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Chris Nelson provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Hawkesbury on Saturday, 4th May 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1
Racing heads to Hawkesbury on Saturday for their stand-alone Cup Day. The meeting gets under way with a 2yo affair where I'm keen on the chances of MONTE VEEBEE who wasn't fancied in the market on debut yet beat all bar the winner Imperial Force. Really liked his final 100m knuckling down & taking ground off the winner albeit without any threat. The additional 150m looks made to order. TRAFALGAR SQUARE hasn't been far away in a couple of stronger races, other runs a win & placing. COMMANDING ARTIST has a win to his name, not many going around here with that stat, must include.
Numbers: 5 – 2 – 1 – 7
Suggested Bet: MONTE VEEBEE EACH-WAY.
RACE 2
To the midway we go! Wide open market where I'll stick with the last start winner PUTT FOR DOUGH who relished the step up in distance & the solid tempo last start to get home over the top of his rivals. That suggests the 1500m is ideal & importantly he handles all conditions. Although well up in the weights VICTORY LANE looks close & the last start failure had excuses, definite forgive. DANISH PRINCE & GO TROPPO look the other main hopes.
Numbers: 6 – 2 – 4 – 5
Suggested Bet: PUTT FOR DOUGH EACH-WAY (small bet).
RACE 3 Best Bet
Looking forward to seeing GENTILESCHI make her metro debut here in the Highway. She's 2 from 4, should be 3 from 4 & her only unplaced outing came about in Listed grade where she blew the start. Love the way she's found the line the last couple & the additional 100m today is made to order. Matt Dunn is the King of the Highway races, he sends around BANDASHA who has been racing consistently in the northern rivers & Queensland, logical danger if there is such a thing!
Numbers: 9 – 2 – 8 – 10
Suggested Bet: GENTILESCHI TO WIN.
RACE 4
Couple of imports having their first run in the country being WALTHAM & HUMANITY, both have trialled ok, likely to need the hit out however market leads should be monitored, they wouldn't have to be any stars to feature in the finish. Not much depth to the race, surely if NOISY BOY ran up to his Tulloch Stakes placing two back he'd be a chance? KUREDER looks close, closed well latest will appreciate the additional trip. Ditto TOESONTHENOSE.
Numbers: 2 – 3 – 1 – 6
Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.
RACE 5
First of our features is the Gold Rush, some nice types going around & many resume, could be tricky. I'm using J. Mac as a guide putting DOULL on top as there's a fair chance he's been offered rides on most of the main chances. Certainly nothing wrong with DOULL's form & he looked good winning a recent trial. PARISAL holds a good fresh record, stablemate SPACEWALK will be motoring late. Winning chances certainly don't end there.
Numbers: 3 – 4 – 1 – 13
Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.
RACE 6
Happy to be with GHAANATI on an each-way basis here. Her form last prep in Group & Listed races was consistent & she resumed with a solid 4th down the Flemington straight just over a month back. She's won a trial since & should be ready to fire. SHADOWS OF LOVE will be rolling along in front or near the lead, she's got the right jock on board to take advantage of that & she is a winner here. MISS HELLFIRE & RUSSIAN CONQUEST right in the hunt.
Numbers: 2 – 5 – 6 – 14
Suggested Bet: GHAANATI EACH-WAY (small bet).
RACE 7
Hoping it's a J. Mac kind of day as I'm in his corner once again here putting the lightly raced & promising SCHWARZ on top. Thought his first up run in the Listed Darby Munro was very good & although unplaced at Group 2 level his latest he wasn't far away from the winner who has all the hallmarks of a future Group 1 performer. Ideally drawn he should get his chance. BUTCH CASSIDY should be at his peak & importantly gets some weight relief here. RAZORS clearly in the mix as well, super consistent of late & drawn well for Tim Clark.
Numbers: 1 – 4 – 6 – 2
Suggested Bet: SCHWARZ TO WIN.
RACE 8
The Cup is a wide-open affair, Ciaron Maher & Chris Waller with plenty of runners between them. I'm with DETONATOR JACK who looks very well placed from a good gate over his favoured distance. He rarely puts in a subpar effort & although up in the weights he'll find this a good deal easier than recent outings. Bonus is he handles all types of ground. Stablemate NUGGET is another who gets through anything, last couple have been good looks close to a win. Throwing BOLD MAC into exotics, he's a little hard to catch however on his day is very capable.
Numbers: 1 – 4 – 7 – 6
Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.
RACE 9
Tumbling down in the weights I'm keen on the chances of FALL FOR CINDY who has been kept on the fresh side since resuming with a solid finishing 3rd at Warwick Farm last month. She drops a whopping 8kg on that placing & won't know herself with such a light impost to carry. CHORLTON LANE is promising & was very strong winning first up down south, unknown on anything worse than good, can't leave out on that stat. HIGHLIGHTS has come back well & is in the mix as is the Godolphin runner BRIGANTINE who is always around the money.
Numbers: 17 – 5 – 10 – 1
Suggested Bet: FALL FOR CINDY EACH-WAY.
RACE 10
Absolute raffle this closing race. BAROQUE ROAD gets J. Mac first up & the horse has a very good fresh record. He handles wet or dry ground & has been going well enough at the trials to give this a decent shake. SMASHING EAGLE needs plenty to go his way. Importantly he seems to get through all going which is very important with rain highly likely & we know on his day he can produce a sizzling finish. Plenty of time for CONTEMPORARY, he may take the run though, betting moves all important.
Numbers: 4 – 7 – 3 – 11
Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.
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