8/7/2021 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Grafton, Grafton Cup day

A bumper eight race program has been set down for Grafton on Thursday where it is Grafton Cup Day. The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

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

WATCH LIVE RACING AT

tab

6 Salad Dodger (Bet Now: $21.00) is sneaky flying I think for Colt Prosser and at big odds I can definitely have something small on him. Total forgive here fresh after sitting four wide no cover for the trip. Then went to Taree and I thought closed off nicely late behind Sausalito after getting a fair way back. If he can hold a decent spot from the inside gate, and get luck with clear air, he’ll be dangerous late.

5 In A Step (Bet Now: $4.20) has great early toe and with a 4kg claimer on board, it’ll likely be jump and run tactics, especially from the wide gate. She did that at Kempsey last time out and battled on okay behind Jule’s Spirit. That was an open sprint. Back to 66 grade, she appeals.

13 Inwithachance (Bet Now: $8.00) should put himself near the speed and run an honest race. Ran over 1000m at Coffs Harbour last time out where he was near the front of the pack and tried hard. Just felt the pinch late when fourth. Harder here, could sneak a first four spot.

3 Edification (Bet Now: $4.00) for me. Maryann Brosnan trains with stable apprentice Jaden Lloyd to steer and this guy will love a truly run 1400m given the grounding he has got under the belt, with a 1600m run two back and a 1500m run last time out to toughen him right up for this. Both of those runs were strong efforts and already been a couple of winners to come out of each race, so the form is a big tick.

1 Tuscan Leather (Bet Now: $4.40) is a bit of an unknown at 1400m but is in a leading stable for this part of the world and does get a significant jockey upgrade from last time out, which was over 1200m here when fourth after getting a but keen in the run behind the speed. If he relaxes, the 1400m should be fine.

The Bowen camp has a nice type on their hands via 7 Beef Week Princess (Bet Now: $9.00). Loved the way she found the line on debut at Ballina before going to Lismore where she would have been a good thing beaten had she not got clear air but thankfully she did, drove through and was too good. Tricky draw, but she’ll be strong late.

6 Hard Labour (Bet Now: $2.20) looks the good thing of the Carnival. Talented mare for the Edmonds camp that comes here with fresh legs, several weeks between runs since a very good effort from the back at Doomben behind Really Discreet, who has since run well at Stakes level. Blinkers first time, lovely tick over trial…think only bad luck beats her.

2 Think Free (Bet Now: $4.40) is a Kris Lees trained mare that is a few weeks between runs since winning impressively at Kempsey when taking out the Wauchope Cup under Bullock, who remains on here. Has to lump 61kg, but back to Mares grade, she’s a key threat to the Edmonds mare.

9 Divine Diva (Bet Now: $26.00) should appreciate the bigger track. Matty Dunn trained mare that ran over 1350m at Ipswich a few weeks back and was an eye catcher from a fair way off them in the run. She is a mare who does get better as the prep goes on, so she’s a knockout chance.

3 Derani (Bet Now: $4.00) gets the nod for me. Kacy Fogden trained juvenile that was a sharp winner two back at Doomben before going to Ipswich Cup Day where he was on speed and gave a really good kick. Looked the winner but was bloused near the peg. Like him back to 1200m and gets run of the race from the draw.

2 Buck Pharoah (Bet Now: $2.20) looks a nice type, and is a definite winning chance here, but gee he is short enough given he draws wide and there is depth to this field. In saying that, he did beat the older horses fresh at Taree in impressive fashion. If he can overcome the wide gate, he’ll look the winner at some stage. $2.50 is short enough.

10 Emma Rosa (Bet Now: $8.00) can be a definite improver here. Matty Dunn trained filly that took on the older horses when resuming at Lismore. Led and just went too keen in front, tiring late to finish fifth. Reckon with a more conservative steer, she’ll be far more effective and a win wouldn’t shock.

I am looking at this race with Chaperone out. 8 I’m A Beauty (Bet Now: $2.40) on top. Maryann Brosnan trained three year old that resumes, having not raced since April 5 when a game second at Doomben. The run prior, he placed in a Saturday metro race at Eagle Farm. Two trials leading in suggest he’s ready to go so he’ll do me.

15 Ambridge (Bet Now: $6.00) is a definite watch horse. This three year old was backed with real confidence when debuting at Coffs Harbour but unfortunately for his fans, he was caught wide no cover for the trip but despite that, he stuck on really well to finish fourth. Draws much better this time around and gets a significant jockey upgrade.

6 Exhibitor (Bet Now: $12.00) gets the Blinkers first time for the Bowen camp. Thought he was the winner when presented at Lismore under McGuren but was bloused late by stablemate Beef Week Princess, who is a key chance earlier in the program. Draws soft and Blinkers on, he’s a key chance.

12 Unpredicted (Bet Now: $5.00) has put together a couple of sharp wins on the bounce and no reason why he can’t make it three. That was a strong race he won at Newcastle last time out, leading throughout, which isn’t an easy thing to do at that track. Gets a sweet run from the draw and a drying track will be ideal.

10 Ice In Vancouver (Bet Now: $1.70) is the hype horse going into this. Cody Morgan trained three year old that was heavily backed early at Randwick last time out, but in the last bit of betting, became a significant betting drift and ran accordingly behind Malkovich, who has won since. Back to this level I like…just needs to stretch the brilliance to 1175m.

9 Aheadofhistime (Bet Now: $71.00) is one I can entertain for wider multiples. Forget he went around at Coffs Harbour last time out. He was ridden far too warm, sitting on speed and wide no cover. He dropped out and tired. Prior form was sound. Harder here, but could sneak a first four spot.

I’m pretty keen here on 10 Purrfect Deal (Bet Now: $4.00). Generally speaking, the Cup Prelude is a contest for the second/third tier gallopers heading towards this race, but she was well and truly top tier, even allowing for the 62kg impost. She was arrogant and made a mess of them. $4/thereabouts is short enough, suspect she gets to $5+. Maps super, weight relief, mare in form with upside…keen.

6 Berdibek (Bet Now: $3.90) is flying for John O’Shea. Beat all bar Stockman two back in the McKell Cup. He then raced on Saturday at Rosehill where he lumped 66kg. It was more or less a barrier trial for this, but I loved the way he finished off. He’s bursting to win a race and gets his chance.

3 Laure Me In (Bet Now: $10.00) is dangerous in a race like this. He comes through the Ipswich Cup and I thought it was a very negative ride from Jim Byrne, even allowing for the wide gate. The horse did close off well, but was too far back. Hard to beat if the inside gate is used to advantage.

Sustained speed to come to the fore via 4 Remlaps Gem (Bet Now: $1.85). Talented four year old for the Scott Singleton camp that spanked them on his home track at Scone last time out. He was there to be run down but he was just far too good for them. This isn’t a strong edition of the Kirby so even allowing for the wide gate, I think he’s the one to beat.

3 Jule’s Spirit (Bet Now: $4.00) has home track advantage and that should hold her in good stead for this. Sat wide no cover in the Wauchope Sprint at Kempsey last start but she was far too good and impressive. Draws to get a lovely run in transit and is a definite winning chance.

7 Patriot (Bet Now: $31.00) saves his best for Grafton and a fast run 1000m should be idea for him. Just a matter of how far he gets back in the run. He comes through the John Carlton, the Prelude to this race, and he was good late without threatening. If he’s within range 400m out, he can take this out.

BEST BET: Race Three Number 6 Hard Labour

NEXT BEST: Race Seven Number 10 Purrfect Deal

LONG SHOT: Race One Number 6 Salad Dodger

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 3, 5, 6, 8, 15

Leg Two: 8, 9, 10, 12

Leg Three: 6, 10

Leg Four: 3, 4, 6, 7

$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 Unibet 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