Races

Michael Heaton’s Thursday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

BARRAQUITO will struggle to find a thinner field than this. The Maschino filly got blown up settling on a hot speed first up but improved sharply second up over 1800m when running a solid third to Savvy Ruler and Miss Santa Corrs. Either of those horses would be prohibitively short odds here and she has the right trainer-jockey combination. MR FRODO was no match for Sister Mary last start but has the benefit of 2 runs over staying trips and he’s knocking on the door. BHULLAR is essentially second up over 2200m but showed enough last preparation. YALDA NIGHT is a long-time maiden who will likely appreciate the rise in trip.

Numbers: 7-2-5-1

Suggested Bet – BARRAQUITO WIN

RACE 2

BOSUN was a good return first up when running a fast-finishing second to smart type Uxorious after getting held up on straightening. He’s always flashed plenty of natural ability and was the second favourite for last Saturday’s Westspeed Platinum Series Heat at Belmont before being unable to gain a start as the second emergency and he looks mighty hard to beat staying in maiden company. DROMORE CASTLE trialled up well then missed by a nose on debut after also finding trouble in the straight. The extra 200m suits and he shouldn’t be a maiden for long. LEG GODT worked to the top and gave cheek last start and looks the likely leader again here. OLAF THE SNOWMAN has a negative racing pattern which will make him hard to catch but he can reel off a strong finish with an uninterrupted run.

Numbers: 1-3-7-2

Suggested Bet – BOSUN WIN

RACE 3

CALL ME INVINCIBLE went forward and stuck on for second to Reminiscence (races again at Belmont Wednesday) first up and he looks likely to roll to the top here. He comes through good early form races behind horses like Snitzalatte/LadiesPro/Hot And High and this is the most winnable race he’s seen to date. WESTERN MISS copped a Byron Pickett-like hip and shoulder at a crucial stage on straightening on debut and did a good job to pick back up to run third. She trialled well leading into that run and looks a filly with some upside. YOUNAMI similarly trialled nicely before performing well first up and the extra 200m should suit. FIELD MISTRESS should enjoy the run of the race.

Numbers: 2-9-5-8

Suggested Bet – CALL ME INVINCIBLE WIN

RACE 4

FILA MIA is now a 10-start maiden who has only placed twice but her record doesn’t tell the full story as she ran a slashing fifth to Talkanco in the Karrakatta Plate and second to Just To Fly in the Sires’ last year. She contested a C1 last start and loomed large on straightening before peaking on her run to finish fifth and now drops back into a maiden whilst also coming back 100m from a better draw. ARTICOLE resumes after going close as a beaten favourite in his 2 starts last campaign. He did his best work late in his recent trials and the 1300m looks suitable for him. COSMO RULER was a sharp improver with blinkers on in his second trial when winning impressively. HIGHLY IMPRESSIVELY is a former Peters Investments-bred 4YO who has drawn horribly on debut but she’s trialled up nicely.

Numbers: 10-4-13-14

Suggested Bet – FILA MIA EACH-WAY

RACE 5

LONG LAUGH has a really awkward gate to overcome but he has tactical speed and versatility which helps. He was a nice return first up when finishing second to Jolson Al and gapping the third-placed horse by just over 3L and his previous placings around horses like Publicise/Canny Kev/King’s Drama read up solidly for this. WREXHAM jumped favourite on debut 8 months ago but slipped on jumping and never looked likely after that. He looked good in a quiet recent trial and is a big watch first up. SOVEREIGN CRUST finished third to subsequent Bunbury quinella Dance On Sun/American Image without blinkers in a recent trial but the shades go on first up. ROCK THE FOX looks the map horse and showed enough in his trials and race debut.

Numbers: 2-6-13-3

Suggested Bet – LONG LAUGH EACH-WAY

RACE 6

ALLENTOWN looks like being a handy acquisition for Team Gangemi. The former Peters Investments 4YO was allowed to roll in a solid trial last month before finishing a close second to Atlantic Spirit at this grade/distance at Belmont. There’s a stack of natural speed here (Hezangelic/Art Session/Repeater/Uukhai) and he can camp on their towball from his low draw and strike late. UNDER INFLUENCE has dropped 9 rating points from his peak and his first 2 runs back suggest he’s back near his best. The expected hot tempo will suit him launching late. HEZANGELIC is flying but he looks set to cop a stack of pressure in front which could bring him undone. STORM AWAY is well placed dropping in grade but has bar plates going on for the first time.

Numbers: 5-6-1-4

Suggested Bet – ALLENTOWN WIN

RACE 7

BIRD ON A WIRE looks ready. First up he was beaten a head in a C3, second up he was beaten less than 3L by Talkaway in a C3 and he now drops sharply in class to a 46+ and steps up to the more suitable mile. He gets a good claim with ZJP (who won aboard him at Ascot last preparation) and should ride the speed. HE’S ARCHIE is another who is going well and well placed with each of his 15 starts over the past 2 campaigns behind in higher grade. CALL OF DUTY is getting closer but he’s drawn sticky and the step to a mile looks a query. CHEROKEE MISS’S last 2 wins have come when she’s dropped back to this grade and at this distance.

Numbers: 2-5-1-4

Suggested Bet – BIRD ON A WIRE WIN

RACE 8

TRUE FICTION has returned an improved horse this preparation. First up he ran a narrow second in an Ascot C1, second up he defeated subsequent dominant winner Sassy Snippet in a 3YO 0MWLY and last start he settled in the breeze and stuck on for second in this grade (and distance) with apprentice Rocky Cheung aboard. Rocky sticks and this race actually maps okay for him despite the awkward draw on paper. I’M ODETTE is a nice filly and the horse to beat but she was scratched with a hoof abscess last week and has a tough gate to overcome. SOSO LUCKY is a perennial placegetter but she’s racing well and any sting out of the ground will help her chances. ROMMEO was sectionally a good run first up in a Saturday Graduation despite the beaten margin and his past 15 starts have been in higher grade than this.

Numbers: 1-8-2-4

Suggested Bet – TRUE FICTION EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

2,3,6,13

1,4,5,6

1,2,4,5,7

1,2,4,8

320 combinations

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