Bet365

Grafton 09 May 2024

GOING: S(7)

WESTLAWN FINANCE GRAFTON CUP 18 JULY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1205m Track: SOFT 7 Rain (Max: 19) Rail: Out 7m Entire.
Solid tempo likely from the outset with Frappes and Barcelona Express prominent. MONTE OUTLANDER (2) wasn't far away first-up at Doomben but struggled to make an impact last time at Randwick. Much easier this time and he usually goes well third up. Leading player. I AM A HIT (6) is yet to strike through this time in but has been thereabouts. Draws favourably and only has to hold his form to be very competitive. FRAPPES (10) gave a bold sight here last start only to be caught on the line. Will look to charge forward again from the draw and can go one better. BARCELONA EXPRESS (8) sets up well for his third run in off the back of two minor placings. Ugly alley to overcome but is in the mix. SUGGESTED PLAY: Backing Monte Outlander to win.
1	10810	MOSKEETA CATHLEEN RODE 5YO BAY MARE 64.0KG S R Thompson Useful mare. Comes here off a 48-day let-up. At the latest run 13th of 16 at Scone Nrth Wild Card on March 22 over 1400m, slow going 5.5 len behind That's Molly carrying 55.5kg at $101. The run before that won by 1.3 len at Coffs Harbour Cl3 March 11 over 1200m on a heavy track defeating Extessive carrying 54.5kg at $11. Cannot be ruled out despite a lacklustre effort last time.	11 MILLIE THOMPSON
2	15x69	MONTE OUTLANDER NOEL MAYFIELD-SMITH 4YO GREY GELDING 63.0KG V W Bates & Mrs Y D Bates Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming 6th of 12 at Doomben Cg&E Bm65 on April 3 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Mount Fuji with 58.5kg at $16. Second run from a spell 9th of 13 at Randwick Highway-C3 on April 20 over 1400m, in the wet; 12 len behind Belvedere Boys with 55.5kg at $15. Expected to go very well.	5 GLENN CAHILL
3	66x19	TOOMUCHINFORMATION JOSEPH BURGES 5YO BAY GELDING 62.0KG S Zanker, M W Bransdon, Mrs R A Bransdon, Mrs K S O'Reilly, J Jokantas, A S Crawford, Mrs J W Crawford & A W O'Reilly Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up favourite; won by 1.3 len at Taree Bm58 April 2 over 1000m in heavy going defeating No Filter carrying 60.5kg at $11. Second-up 9th of 12 at Tuncurry Bm58 on April 18 over 1005m, on rain affected going; 3 len behind Robarge carrying 58.5kg at $5. Can improve on recent efforts.	12
4	x7825	HEIR APPARENT JOHN A SPRAGUE 5YO BAY GELDING 61.0KG Mrs K L Sprague, D J Sprague, R D Tate, L D Sprague, G A Phillips, D A Harris, Mrs P M Harris, P A Bullock, J R Kelsey, C Redmond, T A Harris, Mrs H M Sawyer, S D Manton, Ms S A O'Keefe & Ms K Borham Last start 5th of 10 at Tuncurry Ctry Bm58 on April 18 over 1305m, on rain affected going; 6 len behind Cool Duke carrying 60.5kg at $11. Before that rolled along in front then was edged out late 2nd of 11 at Beaumont (Newcastle) Bm58 on March 25 over 1300m, on a slow track; 0.5 len behind Pee Dee with 60kg at $8. Better than that recent lacklustre performance suggests.	10 COBI VITLER
5	35x01	STOINKA DANIEL BOWEN 4YO BAY GELDING 61.0KG S G Butcher & Mrs K M Butcher Third-up today. Resumes off a 61 day letup. First-up ran last of 10 at this track Bm66 on February 17 over 1106m, on a slow track; 6 len behind Bow carrying 56kg at $19. Last start won by 1.75 len at Ballina Bm50 March 9 over 1310m in soft going defeating Fortivaci carrying 63.5kg at $6. Won last start and is well-placed again.	13 BEN LOOKER
6	78335	I AM A HIT RENITA BEATON 7YO BAY GELDING 60.0KG T L Schmetzer & R E Beaton Last start 5th of 9 at Gold Coast Poly Bm62 on April 20 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Noble Style carrying 59kg at $7.50. Before that 3rd of 7 at Gold Coast Poly Bm58 on April 13 over 1200m, 1.4 len behind Price Cost with 61kg at $6. Doesn’t need to improve that much.	2 BRENDAN WARD
7	83464	STRAYA PRIDE DANIEL BOWEN 6YO BROWN GELDING 60.0KG J K R Racing (Mgr: D Gremmo) Comes here off a 49-day let-up. At the latest run 4th of 12 at Ipswich Cg&E Bm62 on March 21 over 1350m, 2 len behind Daedalus with 57.5kg at $14. Before that from last on the turn 6th of 11 at Coffs Harbour Cl3 on March 11 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 3.5 len behind Moskeeta carrying 56.5kg at $26. Well drawn and looks a genuine hope.	1 D PEISLEY
8	48x33	BARCELONA EXPRESS DAVID MATTS 4YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG D L Matts, M J Connolly & Mrs J M Matts Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming raced on speed throughout when 3rd of 9 at Ballina Bm50 on March 9 over 1010m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Spirit Of Milan with 61.5kg at $17. Second-up raced on the pace when 3rd of 11 at Taree Ctry Bm58 on April 28 over 1262m, on rain affected going; 1.0 len behind Zanardee's Lane carrying 59.5kg at $26. Right in the mix.	12 JAKE BAYLISS
9	4x195	CLIPPER SHIP DANIEL WHEELER 5YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG Miss K L Dixon & L A Wheeler At the latest run 5th of 12 at this track Bm58 on April 30 over 1006m, on a slow track; 2.75 len behind Egotistic with 60kg at $26. The start before that 9th of 12 at this track Cl2 on March 25 over 1195m, slow going 4.5 len behind Sir Boo with 58kg at $9.50. Watch for a big final furlong.	3 J GRISEDALE
10	78772	FRAPPES JASON REILLY 4YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG J B Reilly & K J Upton At the latest run tried to lead throughout but was claimed late 2nd of 13 at this track Bm58 on April 30 over 1410m, on a slow track; nose behind Fun Enuff carrying 56kg at $9. The run before that 7th of 11 at this track Cl2 on April 14 over 1006m, slow going 4.5 len behind One 'N' Only with 54kg at $13. Nice effort last time. Can go on with the job now.	9 SHAE WILKES
11	41x06	BJORN IRONSIDE COLT PROSSER 4YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG Mrs T Prosser, B Blanch, D L Monkley, M J Howe, M A Taylor, N K Gardner, P Gardner, B A Gilbert, D Thornton, T Heyes, L T Latimore, D P Elliott, M W Elliott & J Gardner Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up ran last of 13 at Taree Ctry Cl1 on March 26 over 1250m, on rain affected going; 13 len behind Cool Duke with 59kg at $21. Second run from a spell 6th of 10 at Tuncurry Ctry Bm58 on April 18 over 1305m, on heavy track; 7 len behind Cool Duke with 59.5kg at $26. Improvement required to threaten in this field.	7 L P ROLLS
12	34273	AVOID ME JOSEPH BURGES 4YO BAY MARE 56.0KG J M Burges & J Dorney Last start made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 10 at Muswellbrook Ctry Cl1 on April 21 over 1000m, on heavy track; 0.8 len behind Where's The Fire carrying 56kg at $6. The start before that 7th of 14 at Taree Ctry Bm58 on April 2 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 4 len behind Sixspeed carrying 57kg at $9.50. Narrowly missed last start and is a top chance again.	10
13	x0905	GOLDEN BREEZE MARGARET DE GONNEVILLE 4YO BROWN GELDING 58.0KG R W Sharpe, Mrs M E De Gonneville, R K Baker & Mrs J W Baker At the latest run 5th of 11 at Taree Ctry Bm58 on April 28 over 1262m, on a wet track; 4 len behind Zanardee's Lane carrying 59kg at $101. The start before that ran last of 10 at Tuncurry Ctry Bm58 on April 18 over 1305m, on rain affected going; 19 len behind Cool Duke carrying 60kg at $41. Hard to recommend on recent form.	8 JEFF KEHOE
14	83560	THE COAT HANGER S G MORTON 4YO BAY MARE 56.0KG Mrs C S Morton Comes off a 45 day let-up. Most recently raced behind the speed prior to fading 10th of 14 at this track Ctry Bm58 on March 25 over 1625m, slow going 4 len behind Never Island with 57kg at $6.50. Before that 6th of 8 at Coffs Harbour Bm82 on March 11 over 1500m, on rain affected going; 17 len behind Kapsali with 53kg at $7.50. Should go well.	6 TEIGHAN WORSNOP
15	2600x	STAR OF YAMBA T J HIGGINS 5YO BAY MARE 55.0KG T J Higgins & W V Boyd Resuming. Finished off last preparation 11th of 13 at Coffs Harbour Bm58 December 29 over 1615m, 9 len behind Ponte Vecchio carrying 55.5kg at $51. Previously first up; eighth of 10 at Port Macquarie Mdn-Sw April 4 2022 over 1208m, in the wet; 7 len behind Askebar with 55kg at $61. Unlikely to feature.	4 P GRAHAM
16	64573	CHASE THE SUN STEPHEN LEE 3YO BAY GELDING 56.0KG S B Lee, C S Adams, Mrs S M McCullough, S G McCullough, Mrs M T McNamara, K Bender, P Morris, E F McIntyre, Mrs C Willert, S J Collis & D S Smith Comes here off a 53-day let-up. Last start made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 11 at this track Ctry Cl1 on March 17 over 1175m, slow going 2.5 len behind Coastal Raider carrying 55kg at $14. The start before that sat behind the speed prior to fading 7th of 11 at Ballina Cl1 on March 1 over 1250m, on a slow track; 6 len behind The Astronomer carrying 55.5kg at $19. Nice draw but others preferred.	1
17	78902	SPORTSPAK PADDY CUNNINGHAM 6YO BROWN GELDING 55.0KG P J Cunningham, Mrs K A Cunningham, Ms K Thomas, D Kiefer & Mrs J Kiefer At the latest run 2nd of 10 at Armidale Bm 50 Hcp on April 25 over 1100m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Enterprise Legend carrying 59kg at $9. The run before that second last of 13 at Moree Bm58 on April 2 over 1300m, 8 len behind Agnodice carrying 56kg at $19. Poorly drawn and will need luck.	16
18	3010x	NORTHERN INVADER ETHAN ENSBY 4YO CHESTNUT GELDING 55.0KG E Ensby, M P Astley, D M Beavis, M R Graham, Mrs S Astley, B Stack, Mrs T Stack, G Wear, Ms J Todd, J Nicholson & Mrs B Wear Resuming after a spell of six months. Finished off last campaign second last of 13 at Ballina Cl1-Sw November 17 over 1590m, soft track; 8 len behind Azure Pride carrying 59kg at $81. First up last campaign ran last of 10 at Lismore Ctry Mdn July 21 over 1310m, soft track; 10 len behind Icon Of Style with 54kg at $61. Anticipate a bold showing.	9