Pinjarra Racing Tips 16 July — can the inside gates decide it?
Grafton Racing Tips 16 July — can Pressalong cash in?
Grafton Racing Tips 16 July — can Pressalong cash in?
There’s one theme I can’t shake looking at this Grafton meeting: a handful of runners have actually been here and run well, and they’re scattered through the card in races where plenty of their rivals are guessing. That matters more at Grafton than most people admit, because you either travel and quicken at the right time or you get stuck in neutral while the locals pinch two lengths.
We’ve got four races on turf, mostly around that 1200m to 1550m band, and the card reads like a mix of hardened handicappers, a big country boosted mile and a 2yo plate where one or two have already shown they can handle the place. These Grafton racing tips are opinionated on purpose: I’m leaning into proven course comfort where it exists, and I’m happy to oppose horses whose profiles scream “needs everything to go right”.
Grafton — the setup
No official going is listed in the race data, so I’m treating this like a standard Grafton turf day and letting map and barriers do the heavy lifting. One note: course form across the meeting is mostly thin at the individual horse level, but a couple do stand up as repeat performers rather than one-off visitors.
Ladbrokes Review [Updated March 2026] | Ladbrokes.com.au Pros & Cons
- Info Hub
- Mates Mode
Two riders with enough volume here to take seriously sit right on top of the course profile for today’s jockeys: A Bullock wins often at this track and hits the frame regularly from 11 rides, and A B Collett has done well from five rides with three placings. That’s not trivia, it’s how you break ties in these country handicaps when your top few all look like they can run.
Trainer-wise, if you’re looking for the real “Grafton stable”, it’s M J Dunn. Sixty runners is a proper sample and he lands plenty of them in the money here. He doesn’t have a massive hand in every race on this card, but when he turns up, I respect the placement.
Race-by-race — Grafton predictions
Race 1: Sky Racing Mother’s Gift Hcp — 12:20, 1531m
Pressalong is the one I want onside early. The form string reads like a horse who keeps turning up and running his race, and the key is he’s already shown he likes Grafton: four trips here for a win and three placings. That’s not “specialist” territory yet, but it’s the closest thing to reliable track comfort in this field and it matters when plenty of these have zero history here. From gate 6 he can land in the first half, and the 121.2 weight keeps him in the sweet spot for a horse who does his best work when he can build rather than sprint off a standing start.
The danger is Lady Lucifer. She comes in off a sharp little form line (116-81) and you don’t need to overcomplicate it: if she brings that metro-grade acceleration into a country handicap, she can simply outclass them. The knock is barrier 9 and a slightly lumpier weight than the pick, so she may have to do it the hard way around them.
How I’d play it: win bet Pressalong. If the market gets silly and Lady Lucifer drifts, she’s the saver.
Race 2: The Provedores Country Boosted Showcase Hcp (C1) — 12:55, 1531m
This is the kind of race where the map can win it for you before the 400m. Big field, a stack of middle-to-wide gates, and the usual country boosted chaos where half the riders want cover and the other half panic at the first bend.
I’m sticking with the horse whose profile says “still improving”: Comic Culture. He’s trending the right way (643-12), gets A B Collett, and importantly draws gate 1. At this trip, that’s gold. He doesn’t need to be a hero early; he just needs to hold a spot, let the race sort itself out, and pop through when the wide runners start searching for runs. Rob Potter isn’t throwing darts either, and the combination of draw and recent consistency is enough for me to lean in.
The threat I respect is The Big Ticket (gate 9). He arrives off a win (557231), and in these races momentum counts. If he gets the right cart across and the leaders overdo it, he’s the one who can be launching late while others are empty.
How I’d play it: Comic Culture to win. Small-field confidence it isn’t, but the inside draw makes it a bet rather than a guess.
Race 3: Village Green Hotel Showcase (Bm66) — 13:35, 1094m
The market will have a job here because you’ve got older short-course types with exposed ceilings and a couple of younger legs who might simply be better than their rating if the day suits. I’m siding with the mare who has already done the “Grafton thing” and won.
Hey Daisy is my play. She’s won on her only start at the track, and that’s not a trend by itself, but it’s still a nice piece of evidence that she handles the surface and the rhythm of this place. She’s also carrying a workable weight (131.1) and D Peisley knows how to ride this circuit. Her recent form reads well enough (125912) to say she’s in form, not just showing up for a run.
The obvious danger is Cool Fizz, who brings the kind of profile you don’t ignore in a short-course BM66: 5211-2 and he looks like he turns up to win. With G Spokes aboard, you can see the plan: positive ride, don’t get cluttered, make them chase. If he crosses and controls it, everyone else needs to be very good to get past.
How I’d play it: each-way Hey Daisy. The race has enough speed and enough unknowns that I want the place angle working for me.
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
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
Race 4: Nbn News Springboard To Fame 2yo Showcase Plate — 14:10, 1285m
Two-year-olds at 1285m at Grafton: the question is never “who’s talented?” It’s “who settles, travels, and actually finishes?” A couple of these have already shown they can do it.
Slippin’ Away is my pick. The form (71) says he’s already learned how to win, and he’s also won on his only run at Grafton. That’s a strong little pointer for a juvenile race where plenty will be seeing the place for the first time and doing plenty wrong. K H Zechner is a capable set of hands, and if this turns into a mid-race squeeze and sprint home, I trust a horse who’s already been there and coped.
The danger is Airborne Affair, who won on debut and gets Ashley Butler. That’s the profile that can jump, find a spot from gate 3, and take a stack of beating if the talent is real. He’s the clear threat because he has upside, and in these races upside beats “safe” more often than people want to admit.
How I’d play it: win bet Slippin’ Away. If you’re playing multiples, Airborne Affair is the one I’d include with him.
The plays
I’m not trying to be cute today. The money goes where the card gives you something you can actually hold onto.
NAP: Pressalong (Race 1, 12:20). Four goes at Grafton for a win and three placings is as close as we get to reliable track comfort on this card, and the draw lets him run his race without burning fuel.
Value: Hey Daisy (Race 3, 13:35) each-way. She’s already won at the track and she keeps turning up in form. I’d rather be paid for being right two ways in a fast 1094m.
Banker for multis: Comic Culture (Race 2, 12:55). Gate 1 plus a horse trending the right way is the sort of banker you can live with in a big field.
Each-way anchor: Again, Hey Daisy. In a short race, a horse that handles the track and can take a position is usually in the finish.
Course angle to keep: when A Bullock rides at Grafton, take it seriously. He wins regularly here and he lands a lot of them in the money, which matters when you’re deciding who to trust in the messy races.
Next time you see a horse with multiple Grafton placings pop up in an otherwise “unknown” country field, don’t overthink it; this place rewards runners that know how to travel around it.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Grafton today?
Racing starts at 12:20 with the Sky Racing Mother’s Gift Hcp over 1531m.
Who are the top jockeys at Grafton on today’s numbers?
A Bullock stands out on volume and results at this track: 11 rides for five wins and eight placings. A B Collett has also done well at Grafton with five rides for one win and three placings.
Who’s the leading trainer angle at Grafton?
M J Dunn is the big sample trainer: 60 runners at Grafton for 15 wins and 39 placings. On this card, he has runners in the Country Boosted race (Herald Angel, plus debutant Machecoul in the 2yo) and he’s the stable I’m most willing to follow here long term.
What are the best bets at Grafton today?
The strongest plays from this meeting are Pressalong in Race 1 (proven Grafton record: four runs for a win and three placings) and Slippin’ Away in Race 4 (won on its only Grafton start and brings a 71 form line into a 2yo plate).
Where can I find the best Grafton odds?
Shop around bookmaker prices close to jump time, especially in the big Country Boosted race at 12:55 where the market can swing late with scratchings and map changes. If you’re already set with a book, check their fixed-odds and any each-way terms before you bet.
Responsible gambling
Support & Resources: If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly.
Affiliate disclosure: RacingBase may earn a commission if you sign up or place a bet through links on our site. This helps fund our coverage and keeps the tips free to read.
