The Ross Olivieri-trained The Last Drop is being hailed as a star bet at Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park.
Respected trotting journalist Ken Casellas and WA Trotting Media Guild president Wayne Currall have made The Last Drop their best bet on the 10-event card.
“Inexperienced gelding The Last Drop is a natural frontrunner and he is my best bet on Friday night to set the pace from barrier one and hold his rivals at bay in the 2130m Choices Flooring Pace,” Casellas said. “After a moderate early pace, The Last Drop impressed in sprinting over the final quarter in 27.4sec. to win over 2692m at Pinjarra two starts ago.”
And Currall agrees.
“Chris Voak should spear The Last Drop straight to the front and from there he can dictate the pace of the race,” Currall said. “We all know that it’s a great advantage leading at the ribbon of light and The Last Drop is perfectly placed to further enhance that fact. Can prove a reliable banker for all-ups and the last leg of the quaddie.”
The West Australian’s Ernie Manning believes Fake News can return to winning form in the last race.
“Fake News has drawn better than when unplaced at her past two starts and she should also appreciate a slight class drop,” Manning said. “A winner of six Gloucester Park events, she had awkward barriers in races won by Ocean Ridge and Our Alfie Romeo during the last three weeks. Looks ready for the 11th victory of her career.”
TABradio’s form analyst Hayden King is keen on Lightning Jolt in race three.
“Lightning Jolt now appears for Aldo Cortopassi and has been dealt the inside barrier,” King said. “He has gate speed and can lead throughout if Aldo so chooses.”
Radio Great Southern’s form expert Warren Wishart says punters can kick the night off on a winning note by supporting While They Pray.
“While They Pray brings the best form into this race and was dominant last start from the breeze after drawing wide over the sprint trip,” Wishart said. “Should control this race - most likely from the breeze - and be too strong.”
TABradio’s racecaller Matt Young is confident Bill Haley will rock them in race six.
“Bill Haley has powered home impressively at his last two starts,” Young said. ”The smaller field with less depth looks to suit him perfectly.“
But longshot king Pat Harding disagrees with his younger colleague, and has settled on Ocean Ridge in the same race as his star bet.
“Looking forward to another good night of competitive racing at GP this week,” Harding said. ”The standout for me comes up in race six with Ocean Ridge. This Bond-trained horse has looked good in his last two wins and I think he can make it three in a row. I’m more than happy to make him my best bet of the night.“
The West Australian’s racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft has tipped Gardys Legacy to continue in his rich vein of winning form.
“Gardys Legacy has been successful at his last five outings, including a last-start dead-heat with Jaspervellabeach,” Havercroft said. “On that occasion he sat in the breeze and his rivals were only getting to him in the shadows of the post and he looks the one to beat again.”
VALUE BETS
KEN: For value, I suggest the Ross Olivieri-trained Atmospherical, who is resuming after a three-month absence. He is versatile and from the No. 1 barrier should be in a commanding position throughout the 2130m journey.
WAYNE: Four starts ago Anime drew the inside of the second row over the 2536m journey and duly saluted. He’s drawn the same marble again and should be afforded every favour behind likely leader Lightning Jolt. Looks a great each-way prospect.
ERNIE: Mister Bushido has been beaten at his past seven starts, but he is fresh and appears close to breaking through. He had a tough run before finishing seventh last Friday night.
HAYDEN: The Dali Express is in really top form and, if he can find the right run, he can upstage some of his more fancied adversaries.
WARREN: Waylade drops enormously in class for this and I suspect will be at each-way odds. Can’t see him missing a top-three finish and is an excellent winning chance.
MATT: Rum Delight has the early speed to cross in the stand and if he led he would halve his odds. Worth a throw at the stumps.
PAT: My value bet comes up in the last race of the night with No 2 Captain Mannering. He did have a win two starts ago and I think he can repeat the dose with Chris Voak aboard. Voak does have a habit of winning the last race on the card.
RYAN: Hoiho has been mixing mobile and stand appearances recently while racing consistently on the country circuit. Can position up well from a good draw here.
To view all of the Media Guild tips click here.
Good punting.
