Races

Digby Beacham’s Sunday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

RACE 1

Everything pointed towards to a forward showing from MAGIC BELLE on debut at Northam. She had trialled up well and was firm in the market when running second to PLAYING GAMES. Yes, she was under pressure soon after straightening and yes, she was beaten 3.5 lengths. However, PLAYING GAMES made a mess of her opposition at Ascot on Wednesday, a couple of hours after RISEANFALL, two lengths behind MAGIC BELLE in third spot, ran a super race in a smart field of 3YOs. NOVATORIO doesn’t look overly big, but gets shades and William Pike for her debut. SEEYOUATTHESESSION comes back to a maiden and ROYAL ACCOLADE showed ability last campaign, albeit he’s been off the scene for a while.

Numbers: 7 – 8 – 3 – 1

Suggested Bet – MAGIC BELLE WIN

RACE 2

PLAY DICE gave her opposition the short back and sides at her latest trial, extending beautifully inside the final furlong to win effortlessly by more than three lengths in a decent time. In a maiden where there isn’t a lot of exposed form, you would assume she only has to take her trial form to the Avon Valley to be awfully hard to beat on debut. SALT LAKE SHAKE was well found in betting on debut and wilted late after doing plenty from a wide gate to hit the rail. Kinder draw today suits. CRUNCHY NUT’S recent Lark Hill appearance was sound, as was the debut run over 1000m of SUPER QUEEN.

Numbers: 11 – 3 – 1 – 7

Suggested Bet – PLAY DICE WIN

RACE 3

LINDEN’S GOLD or JARMAN? You could easily mount an argument for JARMAN to finish on top after he was held up slightly when running into second behind BIG SWOOP at Ascot. However, he hasn’t won for 757 days, rises 5.5kg and ventures to a track he hasn’t won at in 10 starts. Then there is LINDEN’S GOLD. Lightly raced, successful in both starts at Northam in his past two outings. Not much separates them. MINGORA has campaigned well in the Goldfields and won this distance in Kalgoorlie three starts ago. KENTUCKY BLUE is better than his last performance suggests.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – LINDEN’S GOLD WIN

RACE 4

CIVVY STREET is close to breaking through for another win. Runner-up on two occasions this preparation, the most recent being last Saturday at Ascot when beaten by DEAMBER, who was truckloaded in betting and prevailed by a head thanks to an economical barrier draw and patient Jason Whiting ride. The small field suits here. Keshaw Dhurun will be patient and then press the button at the top of the straight. BELGRANO BELLE could well have a tactical advantage, coupled with the services of William Pike. JUSTAMIDDY is ticking over nicely. LORD GANNICUS didn’t come up last preparation. He’s better than that.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – CIVVY STREET WIN

RACE 5

A good, old-fashioned plunge on OUR NEMESIS just failed to materialise last start. Dave Hopperton’s Playing God gelding was given a beautiful steer by Jade McNaught, only to be nosed out in the last stride by SHOOTING SPIRIT. With that run under his belt, only bad luck stands in the way of a maiden victory. Looks a completely different horse this time in. ROCKET STORM was decent behind COCKTAIL PARTY, who has since finished in front of MASAMUNE and SKYTALKER. KEEP A KNOCKIN’ and SPREAD THE RUMOUR have horror gates, but possess ability.

Numbers: 1 – 16 – 12 – 9

Suggested Bet – OUR NEMESIS WIN

RACE 6

WHO BE WHATEE never appeared comfortable chasing the hot speed set by CAPRICORN MAN at Ascot on opening day. We’ll get to see CAPRICORN MAN go around again at Ascot this weekend and if he runs well as expected, the Dan and Ben Pearce-prepared gelding will be popular. WHO BE WHATEE comes back big time in class and only rises 2.5kg after Luke Campbell’s claim. MARINSKY BALLET’s first two runs back have been so-so. Time for her to step up. MADAME PRO went into the blackbooks with her rattling finish at York. LORD RANDOLPH drops from 2200m to 1400m in less than three weeks. A watch.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet – WHO BE WHATEE WIN

RACE 7

There have been two horses on the trial circuit who have had tongues wagging. They are ALSEPHINA and ADMIRATION EXPRESS, the pair set to clash in next weekend’s Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) at Ascot. CASINO SEVENTEEN hasn’t been far off them. In fact, he has been superb at his three heats, most recently finishing a quarter-length behind his stablemate ALSEPHINA. While his grand final will be a Perth Cup, this is a lovely starting point to a campaign that probably has Group 1 appearances leading up until January 1. Watch for him late down the centre of the Northam track … the spot to be this season. He’ll need a good tempo and Brad Parnham will be conscious of that aboard GINGER BAKER, who he rates extremely well. The gelding is in career-best form. The mile is as far as LET’S GALAHVANT wants. William Pike has got off POMPEY to partner CASINO SEVENTEEN. Great pick-up sit for Shaun McGruddy.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 7 – 12

Suggested Bet – CASINO SEVENTEEN WIN

RACE 8

MIDNIGHT MYSTERY caught the eye when third behind DIAMOND SCENE over a mile at Ascot. DIAMOND SCENE lines up at Ascot in a graduation 1800m event this weekend, while the horse that split the two — PENNY ON THE QUEEN — also makes an appearance at headquarters where she has been specked at each-way odds. MIDNIGHT MYSTERY hasn’t won beyond 1600m. This doesn’t shape as a true staying test though. She gets her chance. The same applies to MY FAIR BALENTINE. Now seven-years-old, the mare hasn’t won for 1026 days. Loved her effort behind BIG SWOOP. TRULY RELIABLE rarely wins, but to be fair, he rarely runs a bad race. STRIKING FELLA is still a maiden, yet it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he broke through here.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 1 – 9

Suggested Bet – MIDNIGHT MYSTERY WIN

Quaddie (Races 5-8)

1

1,2,7,3,5

1,4,7,12,3,5,13

6,5,1,9,3

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