Doomben Preview & Best Bets – 17/04/2024

Doomben Tips for Wednesday, April 17

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.7  PIVOTAL LAD

The Tony Gollan-trained PIVOTAL LAD comes off an 11-week break and having his second start today, looks set for back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the Sidestep gelding made his racing debut and impressed greatly as he came from back in the field to win a 1200m Maiden at Eagle Farm. With James Orman aboard, he settled worse than mid-field but on straightening, Orman steadied him and asked for a final effort where the three-year-old obliged and finished right over the top of them to win by a length on the line. The in-form Cejay Graham is the new pilot today and gets all the favours as they leave the barriers from gate one. He maps to settle back in the field but will save plenty of ground from the first-class draw. A clear run to the line should see him pull off a déjà vu effort on his fresh legs today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.5  TENZING

Another from the Gollan stable is TENZING who is second-up today and looks well placed to put in a big one in this contest. Last start, the Contributer gelding was clearly in need of the run when he came off a lengthy five-month break and finished unplaced in a Class 3 over 1400m at Eagle Farm with James Orman in the saddle. He drew wide that day (gate 9 of 11), and was too far back to cause any problems for the podium finishers. Orman sticks with him today as he draws much better in gate three where he maps to settle mid-field. He steps-up to the mile trip where he has finished runner-up previously. Yet to miss a top-three finish from four previous second-up appearances (winning two of those), he lines-up here a serious player and is capable of taking home the bacon today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.6  TYPHOON TAAVI

We’re banking on the Gollan Camp coming away with at least a winning treble today as we run with TYPHOON TAAVI to get the job done in the last of the day. The I Am Invincible mare was second-up last start when she improved enough to take out a BM65 for fillies & mares, here over 1200m. She led from barrier to box and had plenty left over the line as she clocked the 1200m at 1:09.5, putting 1.5 lengths on them in the process. Tahlia Fenlon had her first ride on the mare that day and sticks with her again for this assignment. She is up in grade today but after the claim, carries 2.5kgs less than that last-start victory. She has drawn the middle of the pack in gate 10 but has the early gate speed which should see her settle near mid-field (with cover). Already a winner when third-up and a two-time winner at the track and trip, she may prove hard to hold out in this contest.