14/7/2022 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Grafton, Grafton Cup day

The Grafton Cup Carnival reaches its climax on Thursday where it is Grafton Cup Day. The weather is fine, the track is soft (6) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

Grafton Cup 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Grafton Cup

I’m with 9 Horowitz (Bet Now: $4.80) in the opener. Formerly with Ed O’Rourke, he now finds himself with David Joice at Murwillumbah and I think there is intent here for a first up assault. He has looked strong in a couple of 1000m trials on the home track, he finds gate one and stable finds Tommy Berry. I think he’ll lead throughout.

6 Star Magnum (Bet Now: $4.20) looks the key threat. Matty Dunn trained gelding that resumed over 1000m at Eagle Farm where he burned petrol tickets early to find a forward spot and battled away pretty well late when third to Zumikon. Fitter, and if he can get on speed without doing too much work, he’ll take beating with the run under the belt.

5 In A Step (Bet Now: $9.00) rarely runs a bad race at Grafton and has early speed so she commands respect. She ran in the Wauchope Sprint at Port Macquarie last time and gave a solid kick but was nabbed late by The Drake, who goes around in the Sir James Kirby. Last bit will test, but she’s honest.

7 Aquarius (Bet Now: $3.30) looks one of the better bets on the card. Matty Dunn trained three year old that resumed at Muwillumbah and he chased strongly from off the speed when second to Controlocacy, with a gap to third, holding the rest. Fitter, ideal map, good form…all points to him.

8 Galbalan (Bet Now: $4.60) is a son of Artie Schiller for Tony Newing that resumes and he’s one trainer who loves to target this Carnival. He hasn’t raced since May 6 at Armidale when a game third after getting held up on the fence. Hasn’t had too long of a break, so watch the market.

5 Taking The Mikki (Bet Now: $6.50) is a gelding who has shown good talent since day one. First run for Kristen Buchanan came at Taree over 1250m when on speed and tried hard, but condition just gave way late. Back to 1175m should be fine and is a key winning chance.

9 Kokoro (Bet Now: $2.40) is a son of Real Impact for John O’Shea that resumes. This guy hasn’t raced since March 17 at Newcastle where he was far from disgraced in defeat behind a city class animal in Whodat. Been given a good break and I thought he closed off quite well in a Hawkesbury trial, and gets Bowman. Leading chance.

7 Karaoke King (Bet Now: $3.40) has done little wrong this time in for Matty Smith. Strong maiden winner two back at Scone before going to Taree where she got back in the run and chased strongly when second to Klopp. Hopefully the inside gate is used to advantage, and if so, he’ll be around the mark.

20 Down And Around (Bet Now: $31.00) looks a progressive type. Took a little while to break the maiden tag but he did it last start at Coffs Harbour, and gave them a spanking under Ben Looker, who remains on for this. The scratchings have somewhat thinned this race out, so he’s a first four threat.

3 The Pines (Bet Now: $4.80) on top for me. Team Edmonds trained mare that has had two runs back from a break. Wasn’t too bad fresh at the Sunny Coast behind Roman Aureus before going to the Gold Coast where she was dragged back from the wide gate and made up some ground without threatening, but did clock good late splits. Hopefully the inside gate is used and this is another stable who rarely misfire when they come to Grafton.

1400m is the query with 2 Tara Jasmine (Bet Now: $3.90) but her Grafton record keeps her in the mix. 6/6 at the track and returns to John Shelton after racing in Brisbane with the O’Dea/Hoysted camp. She was heading towards the Ramornie but rain has changed those plans and instead runs here at 1400m, where the trip is a query. Including her in exotics.

7 Sequana (Bet Now: $6.50) is capable with her best. Kris Lees trains this mare, who ran over 1300m on the Kenso at Randwick last time and was very good from near last in the run behind Gusonic, beaten just under two lengths. Hard to beat if she can settle closer in the run.

1200m looks no issue for 1 Durnstein (Bet Now: $2.50) and it was hard not to be impressed by his first up win over 1000m here, where he led throughout and gave them an absolute spanking. The knock is that this Carnvial, on speed/fence in run has been gold, so was he flattered? Perhaps, but I think he can measure up, sit on speed and prove hard to run down.

3 Fashion Legend (Bet Now: $4.80) commands respect with Blinkers first time after the debut run, which came on the Kenso track at Randwick where he didn’t qutie get the rub of the green in the straight and should have finished closer when fourth to Contemporary. Maps ideally and brings a strong form line.

9 Deep Opinions (Bet Now: $7.50) looks a filly with talent for Damien Lane. Market was with the stablemate when she debuted at Coonamble. Early on in the straight, she looked like she was struggling, but as soon as you had that thought, she surged and savaged the line to win impressively. Won a trial impressively on wet ground leading in, so I think she’s in with a shout here.

When in doubt, go with the best rider and T Berry is that here, so on top is 5 Up Trumpz (Bet Now: $11.00), who resumes for Joe Cleary. He hasn’t raced since the National Sprint during the Canberra Carnival where he was back near last in the run and was no hope the way the track played that Carnival. Looked to move well in a recent trial and he’ll be strong late.

9 Parksville (Bet Now: $2.90) could easily blow this field away if he’s ready to rock and roll. Brett Dodson trains this gelding, who is first up, and the fact he is first up here, in a strong race, tells me there is intent and is one of a number of horses that are on the shop window for a Kosciuszko berth. His trial was electric, track/distance winner, he’ll jump on the bunny and be hard to catch.

1 Aheadofhistime (Bet Now: $9.00) is a Trevor Hardy trained sprinter that resumes and wouldn’t have looked out of place as a lightweight Ramornie chance. He hasn’t raced since May 7 at the Gold Coast on Hollindale Day when back and closing off okay behind Seleque. Resumes without a trial, but can sprint well fresh and maps to do no work.

8 Rebel Rama (Bet Now: $8.50) on top for me. Marc Conners trained mare that comes into this off the back of a Tatts Gold Crown win where Tommy showed initiative, taking control from the front and timing the pushing of the button to perfection. 2350m is a query, but I am anticipating on speed/fence will be the spot, she’ll lead and be hard to run down with Tommy sticking.

1 Berdibek (Bet Now: $7.00) is sneaky flying for John O’Shea. He was massive in the Ipswich Cup and I think you could easily make a case to say that if he was out wide rather than the inside, he wins the race instead of a close up sixth, which demonstrates how bad the inside section was. He has class, he gets Bowman and stable is firing.

10 Bold Contender (Bet Now: $31.00) is the most improved horse in this part of the world. Three starts ago, he won a very moderate B50 before winning a B66, then backed those up with a dominant win in the Grafton Cup Prelude. That form reference has been handy over the years, he has Ben Looker riding, who rides the track better than anyone, so while I doubt he wins, he’s a must for multiples.

4 Stoical (Bet Now: $9.00) seems to thrive when racing on the fresh side so I am in his corner. He hasn’t raced since early June when far from disgraced in the Lightning at Eagle Farm behind Boomnova. He’s a gun fresh horse and in a fast run 1000m, can see him sitting off the hot speed and launching late.

8 Ice In Vancouver (Bet Now: $2.70) is a speed demon for Cody Morgan that is a 1000m specialist that has sustained speed, as seen last start at Gunnedah where he led throughout and spanked them in fast time. Last bit will test, but if you back him, he’ll give an almighty sight.

13 The Drake (Bet Now: $17.00) will be strong at the end for the Jenny Graham camp. He bounced back into winning form last start on his home track at Port Macquarie, sitting back before peeling wider and finishing best to win impressively. He’ll do no work and a win wouldn’t entirely shock.

BEST BET: Race Two Number 7 Aquarius

NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 1 Durnstein

LONG SHOT: Race Eight Number 4 Stoical

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 1, 3

Leg Two: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg Three: 1, 2, 8, 10

Leg Four: 1, 4, 6, 8, 13

$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful

Bookmaker	Why Bet	Sign Up	Full Review
	Back Yourself with Ladbrokes!	Join	Review
	Back a Winner with Neds!	Join	Review
	Sign up to Palmerbet and start betting in minutes!	Join	Review
	Sign up to swiftbet and start betting in minutes!	Join	Review
	Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes!	Join	Review
	Sign up to Dabble and start betting in minutes!	Join	Review
	Sign up to MyBet and start betting in minutes!	Join	Review