Armidale tips and results

Our price $3.20 · SP $1.90 · Braith Nock

One run for a fifth at Taree after settling near the tail, and she made good late ground in a race that favoured the on-speed horses. A strong country stable, a rider who goes well at this track, and a step up to 1400m that suits her staying pedigree. Second-up, she should improve sharply and is the one to beat.

Our price $4.20 · SP $4.60 · Zac Wadick

Brings the strongest recent form into this. Beaten only three lengths at Doomben and again at Ipswich, held up in the straight both times, so the bare finishing position undersells her. The drop back from the mile to 1400m is the query, and she is yet to place, but she is fit, drawn well enough in seven and gets a smart rider. Definite winning chance.

Our price $3.20 · SP $2.30 · Ben Looker

Last-start third over 2200m at Grafton, beaten under a length, and a half-length fourth in stronger company at Tamworth before that. She drops from a BM66 into this and is the class runner of the field. Drawn the inside gate she gets the right run and owns the strongest finishing burst in the race, with the stable and jockey firing. The query is her get-back racing pattern at a track that favours the handy ones.

Our price $9.00 · SP $6.00 · Donovan Dillon

Front-runner who has been around the mark with three seconds in his last five, including a close second in a Class 1 at Gunnedah. He has the early speed to lead and on-pace runners have a clear edge over this trip here.

Our price $10.00 · SP $15.00 · Jenny Duggan

Drawn nicely in barrier 3, she has placed at this track before and usually races within striking distance.

Our price $8.00 · SP $4.40 · Anna Weatherlake

A speedy mare who draws perfectly and should be able to control the race on her terms. Her latest run at Muswellbrook was a close-up fourth after racing on the speed, her best recent effort. She is still a maiden and has folded badly when tackled in front, so a genuine tempo is a risk, but from gate two she is the one they have to run down.

Our price $8.50 · SP $6.50 · Grady Spokes

A progressive maiden whose best asset is a strong finish, and the expected hot tempo should give him his chance to run on. He draws well in gate three and his trainer has a good strike rate at this track from limited runners. The concern is that he habitually settles a long way back and Armidale sprints are unkind to get-back types, so he needs the leaders to overdo it.

Our price $9.00 · SP $21.00 · Mikayla Weir

He races on the speed and should be within striking distance turning for home.

Our price $4.80 · SP $4.00 · Donovan Dillon

Time To Commit brings the strongest recent form into this - a win and three placings from her last four, all in similar company. The winkers have her racing handier and she was second at the 400m last time, so the backmarker tag may be outdated. If she is within striking distance on the turn she will be charging late.

Our price $11.00 · SP $8.50 · Zac Wadick

Extreme Merger is the value. He owns three wins at 1400m and a strong record at this sort of trip.

Our price $5.00 · SP $4.20 · Grady Spokes

Mare with the strongest class lines here, having mixed it in provincial company and run a closing fifth in a Midway Class 1 two starts back. The inside gate should have her closer than usual, and she gets a genuine drop in grade. Her profile is more about placings than wins, so she is best played each-way rather than on the nose. The moderate tempo is the main worry.

Our price $6.00 · SP $4.60 · Jenny Duggan

Five-year-old who ran his best recent race when beaten a length in a Class 1 at Moree over this trip, and who has the tactical speed to put himself in the first few. That matters at Armidale, where horses on the pace hold a clear edge. The knock is the wide draw and a poor effort last time when he led and folded over a mile. A place is the sensible play.

Our price $7.00 · SP $5.50 · Mikayla Weir

In great form with a second and two thirds from her last three, and she owns the sharpest finishing burst in the race. She gets back in the field though, and Armidale sprints tend to favour horses handy to the speed, so she'll need the tempo to be genuine and the leaders to tire. A place is the safer play, and her rider has a solid record here.

Our price $8.00 · SP $6.50 · Grady Spokes

Likely to lead on his own and that's a big plus on a moderate tempo. He knows this track better than anything in the race, with a win and two placings from six starts here, all over this trip.