Ararat Preview & Best Bets – 26/04/2024

Our form expert provides tips for today’s Ararat horse racing at Ararat Racecourse and gives his best bets.    

Ararat Tips 26/04/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 5 No. 6 BALTIC WAY- ($2.20) 

BALTIC WAY can break through in Race 5. The Mitch Freedman-trained galloper showed improvement at his most recent start when stepping up to the 2200m settling just off the speed before going for home a long way out, just tiring late over the last part of the race to place 3rd behind El Power Del Sol. The son of So You Think was lining up for just his third career start that day and produced a big spike on benchmark figures. He might have more improvement to come and will strip fitter at his second go at the distance. 

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 6 No. 2 FIFTYSEVENYEARS- ($3.60) 

This is a weak race and FIFTYSEVENYEARS can take advantage. The Liam Howley-trained galloper has had two runs this time in and needed the run when resuming with a seven-length 5th over the 1540m at Geelong before jumping up to the 1856m at Kyneton, running 6th but beaten just two lengths by Cleaver. He settled on the speed that day in a slowly run race and just lacked the dash at the business end. 2200m should suit better and at his only other third up run he was 4th at Listed level in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last year.  

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 7 No.6 CO CO VAN WINKLE- ($3) 

CO CO VAN WINKLE can just about make it back to back wins when she steps out in Race 7. The Team Hayes-trained galloper scored at the track and trip in a Restricted 58 race at her most recent start, settling on the speed and clearing out to win at the business end ahead of Fearful. She ran right on standard benchmark time in that race, which is six lengths better than the class average and five lengths better than the next best last start figures of any runner. Form prior to that was also promising and she has the early speed to negotiate barrier 12.