Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, August 1st.
Today is the first day of the new racing season and we kick things off with a couple of decent meetings at Pakenham and Coffs Harbour. The Coffs Harbour Cup is the feature race of the day and Luke Krahe has included it as part of his four best bets below!
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, August 1st
Coffs Harbour Race 1 (Market)
There are a few different formlines coming into this jump and run affair to open up Cup Day, but I am sticking with the prelude here 11 days ago. (6) Mr Hennessy was big odds that day, he had only been racing fairly and was drawn wide. What he showed is that he has speed and toughness, he was four-wide with no cover throughout and still had the audacity to run up and take over at the furlong pole. He stuck on well and was string through the line, the runner-up (2) Gunnaza was also in that race and had a much easier run. The favourite will be the new addition to the Kris Lees yard (1) Agent Pippa. She ahs had one start for the stable since coming from the west, although she was impressive against the girls in the city, there are a few factors that see her a big risk today. Firstly, she is coming back from 1100m to 800m, has the inside draw which can be deadly if you miss the kick, and coming back from a heavy track to a Good4. She will be in the red but happy to back around her on the last start prelude winner on an each-way basis.
(6) Mr Hennessy E/W
$8.00
Coffs Harbour Race 7 - Coffs Harbour Cup (Market)
The feature of the day across the nation is the $150k Coffs Harbour Cup over a mile. Plenty of different form lines here and seven last start winners in the field, it looks a cracking race. The Kris Lees stable definitely has the two class runners in (1) Hallelujah Boy and (2) Mr Garcia, but both have to carry over 60kg with the nearest to them only carrying 55.5kg. (5) Looks Like Elvis is the play here at better than each-way odds, he has had two runs back from the paddock and should be at peak fitness here third-up. He was good fresh on the heavy track when running on hard over the unsuitable six furlongs, he then went to Eagle Farm 12 days ago sat up on the speed and was too strong over the 1400m. He was favoured the way the race was run that day but from the good middle draw, getting out to the mile and with only 54kg to carry, he should be making his own luck up on the speed again.
(5) Looks Like Elvis
$4.00
Pakenham Synthetic Race 2 (Market)
(10) She’s By Design was beaten out of sight into second place last time here at the track, but the margin to third was just as decisive. She has had both her runs here the synthetic and seems to handle it well, a big advantage over those that are having there first run here. She ran on well at her debut when never looking likely then here last time lost momentum when improving and chased hard but was beaten 7L by a very smart one in the making. She will no doubt be giving them a start again but there should be a good tempo set, allowing her to run on from the back. Fully fit now at start three, expect that she will finish too hard. (9) Night Call showed more speed last start than what she had the couple prior, she will need to get it soft in front. She was out to the mile two starts ago so if the cheap sectionals are noticeable early, she will be hard to run down.
(10) She's By Design
$3.10
Pakenham Synthetic Race 3 (Market)
Damian Lane partnered (3) Paperboy when he had his first two runs back in the summer, he was runner-up on both occasions and then sent to the paddock. He resumed here on the synthetic a fortnight ago, sat up on the speed again, he stuck on well but he did have every chance. He is getting to be a little costly for punters, his three runs his SP’s have been $3, $3.10 and #2.10 so it is time for him to start re-paying the faithful. He will be well supported again as he has many of the attributes that the some of the big players like in the form lines, he should be up on the speed again and this looks no harder. D Lane goes back on also which is never a negative, this is his last chance though!
