A great day of racing across the country on Australia Day, with major meetings being held at Caulfield, Warwick Farm and Bunbury. Tim Geers has singled out today's best bets below.
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Horse Racing Tips: Tuesday, January 26th
Caulfield Race 6
One of the features of the day at Caulfield is the Listed John Dillon Stakes over 1400m and I think (6) Viral is going to be in this up to his ears. He comes off a win in BM84 company at Flemington, but I think this race is a suitable option for him. Two starts ago he was beaten 0.3L by (5) Never Again, who he meets again here, a whopping 5.5kg better at the weights. Prior to that, he sat three-wide the trip at Flemington and fought on well to run 2nd to Mr Money Bags, with Bandersnatch back in 3rd. Both those horses have come out and won since.
I think (2) Brave Song looks the danger and value at $8.50, coming off consecutive placings. He hasn’t won in a long time though, with 83 weeks since his last win.
Warwick Farm Race 7
The final race of the day at Warwick Farm sees (9) Jack The Lad return from a spell and he finds a race he should be very hard to beat in. The son of I Am Invincible has clearly showed plenty of talent at home because he’s been well-backed in two of his three starts to date. His lone victory came over this track and distance and first up with two trials under the belt, he should be ready to tackle the 1400m first up.
(2) Invasion Day could be the omen bet of the century and looks to actually have been set for this race on this day. He was a winner over track and distance in this grade three starts ago and was scratched from a race on Saturday to race here instead. Nash Rawiller goes back on and he will be right in the finish.
Value: (2) Invasion Day $6.00 Ladbrokes
Bunbury Race 1
It’s not often I get a feeling about a horse such as I had when I saw (1) Success Play on the form guide for the opener at Bunbury. I’ve been waiting for him to return ever since his slashing first up run in the Crystal Slipper Stakes, where he came from last on the turn to run an eye-catching 4th. He’s since been back to the trials, where he wore blinkers and trialled exceptionally well, but he continues without the blinkers today. Hoping he can take up a position right on the speed today because if he does, they will have plenty of trouble running him down. He’s currently second elect in the market, and I think that’s wrong so happy to back him.
Bunbury Race 5
(1) There’s A Chance has his first run for the Darren Taylor stable today and his recent trial was outstanding, coming from off the speed to cruise home down the outside under little pressure. I’m expecting a bold performance from him today. I think he finds a very winnable race and provided he’s not too far back, I think he’ll prove hard to beat.
The other horse I’ll be on is (9) Zingano, who was beaten less than a length at Northam last time we saw her. She’s had a spell and returns to the races first up without a trial, which is a tactic often used to great effect with this yard. I expect her to be right in the finish.
Backing both horses with $5.10 and $4.45 currently available.
Also backing: (9) Zingano $4.45 Sportsbetting
(1) There's A Chance
$5.10