Queanbeyan Racing Tips 17 May 2026 — can the winners back up?
Port Macquarie Racing Tips 18 May 2026 — can Dunn land a double?
Port Macquarie Racing Tips 18 May 2026 — can Dunn land a double?
There’s a little Port Macquarie theme that keeps popping up once you start sorting this card into “who’s here to win” and “who’s here to learn”: M J Dunn has a handful of runners placed to strike, and the jockey bookings look like they’re meant to be. Add in a track where barriers can matter when fields get big, and you’ve got a meeting that rewards simple thinking: back the horses with upward form, and don’t get seduced by one-run course figures.
We’ve got nine races on turf, a stack of maidens early and competitive BM58s later. These Port Macquarie racing tips are written for speed: who I want to be with, who can beat them, and how I’d actually bet it.
Port Macquarie — the setup
Limited course form across today’s fields. Most runners have one or two starts at Port Macquarie, so I’m treating those as handy context, not a “track specialist” badge. Where it does help is with jockey familiarity: a couple of riders ride this place often and consistently put horses in the finish.
Jockeys worth knowing here (5+ rides at the track in the stats set):
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bullock | 16 | 3 | 10 | 18.75 | 62.50 |
| Liberty Smyth | 16 | 4 | 8 | 25.00 | 50.00 |
| L P Rolls | 42 | 8 | 18 | 19.05 | 42.86 |
| Jett Newman | 7 | 2 | 3 | 28.57 | 42.86 |
| Jenny Duggan | 17 | 0 | 9 | 0.00 | 52.94 |
| A Gibbons | 6 | 1 | 3 | 16.67 | 50.00 |
Trainers with meaningful volume at the track (5+ runners):
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K A Lees | 26 | 3 | 12 | 11.54 | 46.15 |
| Colt Prosser | 20 | 2 | 7 | 10.00 | 35.00 |
| J A Sprague | 17 | 2 | 5 | 11.76 | 29.41 |
| R N Godbolt | 18 | 3 | 5 | 16.67 | 27.78 |
| P Cheers | 26 | 2 | 3 | 7.69 | 11.54 |
| Donna Grisedale | 11 | 2 | 6 | 18.18 | 54.55 |
| Tom Higgins | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 12.50 |
| Terry Evans | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25.00 | 75.00 |
| G Prosser | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 25.00 |
| Samantha Mcguren | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20.00 | 20.00 |
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Race-by-race tips
Race 1: Flower Hotels Country Boosted Mdn Hcp — 11:40, 1319m
Adequate Eze looks the cleanest “ready to win a maiden” profile on the page. That 222 prep says the horse puts itself in the race and keeps finding the line, and in this sort of country maiden handicap, that consistency beats a stack of runners who are still learning how to race. The awkward part is barrier 14, so Justin P Stanley has to make a decision early: push across and risk doing work, or snag back and concede first shot at the sprint.
The horse I’m most wary of is Poetic Angel (form 3-33). You don’t run third that often by accident; she keeps turning up and running the same honest race. She’s also drawn 13, so she can follow Adequate Eze across and get cover if the race is run as you’d expect.
Staking: Win bet Adequate Eze. Small saver quinella with Poetic Angel if you’re playing multiples, because they profile like the pair who’ll find a way to be there late.
Race 2: Port City Bowling Club Mdn Plate — 12:10, 1650m
Here’s the question: who actually wants 1650 today, and who’s just ended up here because the trainer couldn’t find a weaker maiden? I’m leaning to British Gem (form 257-33) because it’s the profile of a horse that’s coping with racing, holding its spot, and now gets a trip that should let it roll into the race rather than sprint off a slow tempo. Barrier 6 is also the sort of draw that keeps you out of trouble in a big field.
Prince Of Wants (form 63) is the danger. Only two starts, both solid, and he draws 8 to sit close enough. If he takes natural improvement, he can go straight past them.
Staking: Win bet British Gem. If the market overreacts and Prince Of Wants starts short, I’d rather save on him than flip the selection.
Race 3: Panthers Port Macquarie Mdn Plate — 12:45, 1100m
This is the tempo race of the early part of the card. With a short sprint and plenty of runners who don’t know what they’re doing, you want something that’s already been around the block and can absorb a messy 400m. Love You Anyway has gone 6-22222, which tells you everything: she’s always there, she’s always brave, and she just keeps bumping into one better. From gate 10 she’ll need a touch of luck, but she doesn’t need a picnic to run her race.
The danger is Mr Cornstar (form 79-52). He’s trending the right way now he’s worked out the caper, and if he holds a spot from gate 16 without burning petrol, he’s the one who can finish over the top.
Staking: Each-way Love You Anyway. If you don’t like backing serial bridesmaids, have a small exacta saver with Mr Cornstar running past her late.
Race 4: Char Bar Catering Hcp (C2) — 13:20, 1319m
The market will have to make sense of a simple contrast: proven class form up top, versus the improving three-year-olds who get in light enough to be dangerous. I want to be with Too Hot To Torque (form 41-2). He’s already shown he can win, then come back and run second, and that’s exactly the profile you want in this grade because most of these are either inconsistent or still trying to put a full performance together.
Dubalene is the one that can spoil the party. She’s had two runs at Port Macquarie and placed in both, and she draws gate 2 which screams “cheap run in transit” if the speed is even. She doesn’t have to improve much to take advantage of the right lane.
Staking: Win bet Too Hot To Torque. Box him with Dubalene in quinellas if you’re playing wider, because they look like the two runners with the clearest way to a spot on the turn.
Race 5: John Oxley Motors Hcp (C2) — 13:55, 1319m
I’m siding with the stable that’s brought a few with intent and keeps landing in the fight: Lovecats (form 4123-1) for Dunn and Jett Newman. She comes off a win, draws gate 8, and she’s in the right part of her prep to hold that edge. The profile suggests she can either sit handy if the speed is soft, or stalk if they go too hard.
Diva Rouge is the danger and the obvious one. Form 4-0211 reads like a horse on a roll and she’s drawn 5, right where you want to be. If she lands in front and controls it, she can pinch it again.
Staking: Win bet Lovecats, with a saver on Diva Rouge if she’s allowed to dictate early. This is also the best betting race on the card for me, because there’s enough exposed form to back an opinion.
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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
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Race 6: Carlton Dry (Bm58) — 14:35, 1210m
The market problem here is weight. There are a few you can make cases for, but I’d rather take the one that’s drawn to use the rail and let others do the work. Snow Falcon gets gate 1 and has the sort of set-up that can win this race without needing to be lengths better than the rest. Yes, he’s carrying 61.5kg, but the inside alley at this trip can be a real weapon if Liberty Smyth holds a spot and keeps the horse balanced.
Jewels Statement (gate 5) is the danger because she maps to get a similar run with less traffic, and Samantha Mcguren places her team well enough to respect the placement.
Staking: Small win bet Snow Falcon. If you want to play safer, go each-way and keep stakes sensible because it’s a BM58 with a few ways it can be run.
Race 7: Bncc Security Services (Bm58) — 15:10, 1210m
Gaylord is the “gets his turn” horse. His form 8-5522 says he’s holding his level and finding the line, and Dunn puts Bullock on, which is the sort of booking you want when you’re trying to convert consistent efforts into a win. Gaylord also doesn’t need to lead; he can take a sit and let the race unfold.
The danger is Royal Teens, who has genuine Port Macquarie experience with two runs here and a win. That’s still a small sample, but it does tell you she handles the track, and she draws 9 to find clear air.
Staking: Win bet Gaylord. If Royal Teens drifts, I’d have something on her as a saver because the course tick and her recent form line (571432) gives her a high floor.
Race 8: De Bortoli Wines (Bm58) — 15:50, 1650m
This is where I want value, because the field is deep and there’s traffic everywhere. Dianella appeals as the lightly raced three-year-old with upside (form 851) and she gets a proper claim in the weights at 54.5kg. The ugly part is barrier 18, so the ride decides the bet. If Liberty Smyth can slot in with cover without losing a stack of ground, the horse can be the one launching at the right time when the leaders start to feel the 1650.
Archie Maximus is the danger and the obvious one. Form 25-231 says he’s right in the zone and Bullock sticks, which matters at this track. The draw (13) isn’t perfect either, but he has the tactical speed to negate it.
Staking: Each-way Dianella if the price is there. If she’s short from that gate, it becomes a watch race and you can just back Archie Maximus in small multis instead.
Race 9: Tab.Com.Au Country Boosted Hcp (C1) — 16:25, 1100m
We finish with a proper country sprint where the early 200m decides how much luck you need. Agent Max is the horse I want to be with because he’s drawn gate 1, he’s on the up (2-12), and he profiles like the runner who can hold a spot and make everyone else chase. In these C1s, the horse that controls its own run is worth more than the horse that needs the gaps.
Permission Granted (form 241-) is the danger. Dunn again, Bullock again. That pairing keeps showing up on this card for a reason, and this horse looks capable of sitting outside the lead and applying pressure from the 600m.
Staking: Win bet Agent Max. Exacta saver with Permission Granted if you want protection against the “Bullock stalk and pounce” scenario.
The plays
NAP: Lovecats (Race 5, 13:55). She comes here off a win, maps to get a race, and Dunn’s team looks set to make a real dent in the middle of the card.
Value: Dianella (Race 8, 15:50) each-way. The wide gate is a price-maker, but the recent 851 run of form says she’s improved and the light weight gives her a genuine chance if she gets cover.
Banker for multis: Adequate Eze (Race 1, 11:40). The 222 prep is the kind of reliability you want early, even if you have to wear a wide draw.
Each-way play: Love You Anyway (Race 3, 12:45). The string of seconds can hurt if you’re all-in for the win, but it’s gold for place betting in messy maiden sprints.
Course angle: If you’re following riders rather than stables, A Bullock is the Port Macquarie jockey to trust. He hits the frame in nearly two-thirds of his rides here (10 placings from 16), and he’s on multiple live chances again today.
Next meeting, keep a close eye on how Dunn’s horses are ridden here when they draw awkwardly, because the stable is clearly not turning up just to make up the numbers.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Port Macquarie today?
Race 1 jumps at 11:40 (Flower Hotels Country Boosted Mdn Hcp over 1319m).
Who are the top jockeys at Port Macquarie?
On the course numbers with a proper sample size, A Bullock has 16 rides for 3 wins and 10 placings, and Liberty Smyth has 16 rides for 4 wins and 8 placings. L P Rolls rides the track more than anyone in the set (42 rides) and has 8 wins and 18 placings.
Who are the top trainers at Port Macquarie?
With volume at the track, K A Lees has 26 runners here for 3 wins and 12 placings, while Terry Evans has 8 runners for 2 wins and 6 placings. M J Dunn has a small sample at this course (3 runners) but has still managed 1 win and 2 placings, and he looks well represented again today.
What are the best bets at Port Macquarie today?
My Port Macquarie best bets are Lovecats in Race 5 (off a win, progressive profile) and Adequate Eze in Race 1 (three straight seconds coming into this). For an each-way play, Love You Anyway in Race 3 keeps running second and looks a reliable place chance again.
Where can I find the best odds for Port Macquarie races?
Prices can move quickly on country meetings, so the best approach is to compare a few books close to jump time. You can also check the latest Port Macquarie odds via your preferred bookmaker or exchange. (Odds comparison feed wasn’t available in the data pull for this meeting, so I’ve kept today’s Port Macquarie predictions price-free.)
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