Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for selected races at Warrnambool, Canterbury and Ascot on Wednesday, May 2nd.
We’ve taken a look at all three cards and selected the races we’re keenest to bet into, and you can find our tips and comments on each of those below.
Best Bet: Warrnambool Race 9 #3 Lucky For All
Best Value Bet: Warrnambool Race 10 #2 Lord Tennyson / #3 Nacar
WARRNAMBOOL RACING TIPS
RACE 5
Keen on one of the Weir runners (10) Set With Jewels at $8 here. This horse resumed with a 3rd placing at Ararat over 1300m, beaten 2.1L. He comes into today’s race second up, up in trip to 1700m, drawn well with Yendall on board, and will also be running on a soft track which he seems to relish. I’ve got some queries about those runners at the top of the market and no doubt Weir will have this horse in tip-top shape for today’s race at the carnival. Each way odds available seems a decent bet.
TIP: (10) Set With Jewels
RACE 7
Really like the look of (1) Furrion who is another Weir runner and tops the market at $2.90. He’s had two starts for two wins so far, including a last-start win by 4.75L at Ballarat. He has to carry 60kg today but he carried 59kg to victory last start. There’s one or two queries, with an inside barrier draw not necessarily ideal, as well as today being his first run on soft ground. He is bred to handle the wet though, so with not a lot to beat in this field, he appears one of the better bets of the day.
TIP: (1) Furrion
RACE 9
Similar theme here! Weir runner goes on top in the form of (3) Lucky For All at the short quote ($2.10). He resumed from a spell with a dominant win on wet ground at Terang, saluting by 2.5L, with a further 3.5L back to 3rd. Yendall keeps the ride and the wide barrier is probably a good thing at this stage of the day. No problems on the soft ground and is the one to beat.
TIP: (3) Lucky For All
RACE 10
A couple at longer odds that interest me here. Damian Lane takes the ride on (2) Lord Tennyson here, which is interesting given there’s four Weir runners in the race. Surely he’d have had a ride on one of the Weir horses, but instead he’s on one for Peter Chow. This horse did nothing first up but he rarely does. His second up record is terrific, however, and so is his record at the track and distance. From four starts over track and distance he’s never missed the top two. Wide barrier a positive, has form on wet ground and $15 is a decent enough price. (3) Nacar is one of the four Weir runners. He’s first up from a long spell here and has his first start as a gelding. His first up record is outstanding and he won first up over this track and distance last preparation to break his maiden. $8.50 appeals.
TIP: (2) Lord Tennyson EW / (3) Nacar EW
CANTERBURY RACING TIPS
RACE 1
Two that I’ll be backing here. (1) Gem Song was solid in the market on debut at Warwick Farm and won in nice enough fashion. Jason Collett keeps the ride today. He settled outside the leader on debut and should find a similar position from barrier 8 today. Looks another winnable race and $5 is a reasonable price. (3) Bondi Boy is on debut from the in-form Richard Freedman stable. He’s had three trials leading into this. None of them have been spectacular but he’s fitted with blinkers first time and draws a barrier which should see him get a favourable run. Kerrin McEvoy rode him in his most recent trials but rides the Snowden horse instead, which is a slight query, but I’ll be having something on at $7.50 anyway.
TIP: (1) Gem Song / (3) Bondi Boy EW
RACE 2
Barrier 1 means (9) Seasons may position further forward than it did on debut, and this stable and jockey combination is always one to look out for in these sorts of races. The horse resumes from a spell having run 2nd at his only start back in December, which was over this track and distance. He drew wide on that occasion and settled back in the field but I suspect we will see him on speed today. Two trials to get fit for this, looks a very winnable race. Also some interest in (1) Copy Boy at double figure odds.
TIP: (9) Seasons
ASCOT RACING TIPS
RACE 2
Two I’ll be backing here. (10) Point Taken is on debut after a string of solid trials. Draws well in barrier 5, gets the blinkers on first time for its debut today and should find itself right on speed knowing this stable. Currently $3.80 and could start shorter. (5) Cryptic Love looks an attractive price at $7. This horse won two trials leading into its debut, where it ran 3rd beaten 0.25L, and was then blocked up until the 100m mark at its second start. Drawn well again in barrier 3 and looks good odds given its good debut and luckless run last start.
TIP: (10) Point Taken / (5) Cryptic Love EW
RACE 3
(7) Benny Beau is a decent each way bet at $12. He hasn’t had a lot of luck in his two career starts so far. On debut he was blocked late in the race and would have finished closer, although he wouldn’t have won. Last start he was blocked until the 200m mark and then couldn’t sprint when the gap came. Today he steps up to 1400m and gets the blinkers on for the first time. Perhaps with a clearer run in the straight he could feature at decent odds.
TIP: (7) Benny Beau EW
RACE 4
Two I’ll have something on in this race. The first is (6) Vermont Lady, who was butchered by William Pike last start, stuck three-wide on the speed before weakening in the final 100m or so as the well-backed favourite. It’s not often Pike gets dumped but he’s been binned here in favour of Chris Parnham, who is riding in career-best form at present. Drawn softly in barrier 2, can bounce back here in a very winnable race at $5.50. (8) Echoes In Time is also worth having something on at $17. She rarely does anything in her first few starts back from a spell. In fact, last start was the first time she’d ever placed in her first three starts back from a spell, from 14 attempts. She’s had two starts at this track for a win and a 3rd placing, and her three career wins have come over 1600m so the 1500m should be suitable. Likely to be coming from the back of the field but isn’t hopeless at good odds.
TIP: (6) Vermont Lady / (8) Echoes In Time EW
