Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New South Wales · Thursday 8 October 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 6 races at Orange. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Inspiritu is the most reliable performer in this maiden, with a gutsy second over this trip at Wagga and a forward racing pattern that should be well placed in a likely slow-run race. The soft ground and a cold jockey record are small worries, but no rival has matched her overall level.
A lightly raced six-year-old who handled soft going in his debut third at Warren, and his stable is firing. The inside gate and an ability to settle handy fit the Orange pattern in a slow-run race. He has little recent racing, so this is a leap of faith, but the stable-form angle and the chance of improvement make him a sound place chance and an each-way type.
An improving mare who ran a fine third over the same trip on soft ground last start with a strong finish. She continues to get beaten, though, and her back-of-field style looks the wrong profile for a slow tempo on a track that favours forward runners.
Her last start at Canberra was probably the best performance in this field once the early bumping and wide run are factored in, and that form should be a strong fit for this level. She rates a solid overlay in an open race.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | La Chaparron | 1 | Deon Le Roux | Alison Smith | 55kg | $3.80 |
| 2nd | 3 | Inspiritu | 6 | Louise Day | Matthew Dale | 58kg | $2.50 |
| 3rd | 4 | Nutbush Dancer | 8 | Amy McLucas | Pat Murphy | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 1 | Listen To Win | 2 | Jacob Stiff | Michael Mulholland | 57.5kg | $4.20 |
| 5th | 8 | Ridgeback | 7 | Gabrielle Johnston | Jane Clement | 55kg | $19.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Final Coast | 5 | Donovan Dillon | Brett Thompson | 56kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 6 | I'll Be Back | 3 | Heavelon Van Der Hoven | Alison Smith | 56kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Knights Templar | 4 | Grant Buckley | Myron Cooper | 58.5kg | $51.00 |
With no real leader drawn, she should get an easy lead in a slow-run 1300m. The Baker stable does well at Orange.
Winless in six starts but consistently competitive, and her recent races have been better than the finishing positions suggest. She was hampered and blundered last start yet still ran a solid time, and she has two seconds before that. She should settle on pace, which suits a slow race.
A solid, consistent maiden who ran second at Orange and fourth at Wellington on Soft 6 last start, finishing well after being held up. He gets the inside draw and can sit handy in a slow race, but he carries top weight on a wet track, and he has not won in six runs. He is a place chance more than a confident winner.
Baker's second runner has a leading chance if he can cross from the outside draw. He showed speed and sat up front at Goulburn on Soft 5, then raced three wide with no cover next time and still finished a respectable eighth. With little pace around, he should find a handy spot, and the stable record at Orange is strong.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Macaroon | 3 | Amber Riddell | Bjorn Baker | 57kg | $2.20 |
| 2nd | 5 | Winter Garden | 7 | Chad Lever | Richard Nutman | 57kg | $101.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Three Wishes | 6 | Louise Day | Jarrod Austin | 57kg | $5.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Invasion | 10 | Adam Farragher | Bjorn Baker | 56.5kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 7 | Bound For Pattaya | 5 | Jean Van Overmeire | Con Karakatsanis | 56.5kg | $8.50 |
| 6th | 8 | Dragon Port | 8 | Grant Buckley | Gary Portelli | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Recognition | 2 | Mathew Cahill | Andrew Ryan | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 10 | Karaoke Rockstar | 4 | Pierre Boudvillain | Gary Portelli | 56.5kg | $7.50 |
| 9th | 6 | Axhro | 9 | Jeff Penza | Mitchell and Desiree Kearney | 56.5kg | $15.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Souline | 11 | Paul Theobald | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | I'll Be Back | 1 | Alison Smith | 55kg |
On form she is the most likely winner. Her Orange second on heavy ground was a genuine winning-standard run, and she has the wet-track and course credentials the others lack. She can settle handy at a track that favours forward runners. The trial losses are a minor concern.
He is fit, drawn well and has led in both runs, which suits a track that rewards forward runners. He is respected but ranked behind Kennedy Compound on form.
First up over 1000m, a big drop from 1400m, and a wide draw could work against her.
A first-starter on trial form only, but the connections' form is hard to ignore. The stable and jockey are both winning well and the combination has a strong record. The Orange record is poor, and barrier 10 is a negative.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Kennedy Compound | 6 | Amber Riddell | Bjorn Baker | 57kg | $8.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Chumpakidd | 2 | Jean Van Overmeire | Con Karakatsanis | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 7 | Eddy The Greyt | 10 | Clayton Gallagher | Gayna Williams | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 1 | Camden Cove | 3 | Jack Baker | Bjorn Baker | 57kg | $2.80 |
| 5th | 5 | Paper Doll | 9 | Donovan Dillon | Connie Greig | 57kg | $5.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Nightwalker | 11 | Nick Heywood | Alison Smith | 59kg | $41.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Gripfast | 8 | Amy McLucas | Pat Murphy | 56.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Shade | 1 | Adam Farragher | Bjorn Baker | 55kg | $11.00 |
| 9th | 10 | Sin City Magic | 7 | Grant Buckley | Gary Portelli | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 6 | Souline | 5 | Jacob Stiff | Paul Theobald | 55.5kg | $151.00 |
| 11th | 9 | It's Our Turn | 4 | Ashleigh McCabe | Andrew Ryan | 56.5kg | $71.00 |
The inside draw and the 55kg suit him. The risks are that he has never raced on soft ground and has yet to win, but the form case is stronger than any rival's, so he is the top selection.
A solid chance who has been second in her last two over 2000m at Canberra and has a good soft-ground record. She is a proven stayer and is well placed to finish into the race. But she carries top weight, is drawn wider than ideal and may be left with too much to do if the tempo is slow.
A consistent performer who has run on soft ground over 2000m and been placed in better fields. He has been a bridesmaid rather than a winner, though, and that tempers enthusiasm.
A clear speed edge in a race with only one genuine leader. If she can cross from barrier 8 and dictate, a slow tempo could see her hard to run down.
No result was recorded for this race.
| No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liyah's Girl | 7 | Pierre Boudvillain | Matthew Smith | 57kg |
| 2 | Aphelion | 2 | Donovan Dillon | Brett Thompson | 56.5kg |
| 3 | Eclair Coming | 6 | Winona Costin | Brett Thompson | 56.5kg |
| 4 | Kojak | 3 | Diego Montes De Oca | Todd Smith | 56.5kg |
| 5 | Minister Garrett | 1 | Gabrielle Johnston | Jane Clement | 55kg |
| 6 | Roman City | 9 | Adam Farragher | Matthew Smith | 56.5kg |
| 7 | Wizard's Star | 5 | Heavelon Van Der Hoven | Edward Cummings | 56.5kg |
| 8 | Denise's Gal | 8 | Izzy Neale | Kieren Hazelton | 55kg |
| 9 | Gosh Almighty | 4 | Grant Buckley | Gary Portelli | 55kg |
The Great Armada is the best form runner on what he has produced against this standard. He won last start in a Bm66, has a good mile record, and his recent runs have been to a winning standard. Slow tempo and a light weight should allow him to settle handy from a middle draw.
Top weight and a habit of starting slowly or racing keenly count against him, and he is winless on soft ground.
Naval Officer is the value play. He carries only 54kg, has won twice at the distance and twice on soft, and his best run earlier this year was the standout in the field.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Yes Siree | 1 | Winona Costin | Claire Lever | 60kg | $2.80 |
| 2nd | 7 | Naval Officer | 7 | Mathew Cahill | Jim McMillan | 56kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 6 | Tavijewel | 2 | Izzy Neale | Barry Wall | 57kg | $18.00 |
| 4th | 4 | The Great Armada | 5 | Gabrielle Johnston | Jane Clement | 56.5kg | $9.50 |
| 5th | 5 | Rotho Bro | 6 | Louise Day | Jarrod Austin | 58kg | $5.50 |
| 6th | 3 | Delrico | 8 | Nick Heywood | Jane Clement | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Nomorenightshift | 4 | Jacob Stiff | Mack Griffith | 60kg | $3.70 |
| Scr | 8 | Magenta Shores | 3 | Mitchell and Desiree Kearney | 55kg |
She led all the way and won easily at Dubbo, and her time was clearly better than anything else here. On form she is still clearly the most likely winner, so she is the top pick.
Vicious Rumour has placed in most of her runs and mostly sits on or just off the speed. The trainer's recent strike rate is strong, and the drop in grade helps. First-up and wet-track questions keep her from being a strong pick.
Obsessive Nature has the most proven record at the distance and has won at Orange. He drops in class and gets a good draw.
Notabadchassis maps to lead from barrier 1 in a race where on-pace runners are favoured. She also gets a big class drop and a light weight. Her wet-track record and the trainer's cold form are concerns.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Vicious Rumour | 9 | Jacob Stiff | Michael Mulholland | 56.5kg | $6.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Patrika Express | 7 | Coriah Keatings | Nick Olive | 59kg | $1.30 |
| 3rd | 3 | Can Do It | 6 | Nick Heywood | Alison Smith | 59kg | $16.00 |
| 4th | 11 | Giovanna Star | 5 | Donovan Dillon | Dean Mirfin | 56kg | $18.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Dark Thinker | 2 | Louise Day | Alison Smith | 55kg | $41.00 |
| 6th | 2 | Allusive Intent | 3 | Deon Le Roux | Alison Smith | 57kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Adviser | 10 | Gabrielle Johnston | Jane Clement | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Obsessive Nature | 4 | Jack Baker | Sharon Jeffries | 62kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Just Joan | 8 | Izzy Neale | Toby Pracey | 55kg | $19.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Notabadchassis | 1 | Clayton Gallagher | Clint Lundholm | 55.5kg | $51.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Bushwalker | 11 | Alison Smith | 55.5kg |
Tiye has the best recent form in this field, with a near-miss at Moree and a gutsy soft-track third. She is fit, well weighted and has a top jockey on board. The wide gate and a likely slow tempo are the concerns, but she can slot in midfield and finish well.
She maps to be handy in a slow-run race and the stable and jockey combination is a strong one.
Swift Gun has a forward map that suits this track and a very effective jockey and trainer combination. He is a reliable placegetter but a doubtful winner, as his record on soft ground is poor and recent runs have been well beaten.
Share The Joy is out of form but has the best record on soft ground of any runner here and has won at this distance before.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Rule Of Faith | 10 | Izzy Neale | Barry Wall | 59kg | $10.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Swift Gun | 2 | Jacob Stiff | Sharon Jeffries | 57.5kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Bushwalker | 4 | Deon Le Roux | Alison Smith | 53kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Tigletta | 8 | Amber Riddell | Bjorn Baker | 59kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 13 | Kneel Down | 6 | Jess Del Frari | Dennis Bush | 53.5kg | $101.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Tiye | 12 | Clayton Gallagher | Clint Lundholm | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 4 | Written Story | 7 | Coriah Keatings | Nick Olive | 59kg | $3.60 |
| 8th | 8 | Argyle Laird | 1 | Louise Day | Alison Smith | 55.5kg | $61.00 |
| 9th | 12 | Fortians | 9 | Jack Baker | Bob Howe | 53kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Roman Miss | 11 | Heavelon Van Der Hoven | Alison Smith | 55kg | $71.00 |
| 11th | 11 | Queen Kicker | 13 | Emma Ly | Debbie Prest | 53.5kg | $71.00 |
| 5 | Inyun | 3 | Donovan Dillon | Dean Mirfin | 57kg | ||
| 6 | Share The Joy | 5 | Jeff Penza | Mitchell and Desiree Kearney | 57kg |
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