Form Analysis: Albion Park May 08

RACE TWO

HANDSOME HERO (8) was sent forward from gate 5 last time out and doing it the tough way was on for the grind when holding 3^rd, beaten 4m. Placed at his past 5 in succession, he can get the perfect trip in behind the speed and with the cosy run pull the trigger to take the snipers shot in the stretch.

JUMPING JACK JIMMY (1) takes a step up in grade to tackle this but has impressed in 2 starts since arriving in Qld. Spearing out to take control over the 2138m when 1^st up, he was able to see it out for a smart win. On Tuesday he did a stack of early work and with the benefit of the gate can challenge.

MISTERFREEZE (11) looked to be well placed to land a Qld breakthrough here last week from inside the 2^nd line. Angled away from the pegs he had to settle for a midfield result as a beaten fav. The gate puts the bite on him here.

CLARRY (10) eased from gate 4 to secure position last start before hitting the line in smart order behind the winner TAROONA BROMAC. Back to this grade is a plus and he will be swooping.

SELECTIONS: HANDSOME HERO (8), JUMPING JACK JIMMY (1), MISTERFREEZE (11), CLARRY (10)
SUGGESTED BET: HANDSOME HERO (8) to win

RACE THREE

FRANCO HAMPTON (8) does his best work when setting the speed out in front and while not receiving that opportunity from this alley, should be camped right on the speed and be ready to strike. First out and first home last start when never headed, if he settles in the trail, he can take the snipers shot.

PARAVANI (1) started from this gate 2 starts back when handing over at the bell before taking the closing shot to get withing a whisker of the winner BLACKSADANCE. Holding on for the bronze at his next appearance after working hard in the run, he has the early speed to keep them wide and can be gripping on.

PACIFIC DRUMS (6) tried to take them all the way last start over the mile when firing out from the three-hole when a head shy of victory as the progressive L L COOL J arrived. A brilliant beginner, he will be throwing some early heat.

ALE ALE KAI (9) has been going well without a great deal of luck in recent starts. This will be tougher than recent starts, but that can be offset by darting back to the poles with the inside a good place to be in this contest.

SELECTIONS: FRANCO HAMPTON (8), PARAVANI (1), PACIFIC DRUMS (6), ALE ALE KAI (9)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 1-6-8-9

RACE FOUR

This looks a tricky contest to nail down with a few runners stepping out of qualifying class to stay at the mile for this. With early speed and options to call on, COURAGEOUS SAINT (1) might just get the right trip to land a breakthrough. Wide off the track last start, he was strong to the line behind B MAC C and the start prior was game in defeat from the breeze. He is worth a chance.

THE CROUPIER (2) does not have a band assessment and is one of the runners stepping up to the Band 5 grade. Arriving in Qld for the Belinda McCarthy stable, he has had 2 runs back from a spell where he has been down the line on each occasion at the Menangle mile. A 1.50.9 winner 4 runs back where he defeated EXPENSIVE EGO, can he deal to them here?

NIMAH FRANCO (8) eased from gate 5 last start to settle back in the pack over the 2138m trip and then had the closing power to arrive over the top of them. With an economical trip, she can be charging home.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING (5) steps up to Band 5 company after placing in 5 of his past 6 starts, the latest when grabbing the bronze behind MACH LE MORE. Absolutely knocking on the door, he will not be far away.

SELECTIONS: COURAGEOUS SAINT (1), THE CROUPIER (2), NIMAH FRANCO (8), DOUBLE OR NOTHING (5)
SUGGESTED BET:

RACE FIVE

GOLIGHTLY (2) has been in super touch, making it a handful of victories on the bounce last start when leading all the way over the mile. Sent straight to the front from gate 2, he was able to see it out for a half-head victory. If there is a nagging query it would be his record over the 2138m which shows a zero in the win column, but he can rectify that to fill the six-pack of wins.

KING TRITON (11) has been around at the races on 3 occasions since arriving in Qld for a pair of placings and a 3^rd behind the slick 3YO filly TALENT TO SPARE. That run was his last outing where he eased from a wide gate before closing out in nice order. The gate is a real dampener, but he can be chiming in.

LIFES BLACK (1) settled in the running line last start and was unable to make a play with the tempo from the front making it tough for the chasers. With the cosy trip on offer here, he is a podium hope.

GLENEAGLE WARRIOR (5) was angled to the pegs from the 2^nd line last start and kept poking through to grab the silver behind MACH LE MORE. Not far away 2 starts back, he is in the mix.

SELECTIONS: GOLIGHTLY (2), KING TRITON (11), LIFES BLACK (1), GLENEAGLE WARRIOR (5)
SUGGESTED BET: KING TRITON (11) place

RACE SIX

A four-time winner this season, the wide gate again strikes BLACKSADANCE (7) however his class has seen him home at his past 2 in succession from wide off the front line. Pressing on to take control over the mile last start he was able to fight them off which followed a chasing win also at the mile. He will be working at some point to hunt down the threepeat.

MIDNIGHT MAN (9) will be further tightened from his latest appearance after 4 spaced runs since February. Working into the 1x1 trail last start from inside the 2^nd line, he was making a closing play when 4m from the winner to claim the silver. With the right trail through, he can challenge here.

IMASPORTSSTAR (1) was sent to the post as the punters elect last start but from gate 4 when retreating early was then facing a task with the tempo controlled in front. The gate is a big plus, however his 2138m stats are not the greatest.

TACTICAL RESPONSE (2) tackled the mile last start when sent forward to take control and putting them to the sword down the back stretch with a 27.4 split was able to hold on to score. He can feature again.

SELECTIONS: BLACKSADANCE (7), MIDNIGHT MAN (9), IMASPORTSSTAR (1), TACTICAL RESPONSE (2)
SUGGESTED BET: BLACKSADANCE (7) to win

 

RACE SEVEN

L L COOL J (6) continues his march through to the FFA ranks and lines up 3^rd up from a break looking for the hat-trick. After a classy win at the mile when resuming in a mid-weeker, he was then stepped up to Saturday night grade at the mile and was again clinical in putting them away from the breeze. The rise to the middle-distance looks no issue with the threepeat on the cards.

CARDLESFROMHEAVEN (9) steps back from the open event here last week where he was sent to the pegs for the economical trip. Strong to the line in some slick closing panels, he was not far from the winner. 3^rd here 2 starts back in this grade, look for him making a closing play to offer.

TWENTYEIGHTBLACK (1) should appreciate a return to the front line after starting from the 2^nd row at his past 4 in succession. Chasing gamely last start behind TACTICAL RESPONSE, it followed a 5m margin in arrears of STOMPEM. The gate is a huge plus.

STRADDIE (4) started from gate 10 last time out and was trying to eat into the deficit over the concluding stages when midfield behind GOLIGHTLY. Yet to hit the same areas as his last campaign after 3 runs back, he can be an improver.

SELECTIONS: L L COOL J (6), CARDLESFROMHEAVEN (9), TWENTYEIGHTBLACK (1), STRADDIE (4)
SUGGESTED BET: L L COOL J (6) to win


 

RACE EIGHT

TRUE STEPPER (2) has been in consistent touch as she moves ever closer to claiming one of these mares’ events. Placed at 4 of her past 5 starts, she was chasing hard from the 1x1 trail last start as OURSOUTHERNSTAR landed the prize. Only a Half-head away 2 starts back, she looks to have found her chance.

SUGARKANE (6) was a strong winner at Redcliffe 2 starts back when sent forward from gate 4 and content to face the breeze proved too strong through a strong closing half. Not that far away last time behind VIENNA BOY, a return to mares only looks suitable for her to challenge.

LOOKING FABULOUS (7) was a scratching back on April 17 following Featuring in a barn switch to join the Craig McKinnis yard. Covering plenty of the AP oval last start when 3-wide the trip, it followed a strong finish for 3^rd behind CHIASSO. The gate stings but she stays under notice.

LILYMADIMAC (4) has now had the 2 starts in Qld, the latest in the mare’s qualifier here last week when eased from ate 5 to find position and just too far back. A tidy 3^rd at Redcliffe when 1^st up, she will strip fitter again and is in the mix.

SELECTIONS: TRUE STEPPER (2), SUGARKANE (6), LOOKING FABULOUS (7), LILYMADIMAC (4)
SUGGESTED BET: TRUE STEPPER (2) to win


 

RACE NINE

FLINGANDWINGIT (8) was making his 1^st appearance in Qld when tackling the long trip last start and after doing some early work before receiving cover, then had enough power to work home over the top. That was his 1^st win from the tapes after 4 attempts and with the added experience he can go back-to-back.

GODOFTHUNDER (2) stepped in behind the leader here on Tuesday and from the pocket trail went within a head of the winner in holding on for the silver. Grabbed late after setting the speed here 2 starts back over the 2647m trip, he can be in the right position to make a challenge here.

IL PIRATA (6) settled in the running line from the front tape here on Tuesday and was sound to the line when 4m in arrears of the winner. Not much went right 2 starts back and working his way back to a fitness peak is in the mix here.

CHASING GREAT (1) steps up against the higher-grade trotters here and lands the right lane. Working home from back in the field after starting from a 60m tape last time, he can be poking in behind them.

SELECTIONS: FLINGANDWINGIT (8), GODOFTHUNDER (2), IL PIRATA (6), CHASING GREAT (1)
SUGGESTED BET: FLINGANDWINGIT (8) to win

RACE TEN

Three heats of this Marburg to Albion Series were held on Monday with SCHEU CREEK (8) finishing 3^rd in his heat when setting the speed in front. Given some early heat, he tried to fight them off and was only a neck from the winner. With the likely cold sit, he can be ready to make the closing shot a winner.

MAGICOL IDEAL (3) landed the 2^nd line in the heat and settling back in the pack made a strong challenge in the closing stages to power over the top and arrive in the closing head-bob to land the loot. The only winner of the 3 heats to come from the rear, he was sound the start prior behind MANILA PLAYBOY and can throw down a big challenge.

OUR BELLA LUCIA (4) was sent forward and required to roll the sleeves to grind it out from the breeze and loomed up to be nabbed right on the wire by MAGICOL IDEAL. She will be in the mix.

KAY NORA SHANNON (9) sneaks into the Final as the fastest 4^th placing after covering plenty of track when chasing behind DOLLARBILL. Tough in the breeze here 3 starts back, she has a podium chance.

SELECTIONS: SCHEU CREEK (8), MAGICOL IDEAL (3), OUR BELLA LUCIA (4), KAY NORA SHANNON (9)
SUGGESTED BET: SCHEU CREEK (8) to win