Launceston tips and results

Our price $6.00 · SP $7.50 · Chloe Wells

Nine Choirs owns the second-best form in the race and has already proved she handles soft ground here. The concern is pattern rather than ability: she gets back, the pace looks slow and Launceston is unkind to backmarkers. From the rail she should at least get an economical run, and her strong finishes suggest the extra distance will help.

Our price $5.50 · SP $6.50 · Codi Jordan

I'm Chev gets a handy weight drop and a very strong stable and rider combination at Launceston. Mostly raced on synthetic tracks recently, but he has a win on soft and is running out his best distance. Midfield position suits a slow pace, though recent form is only moderate.

Our price $6.00 · SP $7.50 · Luke P Dempsey

Third-up and improving, he put up the best race of any runner with exposed form when a close fourth over this trip at Launceston a fortnight ago, doing his share of work on the speed. The tempo looks moderate with only one genuine leader engaged, so he can park handy from the wide gate and be strong through the short straight. Stable and rider strike rates are the query, but the form is clearly the strongest here.

Our price $6.50 · SP $3.50 · Troy Baker

Sigrid Carr's yard is honest and the draw is fine, but there is no race-day evidence to lean on and recent stable and rider strike rates are only fair.

Our price $8.00 · SP $13.00 · Codi Jordan

She is the only genuine leader in the race. On debut she led at this track and trip and was still in the finish, beaten under two lengths, and she will be fitter and wiser second-up. A moderate tempo suits a mare that can dictate from the front, and her rider is going well here. The draw is a shade awkward but she has the speed to cross and take luck out of the equation.

Our price $3.20 · SP $2.50 · Anthony Darmanin

Geegees Avalanche has been close to a winning standard at most starts, is soft-track proven and placed last time on this going. The concern is the map: from barrier 10 he is likely to settle back, and backmarkers win far less often here than elsewhere. First-time blinkers and a fresh trial give him the best chance to be closer.

Our price $5.00 · SP $7.00 · Erica Byrne Burke

Miss Strat has the second-best body of form and the better race setup. From barrier 6 she should settle midfield with cover rather than back on the fence, which matters on this short straight.

Our price $11.00 · SP $20.00 · Hayley Spitse

Her lone start was a feature race for two-year-olds on soft ground against far better horses than she meets tonight, and she sat on the speed before tiring. Now a maiden against older horses with 54kg, from a Trinder stable that is firing, she maps to be handy on a track where that matters.

Our price $6.00 · SP $7.50 · Akimasa Phanthura

Vortistar owns the best winning-standard runs at this track and trip on soft ground, including his dominant first-up win four weeks ago. The big questions are the outside gate and whether he can lead without being pressed by Novalargo and Dubai Affair. If he crosses cheaply he is very hard to run down, but he has failed when taken on.

Our price $8.50 · SP $10.00 · Erica Byrne Burke

Dubai Affair has the most consistent recent form in the race and a fine record over this course and distance, with the stable's number one rider sticking with her. Her sticking point is a winless record from four first-up attempts, and she often tires late when fresh. Two sharp trials suggest she is forward enough this time.

Our price $3.50 · SP $5.00 · Kirra-Lee Lane

Sh'bourne Power has run to a winning standard for this grade at each of his last three starts and was narrowly beaten here over this course and distance on the same going last month. He is a confirmed soft-track performer and a 1400m specialist, and his own runs show he usually settles fourth or fifth rather than at the tail.

Our price $7.50 · SP $7.50 · Akimasa Phanthura

Flying Billie is the only runner who wants to lead, and with a slow tempo likely he gets to dictate on a track with a short straight. He handles soft ground, loves 1400m, drops in grade and carries just 56kg.

Our price $4.80 · SP $7.50 · Chloe Wells

A last-start-but-one winner over this track and distance on soft ground, with a strong finish. The class drop helps. The key worry is the widest barrier and a back-field run in a moderately run race. He is likely to be forced to settle further back than ideal, but his finishing burst makes him a leading threat.

Our price $5.50 · SP $4.60 · Troy Baker

He won the same 1600m at Launceston last start with a powerful finish and has been consistent at this track. He will settle at the back, which is a concern when the pace is only moderate and runners from the rear rarely win here.

Our price $10.00 · SP $12.00 · Hayley Spitse

He is the likely leader in a race where the tempo looks slow, and he did box on for fourth in a stronger race on soft ground here two starts back. The tongue tie and a 3kg claim help. The obvious risk is stamina, having never run beyond 1650m and having faded at this track twice, plus a trainer without a winner here.

Our price $12.00 · SP $18.00 · Chloe Wells

From barrier one he should park in second behind a lone leader in a slowly-run race, which gives him every chance to be in the finish at the 200m. He won here last start after sitting on the pace and has placed over 1600m on soft ground.