Townsville tips and results

Our price $5.50 · SP $6.00 · Georgina Cartwright

The concern is barrier 11 and limited racing experience against more exposed rivals, so while the upside is real, the map and established track/distance profile edge go to Boom Bunny. Strong place claims.

Our price $6.50 · SP $9.00 · Fiona Sandkuhl

Lilsisterdon'tcha brings some of the most consistent recent form among the exposed maidens, with thirds at Mackay in June and July plus a solid fourth at Cairns. She gets in light at 53kg, has tactical speed from barrier 9 and should be prominent throughout. The negatives are no Townsville experience and no win in seven tries, which keeps her behind the top two but ahead of most others.

Our price $12.00 · SP $31.00 · Nathan Thomas

That debut suggested natural speed and ability, and 1000m looks suitable.

Our price $3.80 · SP $6.00 · Ryan Wiggins

Eclipsion is the horse to beat. He won over 2000m last start at Mackay, holds a strong record at the trip and has placed in BM65 company over 2000m. Wiggins is in excellent form and knows the track well. The class rise is offset by his proven staying ability and sound recent form.

Our price $8.00 · SP $10.00 · Mitch Goring

Ready Tiger drops significantly in grade after competing in Open company, including a 3rd over 1900m at Cairns. He has already won at Townsville this preparation and handles Good ground. The wide draw is a concern, but his class edge and local form make him the principal danger to Eclipsion.

Our price $14.00 · SP $31.00 · Ashley Butler

Prefer To Dance ran well to be second in a BM70 over 2100m last start, form that reads well for this BM65 over 2000m. The wide gate and modest overall win rate are negatives, but his recent form and stamina profile make him the value runner in the race.

Our price $9.00 · SP $21.00 · Sean Cormack

The Kamikaze won a BM60 over this course and distance on 14 July, beating Northernontap, and then ran fourth in a BM70 at Cairns. His Townsville 1000m record shows two wins and three placings from eight attempts, with solid Good-track statistics. Barrier 11 is awkward in a fast race and he carries 61kg, but Sean Cormack has a good record at the track and the horse already won from a wide draw here.

Our price $11.00 · SP $21.00 · Chris Whiteley

Northernontap has an outstanding Townsville 1000m profile, with four wins and four placings from eleven starts. His main queries are a modest Good-track winning rate and a wide barrier in a strongly-run sprint.

Our price $6.00 · SP $14.00 · Olivia Kendal

Last-start second in a CL6 over 1300m at this track reads well, and she meets easier company with a low weight and good gate. The lack of a 1400m win is a concern, but her consistency and course familiarity make her the clear second pick.

Our price $6.50 · SP $9.00 · Brandon Lerena

From This Moment has been racing consistently in Queensland country company and owns strong course/distance statistics, with five Townsville wins and two over 1400m. Third in a BM70 over 1560m two starts back suggests she is fit enough, while barrier 4 gives her every chance to settle closer. The main negatives are a moderate career win rate and an untried jockey/track combination, but she remains a genuine top-three hope.

Our price $7.50 · SP $16.00 · Aidan Holt

Colours Of Autumn is a proven BM70 performer at 1400m and comes off a sound third in a CL6 1300m at Townsville. However, the 62.5kg topweight and wide barrier are significant negatives, which is why she is a value play rather than a top-three selection.

Our price $8.50 · SP $21.00 · Ben Kennedy

Faraway Downs has done nothing wrong in three starts, finishing third in two Open races at this track behind proven rivals. He takes the key inside gate and has Ben Kennedy, who rides Townsville well.

Our price $12.00 · SP $71.00 · Ashley Butler

He has placed in three of five starts around this distance and gains the services of Ashley Butler.

Our price $15.00 · SP $51.00 · Nathan Thomas

Mister Doobee is the value play. He beat Faraway Downs when winning a Townsville Open over 1400m last start and has a strong overall course record.

Our price $5.50 · SP $7.50 · Ryan Wiggins

Smart Legend has the strongest overall profile for this Townsville staying test: proven over 2000m here, effective on Good ground and suited by an on-pace map. He chased home Journalism by under half a length at Mackay last start and meets that horse at level weights with a better barrier. Ryan Wiggins is in form.

Our price $6.50 · SP $4.20 · Leslie Tilley

Odegaard is consistently around the same mark as the top two, finishing within a length of them at Mackay over 2000m. He now meets Smart Legend and Journalism on 2kg better terms and draws the inside, which suits Townsville's on-pace profile. His overall place rate is excellent, though he has not won in four starts and his one 2000m run was only a placing.

Our price $15.00 · SP $81.00 · Ashley Butler

John Joseph is the value runner. He won this exact course and distance at Open level five weeks ago, drops half a kilo and retains Ashley Butler. The knock is that his overall record is patchy and the July 5 field was weaker than this, but his proven affinity for the trip gives strong each-way appeal.

Our price $6.50 · SP $3.50 · Brandon Lerena

Demon Award brings the strongest recent Open-class form of the race, having won three of his last four starts including back-to-back 1300m wins at Rockhampton. His overall record is excellent, with 12 wins and 12 placings from 41 starts, and he is proven on Good ground. The reservations are the 60kg impost, his unplaced effort over this exact Townsville distance, and a rider with no local track experience. Still, his consistency and distance credentials place him firmly in the top three.

Our price $8.50 · SP $13.00 · Leslie Tilley

Russian Mint is a genuine Townsville specialist with six wins from twelve starts at the track and a last-start Open victory over 1000m. The only query is a lack of runs over 1300m, but he has placed at both 1200m and 1400m in Open company and shapes as a major threat in a fast-run race.

Our price $3.20 · SP $2.30 · Lacey Morrison

Aye Vee Aitch is the most likely winner. He has been consistently placed in similar company, won well at Townsville over 1200m and maps to settle just behind the speed from barrier 4. The step to 1300m and the top weight are the main queries, but his economical racing pattern and current fitness offset them.