Mornington and Port Macquarie this afternoon, before Moonee Valley hosts an eight-race card tonight! You can find our full race-by-race preview and betting tips for Moonee Valley here!
Horse Racing Tips: Friday, January 24th
Mornington Race 3 - (Market)
(8) Intrigue looks the banker for the day and am happy to take the short odds being served up. She debuted back in August in SA in a BM70 and placed but to be fair was only average. She was sent to the paddock and resumes today, she had an official trial at Tatura and was good but her most recent jump-out at Werribee is what gets me keen. She was well away, took a sit before getting to the outside and running on hard. She was pushed right out whilst others looked a little more comfortable but she had to cover ground out wide. This is a huge drop in class back to a weaker maiden, she shouldn’t be in this class next time she goes around. The footage of that jump-out can be found here.
Mornington Race 5 - (Market)
Only a small field and the betting tells us it is an open affair but I am quietly confident that (3) Diamondsandbubbles can get the job done. She doesn’t win out of turn and still is yet to score out of maiden grade, but this is easier than last time. She was here at the track back in late December, was well back in the run before making a long sweeping run and getting closest on the line. The fourth horse from that race has since come out and won at Cranbourne. I like the jockey change with Callow taking over form Clayton Douglas, here on her home track she should be finishing hard and the small field suits.
(3) Diamondsandbubbles
$3.20
Port Macquarie Race 1 - (Market)
This race interests me as I am keen to take on the favourite (9) Wandzel. There is plenty of people tipping him after a terrific debut run and then was ok last time, but I want to be against him from the extreme gate getting up in trip. Looking around him, (4) Lucky For Some is a 13-start maiden that has been good at two runs this prep and looks some value at the likely double figure odds. He hasn’t been suited over the shorter trips at the last couple, he ran on well last time here at his home track in a race where it was more preferable to be up on the speed. Last prep when he got out to this prep he was racing a lot closer to the speed, from the good draw I expect him to be a lot more prominent. Back him each-way, the favourite looks to be clearly the best horse going forward but happy to risk him drawn the carpark.
(4) Lucky For Some E/W
$8.50
Port Macquarie Race 4 - (Market)
(4) Café Royal was given plenty of time with four trials leading into his debut, but it was worth the wait for connections. She was here at his home track at start number one two weeks ago, heavily backed late to SP at $2.80 and favourite. She began well enough and cruised up to sit outside the leader, got the better of the inside horse early in the straight and was strong through the line. A little worrying that nothing made ground that day but I am hopeful that it was just a matter of her being too good for them? A wide draw won’t worry her as she will go forward, hopefully she can control the race and temp from outside the speed again. (1) Reveal The Magic has been very consistent and looks the other on-pace chance but I think that Café Royal can sit outside him and beat him. I am tipping this may be a good form reference going forward.
