Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Warwick Farm on 8 February 2023.
Best Bet: HANDSOME (Race 4)
Value Bet: SILENT AGENDA (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
9 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
HANDSOME followed up his penultimate run victory over ten furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same journey, 3.3L behind the winner. He raced towards the rear of the field that day and had to be held up until the 200M mark before unleashing a powerful finish. He gets a handy draw four and will be looking to chalk up his third career win today. With champion jockey James McDonald in the irons, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
MIKASA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys and has solid staying form to her name, having won her penultimate start over 1900M and then finishing second last time out over twelve furlongs, just a head behind the winner. She overraced in the early stages in that contest, but still battled all the way down to the wire. From one gate outside the former, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
FUDAI goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1900M and the latest over ten furlongs, albeit by just a short-head in the shadow of the post. The gelding had to be held up at the top of the home straight that day and only saw daylight at the 220M pole before finishing off his race well. He will have to deal with a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 5
COTTON FINGERS has produced two solid last efforts, the latest, although recorded as finishing sixth over 1300M, was just over a length and a half back from the winner. He has a useful gate two and will have his peak run after returning from a 19-week break. The gelding could provide jockey James McDonald with the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.
LATENIGHTTOUGHGUY won his penultimate run over five furlongs and was bumped at the 300M mark before being hampered at the 150M pole before ending up in third place last time out over 1100M, just under a length back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. He has pulled a cosy draw four and will be having his peak run after returning from an 87-week spell. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.
ESPIRITO had his consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over six furlongs, when going from jump to wire. He was friendless in the betting markets that day and from draw six, he could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages. The gelding should be included in all bets.
Race 6
DIAMOND DEALER has her hat-trick run after two victories over 1100M, the latest by one and a half lengths. She showed plenty of toe that day and the form of that race has been franked. She will have to negotiate gate ten, but she will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.
PETULANT was returning from a 23-week absence when attempting to go from gun to tape before ending up in fourth place last time out over five furlongs, just under a length and a half off the winner, but it should be noted that she was bumped at the 50M mark on that occasion. She jumps from gate five and should be right up there when they hit the line.
SUNRISE RUBY jumped awkwardly and came three wide into the home stretch when finishing fourth in her latest outing over seven furlongs, 3.2L behind the winner. She returns from an 18-week rest, but did finish fourth in her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being and from one gate inside the latter, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
SILENT AGENDA is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, two lengths back from the winner, but he raced wide without cover that day and then came four wide into the home straight, before staying on well over the latter stages. He gets the blinkers re-fitted for today’s run and if this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from gate six.
MISSION VALUE has consistent formlines to his name and was bumped at the start but recovered quickly to pick up the lead before ending up in fifth place last time out over seven furlongs, just over two lengths behind the winner. The gelding will have to deal with a wideish draw eight, but he should turn in another honest performance today.
TRAVEST was slow away and then hampered at the 75M mark when finishing seventh last time out over 1300M, just over four lengths behind the winner, when returning from a 24-week absence. He will have to overcome a wide draw eleven, but he will have 2kgs taken off his back for the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice.
