Pakenham Preview & Best Bets - Monday September 19
Grafton Preview & Best Bets – Monday September 19
Grafton Tips 19/09/2022
Our form expert provides Grafton tips for today’s horse racing at Grafton Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.10 AVENUE OF HEAVEN ($4.40 with Palmerbet)
Down in grade today, the John Smerdon-trained AVENUE OF HEAVEN is in great touch this preparation and at the weights, looks the one to beat here. Last start, the Crackerjack King mare came off her maiden win (on this track) and wasn’t disgraced when finishing fifth (beaten a length on the line) in a Class 2 Hcp over 1350m at the Gold Coast. She covered the entire trip, 2.7 lengths slower than benchmark, the best here by 5 lengths and ran her last 600m, 4.5 lengths quicker than standard, 4 lengths better than her rivals today. She came from well back last start and the mile trip today looks ideal. Already a winner at the track, she comes up as our best of the day.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.2 TABULAM ($3.80 with Palmerbet)
Gold Coast galloper TABULAM returns to Grafton for a fourth shot at a track victory and after three starts in, looks well placed to threaten today. Last start, the God’s Own gelding wasn’t far away when finishing third in a BM62 Hcp over 1200m on his home track. They ran the trip in 1:11 that day which isn’t bad on a Heavy 8 surface. He covered the journey, 2.7 lengths slower than benchmark, a new personal best and still the best in this field. Jag Guthmann-Chester was aboard for his first ride on the grey and remains in the saddle today. He draws gate seven and maps to settle mid-field. The extra distance looks ideal for him now and rock-hard fit with those three runs under his belt, he should be steaming home late and looks a real threat to victory today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.3 VOLFONI ($6 with Unibet)
Locally-trained by Greg Kilner, VOLFONI has been in good touch this time in and looks ideally placed here as a genuine winning chance today. Last start, the Smart Missile gelding ended up a bridesmaid for the second consecutive time, beating all but one to the line in a smart Class 3 Hcp, here over 1010m. With Tegan Harrison aboard, he ran his last 600m, 3.2 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best here by more than 4 lengths. He also posted the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for the race. This is a big drop in grade as he draws to do no early work in gate four where he maps to settle near mid-field with cover. Harrison sticks with him today and if he gets a clear crack at them on straightening, he should prove hard to hold out in this contest.
