Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Sunday 8 February 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 7 races at Ararat. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Una Gentle presents the strongest winning chance based on recent form showing two narrow seconds, significant class drop from Open company, and proven suitability at 1100m. The filly has been competitive in stronger races and drops to maiden level with a favorable barrier draw.
Smerdon's reputation and the addition of barrier blanket suggests serious preparation, though lack of form data creates uncertainty in assessment.
The Raymond & Bell partnership with Grace shows positive historical results, though lack of form data limits confidence in assessment.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Snappy Beau | 4 | Jason Maskiell | Ms D Chapman | 59.5kg | $3.50 |
| 2nd | 14 | Una Gentle | 5 | Teodore Nugent | Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | 57kg | $3.10 |
| 3rd | 7 | Zercardy | 9 | Harry Grace | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 59kg | $3.60 |
| 4th | 11 | Say It How It Is | 8 | Will Gordon | Rachel Samsonenko | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 13 | Cracked It | 6 | Paul Gatt | Mathew Smerdon | 57kg | $4.60 |
| 6th | 1 | Merry Jack | 2 | Christine Puls | Q J Scott | 59.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Packers Journey | 1 | Jason Webb | M Sell | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 17 | Pacific Pixie | 7 | Stephen Lenehan | 57kg | $201.00 | |
| 9th | 15 | Tarin's Rock | 11 | Kate Walters | Robert Schultz | 59.5kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 16 | It Sure Does | 14 | Valentin Le Boeuf | John Markovic | 59.5kg | $201.00 |
| 11th | 18 | Leica Bella | 12 | Jordyn Weatherley | John Markovic | 56kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Villa Capitalista | 16 | Tom Dabernig | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Krasnoludek | 14 | Robert Hickmott | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Norenson | 10 | Jack Hill | P A Chow | 59kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Prince De Vega | 13 | Linda Meech | C Maher | 59kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Figurante | 13 | K G McCartin | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Gottaluvsport | 11 | M M Laurie | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Coachella Lass | 3 | Harry Grace | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 57kg |
Hayes stable debut with significant gear adjustments and strong jockey booking suggests this runner is well-prepared.
Recent maiden placing and Maher stable preparation suggest improvement likely. The significant class drop provides the key edge.
Well-placed runner with perfect barrier draw and recent placing form. The inside bias and light weight provide tactical advantages, though the lack of a win remains a concern.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Muskito | 4 | Dean Yendall | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 59kg | $3.10 |
| 2nd | 3 | Pick Wisely | 9 | Archie Alexander | 59.5kg | $16.00 | |
| 3rd | 15 | Don't Say No Mikki | 7 | Jason Webb | V L Malady | 59.5kg | $31.00 |
| 4th | 12 | Bellitsy | 3 | Ryan Hurdle | Robert Hickmott | 57kg | $16.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Pafitis | 5 | Teodore Nugent | C Maher | 59kg | $3.70 |
| 6th | 2 | Killenaule | 12 | C Maher | 59.5kg | $9.00 | |
| 7th | 1 | Hughie's Spirit | 8 | Sarah Field | S R Fisher | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 9 | Prince Ziotta | 2 | Fred W Kersley | Archie Alexander | 59kg | $61.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Scoparia | 11 | Tayla Cameron | Rachel Samsonenko | 53.5kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 16 | French Reign | 6 | Paul Gatt | Andrew Bobbin | 59kg | $101.00 |
| 11th | 6 | Millsy's Award | 14 | Eoin Walsh | Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | 59kg | $13.00 |
| 12th | 4 | Cuttin' Class | 1 | Zac Moore | C Maher | 55kg | $4.60 |
| Scr | 5 | Farnanheit | 15 | Will Gordon | A & S Freedman | 59kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Milady | 17 | Jack Hill | P A Chow | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Hellish Lee | 10 | Linda Meech | Andrew Bobbin | 57kg | |
| Scr | 14 | License To Excite | 16 | Henry Dwyer | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 17 | Zoudeadly | 13 | Teodore Nugent | Jason Warren | 59kg | |
| Scr | 18 | Peyton Jane | 18 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 57.5kg |
Lightly raced gelding showing clear improvement through two starts. Despite wide draw, class and trajectory indicate strong winning chance at maiden level.
Well-bred gelding with consistent form including synthetic track placing. Form suggests ready to break maiden status.
Lightly raced gelding second up from spell with encouraging 3rd placing last start. Limited exposure suggests upside potential, while quality jockey booking indicates stable confidence. Form trajectory points to further improvement.
Inside barrier and improving jockey provide tactical advantages.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Zuleika | 2 | Jack Hill | Henry Dwyer | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 7 | Finance Merchant | 10 | Linda Meech | Aaron Purcell | 59kg | $3.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Lady Colonist | 3 | Ryan Hurdle | Andrew Bobbin | 57kg | $15.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Blue Ensign | 4 | Eoin Walsh | S J Richards | 59kg | $3.40 |
| 5th | 4 | Sea Warning | 12 | Will Gordon | T Rogers | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
| 6th | 3 | Il Penseroso | 8 | Dean Yendall | Dan O'Sullivan | 59.5kg | $16.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Rainbow Dolphin | 1 | Christopher Pang | Stephen Lenehan | 55.5kg | $151.00 |
| 8th | 5 | Stolen Stock | 7 | Sarah Field | Andrew Bobbin | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 9th | 2 | Dollar Bucks | 6 | Paul Gatt | T Cottier | 59.5kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 1 | Boulder Gold | 9 | Jason Webb | T Cottier | 59.5kg | $201.00 |
| 11th | 9 | Berimbolo | 5 | Valentin Le Boeuf | Collin Fletcher | 57.5kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Fully Justified | 11 | Teodore Nugent | C Maher | 59kg |
The 1600m distance suits based on previous placing, and his improving form trend makes him the logical choice despite modest overall statistics.
Whistler Girl brings strong current form with a recent Hanging Rock victory and consistent placing. The outstanding jockey-trainer combination provides confidence, while her 1600m record includes a win. Despite class concerns, her form momentum and connections make her a genuine winning chance.
The consistent form pattern and suitable distance range make her a solid each-way chance.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Fashion Fighter | 1 | Ryan Hurdle | Peter Jaques | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 9 | King Alla | 11 | Teodore Nugent | Ann-Jeanette Tindale | 55.5kg | $4.60 |
| 3rd | 2 | Remigius | 6 | Jason Maskiell | Jason Warren | 59kg | $3.30 |
| 4th | 8 | Drink Then Kiss | 8 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 56kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Baltic Way | 3 | Chelsea Thompson | Harry Lafferty | 56kg | $10.00 |
| 6th | 4 | Virtucon | 10 | Sarah Field | Rick Pinsent | 56kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 11 | Oh No George | 4 | Jordyn Weatherley | Michael Farrell | 52.5kg | $51.00 |
| 8th | 5 | Whistler Girl | 5 | Christine Puls | Aaron Peterson | 57.5kg | $5.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Kilkenny Lass | 9 | Christopher Pang | Stephen Lenehan | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 10th | 13 | Bomber's Kiss | 7 | Paul Gatt | Matt & Louise Cooper | 54kg | $101.00 |
| 11th | 14 | Lewandowski | 2 | Harry Grace | Keith Hall | 54kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Hidden Witness | 12 | Valentin Le Boeuf | Brittany Raymond | 56.5kg | |
| Scr | 10 | The Hay Flyer | 6 | Ms M Lawson | 55.5kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | These Boots | 8 | D P Dwyer | 54kg |
Her third placing at Colac over 1210m shows she handles the distance, and the drop to 56.5kg is ideal.
The Matthew Cumani-trained gelding has proven class with two wins and handles the step up in distance well based on recent 1600m efforts. Barrier 7 allows tactical options and the form line through Donald looks solid for this grade.
Better value exists elsewhere in the field.
The barrier 5 draw suits his running style and recent efforts show he's competitive at this level.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Smart Return | 10 | Jordyn Weatherley | Tom Dabernig | 56.5kg | $4.20 |
| 2nd | 13 | Battlecruiser | 3 | Sarah Field | Dane Smith | 52.5kg | $51.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Aussie Pharoah | 15 | Kate Walters | Robert Schultz | 57.5kg | $11.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Mission Gold | 11 | Dean Yendall | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 59.5kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 2 | Manchego | 7 | Fred W Kersley | Matthew Cumani | 59.5kg | $2.80 |
| 6th | 1 | Port Louis | 12 | Will Gordon | Denis Daffy & Harriet Place | 60kg | $8.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Irish Bliss | 5 | Christopher Pang | Ms H Burns | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 8th | 14 | Dandino Belle | 6 | Teodore Nugent | Dane Smith | 54kg | $12.00 |
| 9th | 6 | Black Cherry | 17 | Jack Hill | Andrew Bobbin | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 10th | 4 | Invincible Bay | 1 | Eoin Walsh | Collin Fletcher | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 15 | Ovabent | 14 | Dane Smith | 54kg | $101.00 | |
| 12th | 16 | Futuristic | 9 | Ms A McCormick | 54kg | $101.00 | |
| 13th | 10 | Fiorensact | 8 | Paul Gatt | Alan Hanrahan | 57kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Rubiquity | 13 | Linda Meech | Symon Wilde | 58kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Tomanado | 4 | Tayla Childs | D P Dwyer | 57kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Somaurum | 2 | Harry Grace | Matt & Louise Cooper | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Masina | 16 | Jordy Coffey | 54kg |
Bon Fete presents as the most logical winner based on current form and class drop. The drop from BM78 to BM70 is significant, and her proven distance capability at 2100m suggests the 2200m won't be an issue.
His staying credentials are proven through placings at longer distances, and his good track record on firm surfaces suits today's conditions. However, the class rise and wide barrier present challenges.
Dartboard offers each-way value with consistent form and proven distance ability. His recent Mt Gambier placing shows he's competitive at this level, and the inside barrier is a significant advantage. The Flemington failure can be forgiven given the class difference.
Her previous Ararat placing demonstrates track suitability, while recent Morphettville form suggests she's competitive.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Frontline Action | 11 | Will Gordon | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 58.5kg | $2.10 |
| 2nd | 3 | Lightning Express | 8 | Linda Meech | Aaron Purcell | 59.5kg | $17.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Early Warning | 9 | Fred W Kersley | P A Preusker | 55kg | $11.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Bon Fete | 4 | Dean Yendall | Jason Warren | 56kg | $3.60 |
| 5th | 2 | Dartboard | 1 | Jack Hill | Brady Cross | 60kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Surfy Pete | 2 | Harry Grace | P A Preusker | 55kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Untethered | 5 | Teodore Nugent | P Kearney | 56.5kg | $10.00 |
| 8th | 13 | Max Mercury | 12 | Sarah Field | Andrew Bobbin | 53.5kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 8 | Gift Of Oratory | 7 | Eoin Walsh | A R Coffey | 55.5kg | $71.00 |
| 10th | 11 | Sabre Athena | 6 | Kate Walters | M W Greig | 54kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Khor | 3 | Christopher Pang | Symon Wilde | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 5 | Our Bambino | 10 | Simon Ryan | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Side Piece | 10 | Linda Meech | Aaron Purcell | 54kg |
Despite the wide draw, his partnership with Eoin Walsh (33% strike rate) and proven finishing ability make him the form pick.
However, the wide barrier draw and top weight present significant challenges. His proven track ability keeps him competitive despite the disadvantages.
The inside barrier draw is crucial given the track bias, and her recent form suggests she's finding her best form.
Jack Hill's strong recent form adds confidence.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Snappy Tycoon | 14 | Jason Maskiell | Ms D Chapman | 60kg | $2.30 |
| 2nd | 10 | Raging Monkey | 6 | Nathan Punch | L E Robertson | 55kg | $14.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Spinhof | 13 | Ryan Hurdle | Shay Keating | 56.5kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 13 | Leica Rock | 12 | Valentin Le Boeuf | John Markovic | 54kg | $81.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Luna Field | 5 | Jack Hill | N J Dyer | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
| 5th | 11 | Deep Core | 1 | Sarah Field | Alan Hanrahan | 53kg | $8.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Triomphe | 8 | Harry Grace | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 60kg | $11.00 |
| 8th | 12 | Kulina | 2 | Tayla Childs | D P Dwyer | 54.5kg | $17.00 |
| 9th | 4 | The Mariner | 9 | Eoin Walsh | Stephen Lenehan | 59.5kg | $9.50 |
| 10th | 16 | Ask For More | 10 | Stephen Lenehan | 54kg | $101.00 | |
| 11th | 15 | Magestic Diva | 4 | Christine Puls | K G McCartin | 54kg | $71.00 |
| 12th | 5 | Bless The Fleet | 3 | Jordyn Weatherley | Dane Smith | 56.5kg | $31.00 |
| 13th | 14 | Smart Elissim | 11 | Christopher Pang | A R Coffey | 52kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Tangoette | 15 | Tom Dabernig | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Squagaga | 15 | Rodney Foster | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Little Sandy | 7 | Teodore Nugent | Ms H Burns | 55.5kg |
Before the races, not after
Our top three picks and a value pick for every race, with assessed prices, speed maps and the analysis behind them. Free for 7 days.