Northam tips and results

Our price $5.00 · SP $6.50 · Jason Lyon

Something Royal has the strongest Northam credentials in the field, having won a Class 3 here over 1000m in July with a performance that would win most of these. Her last-start fourth over 1100m came after a slow start and racing keenly, so the drop back to 1000m is a plus. The lack of a soft-track win tempers confidence, but three placings from nine wet starts show she copes.

Our price $9.00 · SP $18.00 · Jason Li

Coondle is the value runner.

Our price $6.50 · SP $6.50 · William Pike

More Darling has trialled nicely, winning a short heat and then running a close second at Belmont, and the booking of William Pike for Luke Fernie is about as strong a signal as you get in a Northam maiden. The knocks are the wide gate, which is a genuine issue on this track, the fact she was beaten by a rival in this race in her trial, and a stamina-leaning pedigree for a soft-track sprint.

Our price $6.00 · SP $9.50 · Patrick Carbery

Wrexham keeps hitting the placings and his Belmont third on soft ground is the strongest run any of these has produced. The mile is an unknown for a horse that tends to race keenly, and last start he was hampered and made ground late over beaten horses.

Our price $9.00 · SP $11.00 · Joey Azzopardi

She's Some Craic is the map horse. She will lead from barrier 1 with no serious pressure, and at Northam that is exactly where maiden winners come from. She has placed over this trip here, was beaten just over a length at this track last start, and has run to a competitive level when allowed to dictate.

Our price $6.00 · SP $14.00 · Sharni Webster

The lightweight filly has done little wrong in two starts, getting to within half a length in a Belmont maiden with a strong finishing burst, then running fourth against restricted 3yo company. She races handy enough to be competitive under the Northam bias and receives a big weight pull. The unknowns are soft going and the extra distance, but her pedigree suggests 1300m is well within range. Best of the rest behind the two leaders and a genuine place chance.

Our price $18.00 · SP $21.00 · Ebony Johnson

He rolled forward and led at Kalgoorlie, only weakening late to finish fourth beaten under two lengths, and his forward-racing style is exactly what wins at Northam.

Our price $5.00 · SP $7.00 · Steven Parnham

The Stalagmite ran a genuinely good race on debut at Bunbury, finishing fourth but recording a time that stacks up as the best recent effort in this field, having earlier won a soft-track trial. Today he draws barrier 2 as the only natural leader in a race shaping to be run slowly, on a track where maiden winners overwhelmingly come from the front.

Our price $8.00 · SP $5.00 · Brad Parnham

Xelcimus is the classic frustrating maiden but her second-up run at Belmont on a Soft 5 was the strongest wet-track performance any runner brings into this race, storming home from last. Her latest run can be forgiven after missing the start and finding no room.

Our price $10.00 · SP $13.00 · Chanel Cooper

He returns to 1300m where he can settle handy off a slow tempo with a light weight, for a trainer who wins better than one in four at Northam.

Our price $3.60 · SP $4.40 · Holly Watson

Heavenly Rapture has the best recent form in this field by a clear margin: her Bunbury fourth was the strongest run anyone here has produced lately, and she has stayed 2400m in Oaks company. This is a weak Class 50+ where several rivals are recent maiden winners or veterans, so a lightly raced mare with her ceiling stands out. The real risk is the map – she settles back and Northam favours handy runners over 2200m – but her class edge should overcome a slow tempo if she is ridden a touch closer.

Our price $7.00 · SP $7.50 · Natika Riordan

Ah Kum has produced three consistent efforts this preparation at shorter trips and has been running to a level not far below a winning standard at this class. He gets every favour today: inside draw, light weight, an in-form stable, and a slow tempo that should allow him to trail the leader and kick. The doubt is stamina – his two prior attempts past 1700m were poor, though both came with excuses.

Our price $11.00 · SP $9.00 · Jarrad Noske

Major Magnus has been steadily improving this campaign, finishing third, second and then breaking his maiden at Bunbury last week with a performance that compares favourably with most of this field. He has already run second over this course and distance and draws the fence with a jockey who suits him.

Our price $7.00 · SP $7.50 · Brayden Gaerth

A volatile mare but one whose best is good enough for this. She won a Class 5 over 1400m on a Soft 5 at Bunbury in August with blinkers on, and although she faded last start, today's setup — inside gate, forward position, lighter weight — is where she wins races. The rider's form and her inconsistency temper enthusiasm, but she is a legitimate top-three chance at a track that rewards her style.

Our price $7.00 · SP $7.00 · Chris Parnham

Playing Solo is the improving type in this field. His Bunbury maiden win over this distance came from the widest gate, and his previous seventh on a Soft 5 at Belmont was a far better run than the placing suggests, run at a level that would win most Class 1 races. Barrier 13 is the obvious drawback at a track that punishes wide draws, but he has already overcome that and as a 3yo he meets the older horses on favourable terms.

Our price $12.00 · SP $12.00 · Joey Azzopardi

One Target is a chronic placegetter but his last-start second at Belmont in Class 1 was the strongest single performance in this field, beaten just over half a length after sitting third the whole way. He draws barrier 6, will settle on speed from the moderate tempo, and carries 4kg less than the top selections.