18 January 2018 | Wayne Currall
Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have underlined the difficulty in finding a winner on Friday night’s WA Pacing Cup card with a variety of best bets.
Leading tipster Stuart Lowe and TABradio’s Matt Young believe the Mike Reed-trained Bechers Brook can salute.
“Bechers Brook dead-heated for second when narrowly beaten last start,” Lowe said. “Won three of previous four starts. Ideally drawn here and is the one to beat.”
Young agrees with Lowe’s prediction. “Bechers Brook has been very impressive since returning, great draw and looks the best on the card,” Young said.
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft and veteran tipster Bill Brindley are fans of Americanbootscoota.
Havercroft spoke for him and Brindley when he said Americanbootscoota would appreciate the drop in class in the second race.
“Americanbootscoota should relish a massive class drop when contesting a heat of the Nights Of Thunder this Friday,” Havercroft said. “His last effort was an eighth behind Lazarus when starting at $165.80, but he will likely jump an odds-on favourite for this assignment.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning believes Bad Round can keep his winning run going. “Bad Round has drawn ideally at barrier two and looks set to complete a winning hat-trick for trainer Debbie Padberg, who has been enjoying a run of run of success lately,”
Manning said. “Reinsman Shannon Suvaljko, a prolific winner again this season, seems certain to drive him aggressively and he should be hard to catch.”
Longshot king Pat Harding is keen on Chicago Bull making it back-to-back wins in the cup.“I think this is going to be a pretty tough night at GP on Friday,”
Harding said. “The highlight will be the Pacing Cup and I believe Chicago Bull can make up for his recent placings with a good win in this event. Barrier nine won’t worry him because of the 2936 metre race distance. Hall Jr is pretty good at judging pace over the longer distances and I expect Chicago Bull to return to his winning form.”
GPTV’s Ken Casellas has settled on Three Blind Mice as his star bet. “Seven-year-old Three Blind Mice is racing with youthful enthusiasm and he has the speed and strength to overcome the awkward No. 5 barrier and win on Friday night,” Casellas said. “He has been freshened up since he led and scored an easy victory over Ohoka Darcy and Johnny Disco four Fridays ago.”
Guild president Wayne Currall has opted for Kerrin Joseph to get the chocolates. “Kerrin Joseph has been consistent of late from unfavourable barriers,” Currall said. “Champion reinsman Chris Lewis is expected to take advantage of his rails draw and attempt an all-the-way victory. Will prove mighty hard to roll in front.”
VALUE BETS
Stuart: My value bet is Have Faith In Me, who became Australasia’s fastest ever pacer when he won the 2016 Miracle Mile in 1.47.5. His best run in WA was three starts ago when he went down by a long neck to Lazarus, who won in track record time. Nicely drawn and should go close.
Matt: Jaxon Fella comes up with the good draw and looks a big chance to lead and run a race at each-way odds.
Ryan: Bettors Fire should get an economical run and could surprise in a Pacing Cup robbed of the two New Zealand superstars, Lazarus and Ultimate Machete.
Bill: Raffaello and Glow Bright are my two best outsiders.
Ernie: Tommy Be Good has not been racing up to his best lately and is capable of improvement. His opposition is strong, but reinsman Aiden De Campo should be able to position him prominently.
Pat: Raffaello is on the inside of the back line and has certainly been knocking on the door. With Morgan Woodley aboard should give punters a good sight. A good each-way bet.
Ken: Nifty sit-sprinter Real Zeal is likely to settle well back after starting from barrier six. But he looks capable of unwinding a spirited finishing burst.
Wayne: Wolowitz has been out of the winners’ list for almost four years. But he’s drawn to run a cheeky race here. His best would just about win this.
To view all of the Media Guild Tips for this week click here.
Good punting.
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