Best Bets 29th January 2020

Midweek racing returns after an action packed long weekend. There is a number of good races happening around the country today, with 8-race cards taking placing at Kembla Grange, Geelong, Gold Coast, and Launceston, while Gawler and Ascot play host to 7 races each.

The feature continues to be the listed racing in Tasmania with the Ladbrokes Stakes, featuring talented runners Hellova Street and Gee Gee Secondover. Take a look below at PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby’s top five best bets. 

Kembla Grange R2 #2 Marsannay $4.00 at PlayUp  – A colt on debut from the Waterhouse/Bott yard with regular rider Tim Clark to do the steering. The latest trial was really nice, ran home in a quick last 600m compared to other opponents here, and held ground to the line finishing 2nd after jumping and leading. From barrier one today, it should do the exact same in typical Waterhouse fashion, settling up in the lead. Following the rail is always a positive on debut, and at the current price it is a good bet.  

R4 #8 Badia $3.80 at PlayUp – If you were on this horse last start, I hope you’ve recovered. Was absolutely savaging the line over the 1200m and got squeezed out over the last 50m, needed to be severely checked off heels, possibly would’ve won or at least got very close. Comes here now third up and ready to atone, will get every chance from a good barrier draw and sticking to the 1200m is no issue. Does have that fitness edge over other key chances too, extra confidence. 

R8 #3 Dambulla $10.00 at PlayUp – Found the line nicely first up this track over 1400m after settling handy on speed. Comes here now up an extra 100m to the 1500m which suits, and won his only other start second up with a dominant display in maiden grade. Will look to jump quick and push forward from the wide barrier, if he is able to control the tempo he will be in this race for a very long way. At the current price he is a great each way bet. 

Geelong: R2 #7 Proper Rogue $2.00 at PlayUp (BEST) – Hard to tip against this Mick Price/Michael Kent Jr gelding. Two runs in his first prep were good, was very unlucky not to win second up when just got too far out of his ground. Has been gelded since that, and returns here off the back of two very nice jump outs. The latter was over 1200m, and comes here first up back in distance to the 1100m. That longer jump out should leave him with extra fitness, and with even luck in running I expect him to be too good for this bunch. \

Gold Coast: R2 #5 Jay Curve – Ran soundly first up as favourite in a strong race at Doomben. Comes here now fitter second up and Ryan Maloney sticks aboard for the in form stable of Trent & Toby Edmonds. His one run in Sydney on debut was full of merit, and this horse was once touted as the best in Ed O’Rourke’s stable. Expecting sharp improvement here in an easier race, and has the benefit of race fitness/experience over some other key chances.