Greg Hooper’s Belmont Best Bets Posted on August 31, 2016September 1, 2016 | Posted by Greg Hooper Greg Hooper’s Preview RACE 1 LORD DEVOUTLY has been posted wide in both career starts to date. From a better draw he should be able to get one off the fence with some cover and go very close. TRANSITIONAL comes from the same race. He found the line well and Peter Knuckey goes on. MY BROTHER PENCIL will settle on the speed. The final 100m is the query for him. NASHVILLE CAT looks the pick of the Durrant/Miller debutantes. Numbers – 3 – 9 – 1 – 10 Suggested Bet – Lord Devoutly win RACE 2 BLACK SCANDAL impressed in her most trial win. She led all the way and appeared to have plenty left in the tank. From a good draw she can lead of camp on the speed and get her career off to a winning start. GEIGER GEM is a well related gelding who has shown plenty of promise in his trials. PAK A PRO was bustled along in her last trial win but she dug deep and it was in slick time. MORE ACES makes his debut after 8 trials. Numbers – 11 – 6 – 13 – 7 Suggested Bet – Black Scandal save Geiger Gem RACE 3 SOMEDAY ONE DAY had no luck first-up at Pinjarra when he missed the kick and never saw clear room until late. The step up to 1200m looks a positive and if he can make use of gate 2 and settle close to the speed he goes very close. NOBEL IMAGE looks the danger. She showed ability in her short career to date and has trialled well. She just needs to cross from her wide alley. SHREWD GAMBLE has run well in all his four starts. He was pushed out in a recent trial win. CHEAP EXPRESS will settle off the speed and work home strongly. He beats most on ability alone. Numbers – 3 – 14 – 2 – 8 Suggested Bet – Someday One Day and Nobel Image RACE 4 Very weak staying race. IN DA HOOD is a real grinding type. Pike retains the ride and she should be able to lead or breeze and go close. KHAWAJA is a horse on the rise. He takes on the older horses and steps up in trip. They are the queries. MY NAMES BRUCE finished nicely at Pinjarra in his first attempt at a staying trip. Matthieu Autier goes onto Plain Vital which suggests it may go forward in running which looks a positive in this line-up. Numbers – 7 – 6 – 1 – 8 Suggested Bet – In Da Hood and Khawaja RACE 5 Toughest race of the day. COSMIC JEUNEY resumes from a spell. She’s lightly raced suggesting she may have some issues however she does have plenty of ability. Pike on and she goes close. SIXPENCE SPENT laboured in the heavy last start. If he meets a better surface he can win. GEORGE ‘N’ ERNIE will find this easier that what he has been competing in of late. EYES WIDE OPEN has raced a bit flat this campaign but beats most on ability alone. Numbers – 9 – 2 – 3 – 8 Suggested Bet – Cosmic Jeuney win RACE 6 FIRST AMONG EQUALS is chasing a hat trick of feature wins. He should get another lovely run from a good draw and Paul Harvey can get him over the line again. RED ORA raced flat first-up however his trainer made it known subsequently he was a bit behind fitness wise. Pike goes back on and he appears the clear danger. ROCK MAGIC has given his all this preparation buy suspect he’ll find First Among Equals too strong again. PROCEEDWITHCAUTION is loaded with talent and is not hopeless. Numbers – 3 – 7 – 2 – 9 Suggested Bet – First Among Equals win RACE 7 Tricky race with many form lines clashing. DANCE MASTER didn’t run out a strong 2100m at his last start. The drop back to 1700m looks a plus. KENSINGTON ABBEY is a model of consistency. She can settle close to the speed. FRIARBIRD dug deep in the heavy last start. Any rain is a positive for her. GIGIGY GIGIDY GOO is racing well. Numbers – 4 – 2 – 6 – 14 Suggested Bet – Dance Master win RACE 8 AMERICAN STAR looks terrifically placed to breakthrough for his first local win. He put the writing on the wall last start when he got through the heavy conditions and was nailed in the shadows. He drops 1.5kg on that run and should get a lovely run tagging the speed. AMELIA’S LOVE only start produced a narrow but impressive win. She resumes with the benefit of a soft trial effort. RUBY CAN RUN will get a soft run and if the fence is OK by late in the day she has claims. FIRST AFFAIR next best. Numbers – 2 – 14 – 1 – 9 Suggested Bet – American Star save Amelia’s Love Race 9 At the prices on offer leaning to PATRIMONIO over TRAVELLIN’ however there is little between then and from there gates they should be parked right next to each other in running. SILVER PLATED could be the blowout chance. He’s capable fresh and on rain affected going. PIRATE’S FORTUNE will race handy to the speed and strong place claims. Numbers – 6 – 3 – 15 – 10 Suggested Bet – Patrimonio and Travellin’ QUADDIE RACE 6 – 3, 7 RACE 7 – 2, 4, 6, 14 RACE 8 – 1, 2, 14 RACE 9 – 3, 6, 10, 15 [button class=”bet-now” style=”btn-default btn-lg” type=”link” target=”false” title=”Bet Now” link=”https://www.tabtouch.com.au/racing/2016-08-31/pr” linkrel=””]
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