Goodform Gameplan: Bendigo Saturday January 8

The draw has scared plenty away, but pound-for-pound OCTOBER REIGN (8) boasts the best form in this opening event by a space. Five starts back he beat Better Eclipse home, three starts back that guy beat him by less than 5m and last start he went within 9m off Bondi Lockdown at G1 level. The draw is awful, but the price offsets it. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

$30 Win OCTOBER REIGN (8) at $3.20 or better

I was, perhaps naively hoping that the price assessors would look at the figure form-line of CHEYELLA (10) and offer us some love. It didn’t happen. As a result, this is a watch-only event for mine. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

Nothing significant (Confidence that there’ll be a decent upset of some denomination)

The money has arrived for MISSUCCI (2) here, but I’m not boarding the train. Based on her last start success I’m confident HOPELESS BEAUTY (10) can overcome the awful alley, though I’d almost advocate waiting as long as possible to back her given the current market trend. I’m also happy to have something small the drum on CUCHULAINN (11) as she’s more than triple the price I marked her, again based on draw alone. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

$50 Win HOPELESS BEAUTY (10) at $2 or better 

$10 Place CUCHULAINN (11) at $5 the drum or better

Funny old betting race this one. JILLIBY BANDIT (7) screams out as a betting option at better than yours-for-theirs and is currently $2.15 but OZZIE BATTLER (5) is also overs at $15. It’s tough to back both, but we’ll try. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

$40 Win JILLIBY BANDIT (7) at $2.10 or better 

$5 Win & $15 Place OZZIE BATTLER (5) at $12 or better

With most of the best prices for my value plays now gone, like Baldrick for Blackadder, I’ve uncovered a cunning solution. To the uninitiated this may sound insane, but at time of writing the Bundle Bet price for any of QUEEN OF CRIME (2), IM READY JET (8), MAJESTIC MAN (9) or SUNDONS COURAGE (10) to win is $2.74. That’s better than TORNADO VALLEY (1) on his own. I’m rapt with it. It works. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

$80 Bundle Bet QUEEN OF CRIME (2), IM READY JET (8), MAJESTIC MAN (9) & SUNDONS COURAGE (10) at $2.50 or better.

Despite the fact every fact and/or figure imaginable tells me FARADY HANOVER (3) is all but unbeatable in this event, I’m still not keen to back her at $1.65 and I’m equally resistant to play exotics. As a result, we’re staying out here and following through Quads alone. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

Nothing significant (Confidence that Faraday Hanover (3) will win) 

Most of the prices about my major selections here aren’t what they were, but TANGO TARA (8) remains appealing enough at $7 to get ourselves involved if we didn’t get the aforementioned better quotes. Forget beating Lochinvar Art at the trials, TANGO TARA (8) is simply better than most of his rivals tonight and, in my opinion, will thrive off a soft journey either behind the leader, or three back the poles. 

SUGGESTED BET:  

$40 Each Way TANGO TARA (8) at $5 or better

If he wasn’t first-up I’d almost advocate having your Max Bet (responsibly) on CRUZ BROMAC (7) here at $1.45. In fact, if you’re comfortable with backing one that short (responsibly) you should. As an alternative, I’m proposing a neat little trick to warrant a profit without breaking the bank. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

Flexi Trifecta: 7/ 6,8/ 1,2,4,6,8: $60 gets 1000%

OVER THE ODDS (6) should claim this final event; but he’s not over the odds. No bet for me. 

SUGGESTED BET: 

Nothing significant (Confidence that Over The Odds (6) will win)