Doomben Preview & Best Bets – 01/02/2024

Doomben Tips for Thursday, February 1

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.1  PLUNDERING  

Just the six runners to go around here (after early scratchings) and the Annabel Neasham-trained PLUNDERING gets his best chance yet to bring up his first win for this campaign. Last start, the Shooting To Win gelding was found out short of the line (again) when finishing a close-up third in a BM78 over 1200m at Randwick. Neasham makes the decision to bring him back over the border in search of a victory and this contest looks ideal for him. Cejay Graham has been booked for her first ride on the four-year-old and boasting six podium finishes from as many starts on wet tracks (winning three of them), the heavy conditions look ideal for him today. Overdue for a change of luck, he can get the job done here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.1  FEMME FATALE 

The Kelly Schweida-trained FEMME FATALE is in good shape this time in and looks well placed here for a crack at back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Better Than Ready filly led from barrier to box in a BM65 over 1100m at Ipswich. The stable now bring her to the city for her first look at Doomben where she steps-up a little in distance. The in-form Cejay Graham comes off a four-bagger of wins last Saturday and is reunited with the filly here after already steering her to victory at Eagle Farm four starts back. She has the outside gate today but that is negated by the small field. Rock-hard fit after four starts this preparation, she maps to lead them on settling and should prove hard to run down again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.13  GRANITE PRINCE

Gaining a start after early scratchings, the Michael Nolan-trained GRANITE PRINCE is third-up today and ticks all the important boxes that suggest he is a serious contender for the major prize in this contest. Last start, the Rothesay gelding was second-up and improved many lengths to embarrass a BM5 field, here over the 1350m trip. With Ryan Maloney aboard for the first time, the four-year-old sat outside the leader, then on straightening, took over and left the rest in his wake as he crossed the line more than four lengths in front of them. He is already a winner when third-up and is a track and distance winner as well. Maloney remains in the saddle for this assignment and boasting strong wet-track form, he looks right in the mix today.