While there may be a short-priced favourite for the headline Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup, we are still shopping for value tonight and if all goes well there are a few pocket stuffers worth a sight.
Jason Bonnington delivers his $200 Game Plan, and along with Nikkita Ross and Tim O'Connor shared their tips for the first four home in each race as part of SENTrack's Trots Life Podcast.
JASON BONNINGTON'S 200 GAME PLAN
BEST BETS ($30 Win)
Race 2 No 13 STRUVE
It’s been a long campaign heading toward tonight’s Hunter Cup and I should probably seek counselling for my advocacy of this most mercurial pacer, but the $3.70 about him is just too appealing given he has an enormous advantage on the score of natural talent and raw speed.
RACE 10 No 6 STEEL SCREENS
All we need here is an early burn or a modicum of mid-race pressure and if we get both the world is our oyster. Many will say this bloke is another non-winner, but he’s been waiting for his right race and with any sort of genuine tempo he should storm home over the top at a generous quote.
BEST VALUE ($10 Each Way)
Race 1 No 13 MIRAKURU
If the polemarker HUGO ROCKS (1) holds up life becomes much tougher, but if he gets crossed this guy can take off and dominate proceedings once he does. Steve Cleave has called him a country cups horse of the future and if that’s’ the case he’ll figure prominently even from the awful draw.
Race 6 No 6 SIRLETIC
Markets in these races often overrate potential and underrate performance. The old adage is that the emergency in the main race normally wins the consolation and in this case it can hold true at crazy odds. This guy could have placed in the Hunter Cup so he can surely win this at double figures.
THE EARLY QUADDIE ($20)
You can skinny this up a little if desired, but with leg three very safe, playing for value will ensure a fun start to the evening. Also, if you’re as keen on Struve as I am, you can double your bet on him so there’s little lost through the second leg should he shorten and salute.
1,5,9,12,13/ 4,5,6,9,11,12,13/ 7/ 2,4,5,7,8 ($40 gets 20%)
THE QUADDIE ($30)
It looks impossible to rip the heart out of tonight’s quad as almost everyone will have Lochinvar Art one-out in the Hunter Cup and there are only two winning chances in the Ladyship Mile. The hope is that some will play too skinny and others too wide. Sirletic winning would also be a big bonus.
1,2,5,8,9/ 2,5,6/ 9/ 1,6 ($60 gets 200%)
TROTSLIFE FORM PANEL
IT WAS a terrific TrotsLife form panel on Friday, when Nikkita Ross and Tim O’Connor joined Jason Bonnington to preview tonight’s racing.
Click below to listen in and scroll down for their race-by-race tips:
Race 1, 6.02pm: MAURI PACE
NIKKITA ROSS 13, 1, 12, 3
TIM O’CONNOR 13, 1, 12, 3
JASON BONNINGTON 13, 1, 9, 12
Race 2, 6.30pm: BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS RISING STARS PACE FINAL
NIKKITA ROSS 13, 9, 4, 11
TIM O’CONNOR 9, 6, 13, 3
JASON BONNINGTON 13, 9, 6, 4
Race 3, 7.04pm: GARRARD’S HORSE & HOUND GOLD CHALICE
NIKKITA ROSS 7, 1, 2, 6
TIM O’CONNOR 7, 1, 6, 2
JASON BONNINGTON 7, 1, 6, 2
Race 4, 7.34pm: MERCURY80
NIKKITA ROSS 4, 2, 1, 7
JASON BONNINGTON 4, 7, 2, 5
TIM O’CONNOR 7, 2, 5, 4
Race 5, 8.05pm, DNR LOGISTICS 4YO BONANZA
NIKKITA ROSS 5, 2, 8, 9
TIM O’CONNOR 9, 2, 5, 8
JASON BONNINGTON 5, 9, 8, 1
Race 6, 8.40pm: TAB PURE STEEL
NIKKITA ROSS 2, 5, 6, 3
TIM O’CONNOR 2, 6, 5, 3
JASON BONNINGTON 6, 5, 2, 9
Race 7, 9.15pm: DEL-RE NATIONAL A. G. HUNTER CUP
NIKKITA ROSS 9, 11, 12, 8
TIM O’CONNOR 9, 4, 11, 12
JASON BONNINGTON 9, 11, 12, 4
Race 8, 9.48pm: ALABAR BLOODSTOCK LADYSHIP CUP
NIKKITA ROSS 1, 6, 8, 4
JASON BONNINGTON 6, 1, 8, 10
TIM O’CONNOR 1, 4, 6, 10
Race 9, 10.21pm: NESTLE PROFESSIONAL PACE
NIKKITA ROSS 9, 4, 5, 8
TIM O’CONNOR 5, 9, 7, 8
JASON BONNINGTON 9, 7, 4, 8
Race 10, 10.48pm: SIMPLOT PACE
NIKKITA ROSS 8, 6, 1, 5
TIM O’CONNOR 8, 1, 5, 6
JASON BONNINGTON 6, 5, 8, 1
READ MORE AHEAD OF THE HUNTER CUP:
>> Moran ready to step into unknown with brilliant Arty
>> Pacing Priest's deep faith in Triple treat