Tamworth Racing Tips 24 April 2026 — can Nirmata do it again?
Fannie Bay Racing Tips 24 April 2026 — can Clarke’s trio control the 1750m?
Fannie Bay has one race on the slate, and it’s a proper little handicap puzzle
There’s nowhere to hide when the whole meeting is one race. No “we’ll get it back later”, no spreading. Just eight runners over 1750m on the sand, and one stable trying to shape the result.
G Clarke saddles three: Prince Ruban, Bollon and Straya Pride. That matters because 1750m at Fannie Bay isn’t a dash and it isn’t a slog either. It’s the sort of trip where tempo and track position decide whether the best horse wins or the best ride does.
These Fannie Bay racing tips are written the way you’d talk it through with a mate: who’s likely to get the run, who’s carrying the anchor, and who can actually sustain a move when the pressure comes on.
Fannie Bay — the setup
Surface is listed as sand. Going is not provided in the racecard, so treat it as typical Fannie Bay sand conditions rather than a wet track guessing game.
Course angles worth keeping in your pocket today:
- Experience here counts. Several of these have five runs at the track, which is enough to call their Fannie Bay profile “real”, not a one-off.
- Clarke can land one here. He wins just under one in five of his runners at the course (51 runners deep), but his place rate is much lower than the leading yards. When his horses are good enough, they can win; when they’re not, they often miss the frame.
- J R Todd rides this place well. He wins often enough at the track to be respected and he lands in the money frequently too. If you like Bollon at all, Todd is a plus.
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- Info Hub
- Mates Mode
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J R Todd | 46 | 12 | 21 | 26.09 | 45.65 |
| Aaron Sweeney | 46 | 6 | 19 | 13.04 | 41.30 |
| Deborah Barton | 39 | 5 | 19 | 12.82 | 48.72 |
| Dakota-Lee Gillett | 20 | 3 | 5 | 15.00 | 25.00 |
| W R Davis | 49 | 3 | 12 | 6.12 | 24.49 |
| MS V Arnott | 26 | 2 | 7 | 7.69 | 26.92 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Clarke | 51 | 10 | 16 | 19.61 | 31.37 |
| Patrick Johnston | 11 | 2 | 5 | 18.18 | 45.45 |
| Chris Pollard | 33 | 2 | 3 | 6.06 | 9.09 |
| Philip Cole | 87 | 4 | 22 | 4.60 | 25.29 |
Race-by-race
Race 1: Anzac Day Two-Up @ Silks Hcp (64) — 14:27, 1750m
I’m siding with Rhesus. Not because he’s a “good thing” but because he’s the runner who looks most reliably on the up in a race full of question marks.
His recent form line reads like a horse holding his level and edging forward: 1-74234. That’s not flash, but it’s consistent, and consistency over 1750m is a weapon when others are either fading late or needing everything to go their way. He draws wide in barrier 8, which forces W R Davis to make a decision early: push on and find a spot, or snag back and rely on luck. I’d rather see him slide across into a rhythm than get stuck spotting them a start on sand.
The big race dynamic is the Clarke trio. Prince Ruban (gate 1) carries 131.1 and has five course runs for one win, so he’s got enough track evidence to be taken seriously here. But the weight is the headline. In handicaps at this trip, you feel it when the sprint goes on from the 600m. He can still win, but he needs the run to land in his lap from the inside and he needs to be travelling before the turn.
Bollon is the intrigue horse. He’s only had two course runs, so keep the “track specialist” talk out of it, but the booking of J R Todd is a real tick given Todd’s strike rate around Fannie Bay. The form 942-53 says he’s floating around the mark without nailing it. Gate 7 means he might be doing work early if they want him handy.
The danger for me is Prince Ruban, purely because the inside draw plus Sweeney’s solid course record can turn “harder task” into “perfect control ride”. If they crawl and he gets to stack them up, the weight becomes less of a punishment and more of a flex.
The rest need a leap. Hell And Back has five course runs without a win or placing and his recent form (4-69976) doesn’t scream turnaround. Danger Man has only had one course start so far and finished well back, and while Pollard runners can pop up, the stable’s overall record at this track is modest. Straya Pride has five course runs and has placed twice, so he can run into the money, but he doesn’t win much and often finds one or two too sharp late. Roc de Russian has three course runs without a top-three and hasn’t been finishing like a horse begging for 1750m.
How I’d play it: Win bet Rhesus. If you want a saver, save on Prince Ruban because he’s the one with the draw to make his own luck.
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18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
The plays
This is a one-race meeting, so don’t overcomplicate it. You’ve either got an opinion, or you should keep your powder dry.
NAP: Rhesus (Race 1, 14:27). He’s the most reliable “keeps turning up” profile in the field and he doesn’t need a miracle ride to be in the finish, just a clean early settle from the wide gate.
Value: Bollon each-way if the market gives you a price. The Todd booking is the reason. Todd rides Fannie Bay like he knows where the shortcuts are, and that matters when the race turns into a positioning contest.
Banker for multis: If you’re forcing a banker in a small field, make it Prince Ruban top-two rather than win. The inside draw gives him a clean path to run a place even under the big weight.
Each-way: Straya Pride for a place only. Five runs here with two placings tells you he can find the frame, but the win record isn’t there.
Course angle to keep following: When G Clarke turns up with multiple runners in the same handicap, he’s clearly trying to control the race shape. Next meeting, watch where his “third string” lands in the market, it’s often the best guide to stable intent.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Fannie Bay today?
Racing starts at 14:27 at Fannie Bay with the Anzac Day Two-Up @ Silks Hcp (64) over 1750m.
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Fannie Bay on today’s card?
Among today’s riders, J R Todd is the standout on course record: 46 rides for 12 wins and 21 placings. On the trainer side for today’s runners, G Clarke is the key stable presence, bringing three of the eight runners and owning 10 wins from 51 runners at the track.
What are the best bets at Fannie Bay today?
My Fannie Bay best bets are built around the one race: Rhesus to win, with Prince Ruban the saver because barrier 1 gives him control options even under 131.1. If you want a place play, Straya Pride has two placings from five course runs.
Where can I find the best odds for Fannie Bay races?
Prices move fast in small-field handicaps. For the sharpest view, compare Fannie Bay odds across a few books rather than taking the first quote you see. If you already have accounts, check them side-by-side for Race 1, especially for each-way terms on Bollon and Straya Pride.
Which horses on today’s race have proven Fannie Bay form?
Prince Ruban, Rhesus, Hell And Back and Straya Pride all have five runs at the course, so their Fannie Bay records are properly established rather than a one-run coincidence.
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