Casterton Preview & Best Bets - Tuesday October 18
Grafton Preview & Best Bets – Tuesday October 18
Grafton Tips 18/10/2022
Our form expert provides Grafton tips for today’s horse racing at Grafton Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 4: No.10 GULF OF TOMINI ($11 with Unibet)
Port Macquarie galloper GULF OF TOMINI is in great touch of late and looks in the mix here as he steps-up in distance today. Last start, the Not A Single Doubt gelding saw the 2000m trip for the first time and coming from near last on the turn, Luke Rolls stuck to the inside (initially) but as the going wasn’t the best there (on a Soft 7), he came across heels and ended up in the middle of the track where he made up good ground over the final 200m to get up and grab third prize on the line. He ran his last 600m, 1.3 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best here by more than 2 lengths and posted the fastest final 400m and 200m sectionals as well. Rolls has ridden him at his past four starts and managed a podium finish on three occasions (including his maiden win three starts back, on this track). The four-year-old is 13 starts into his career and ironically is yet to see a dry track. This will be his first time on a Good 4 which opens several doors today. Drawn sweetly in gate four, he maps to settle back in the field (as he does) and with a dry track and further to run, he looks great value here at (currently) double-figures.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.2 AMIRYKAL ($8.50 with Palmerbet)
David Bowen saddles-up AMIRYKAL here and improving with every run, looks a serious contender here today. Last start, the Akeed Mofeed mare was third-up when she took on Class 6 company over 1200m at Ipswich. She finished out of a place that day, but was beaten less than half a length on the line. She ran the last 600m, 6.6 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this field by 3 lengths. Tegan Harrison is in charge today and while she has a tricky gate to deal with (8), she still maps to cross and settle better than mid-field with cover. Her four starts here have resulted in two wins and a runner-up finish so she knows her way around the track. Fourth-up today, she should be at her peak now and will give us a bold sight in this contest.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.12 SPECIAL DAY ($11 with bet365)
Armidale-based SPECIAL DAY is second-up today and looks on target for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the Pierro mare was first-up after a year off the scene when she led from barrier to box to win a 1200m maiden at Tamworth. She can only strip fitter from that run today and looks well placed here in gate six where she maps to settle on speed again. There is plenty of early pace in this race, giving new rider Mikayla Weir plenty of options. Today’s dry track suits as she sees the Grafton track for the first time. Given the right breaks in the run, she can give this contest a real shake at (currently) double-figure odds today.
