3 minute read
There are just three Wednesday night meetings left for the current season so punters will be looking to make the most of it while they can with an eight-race card in Launceston.
Aiming for four consecutive wins, all over the 2100m, The Risk Factor is one horse sure to attract plenty of attention on the night and he appears difficult to oppose based on the strength of his recent wins.
The weather forecast is fine so the expectation is for a track likely to race as a good 4 and the rail returns to the true for the first time since 8 January. That was the Tasmanian Guineas program and produced a very fair racing surface.
R1 Good Friday Racing @ The Ladbrokes Racing Centre Maiden, 1200m
MILITARY LAW (2) created a reasonable impression in two Tasmanian runs for Peter Luttrell prior to a spell. He resumes here with the benefit of the inside gate and trialled alongside Lucky Bucky at Longford who won on Sunday. SKILENDRA (11) made good ground from the back off a freshen but has a horror draw here to overcome. She finished just ahead of UPSET (3) who enjoyed a good run behind the speed in that race, but he too has drawn poorly here. LOUISVILLE (1) is ready to win after four consecutive second placings. He was good on Cup day making ground out wide on a day where that was tough to do. GEE GEES TEARDROP (7) had cardiac arrhythmia in Hobart so forgive that and he's since trialled up well. Debutante POWERFUL PEBBLES (14) hasn't had any luck with the barrier draw but she trialled well enough to suggest some ability may be there.
R2 Neville-smith Forest Products Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1400m
AMANCAYA (7) and BOOM DOT COM (3) come out of the Magic Millions race where a blanket covered about four horses for the minor money behind Take the Sit. That was a slowly run race but better grade than what they face here. HOT RELATION (2) will find this much easier than chasing the smart War Correspondent. He's on trial at the trip though and has a wide draw and big weight to overcome. APPRAISE (4) has been better at his past couple and is another dropping in grade. MAGIC KHAN (6) was wide without cover at her latest so you can forgive that, and she was a winner in this company the start prior. CRACKERJACK LADY (8) has been good at both of her Tasmanian starts which have been in lesser grade than this. GEE GEE MANPOWER (1) runs well for Kyle Maskiell and though he will carry 62kg, he won carrying 61kg here back in January. Open race.
R3 Book In And Win An Mg Zs Suv 3yo Maiden, 1100m
REITE DEN BLITZ (9) is still a maiden but has banked almost $30k in prizemoney. She's burnt punters a few times but finds a nice race to resume in. GEE GEE REAL DEAL (5) was scratched from Sunday where she drew a sticky alley. She's been very consistent this campaign and should be in the finish again. HOT CAT (6) and MAGGIE'S QUEST (7) appear the pick of the first starters based on Longford trial form but neither has drawn well. SILENT DREAMER (3) and OCEAN ORPHAN (8) haven't been bad at the trials either and the market will provide a guide for those facing the judge for the first time. ARJBAC (1) wasn't disgraced in significantly harder company last time and maps for a good run from an inside draw.
R4 Pfd Food Services Benchmark 74 Hcp, 2100m
This is a benchmark 74 but the highest rated horse is last start winner CORONATION PIA (3) at 68. Both her and ARGYLE BEACH (2) rise from a mile race that saw a fairly busy finish. Both have run over the distance previously but are unproven. THE RISK FACTOR (1) has been thriving over the Launceston 2100m aiming for four consecutive wins over the T&D. He has a few options from a wider draw, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Brendon McCoull look to sit outside the likely leader ODIN'S FOLLY (4) who stuck to the task well in a similar race last start. STORMONT (5) has been getting a mile back in his races and did so again last time when finishing second to The Risk Factor with SO ASTOUNDING (7) third in the same race. That pair both meet the winner better at the weights here. The Launceston Cup form hasn't really stood up, but this is obviously much easier for GENERALMAINTENANCE (6) who was outclassed in that company without being disgraced.
R5 Happy St Paddy's Day Mdn/cl1, 2100m
Most of the field come via the maiden/class 1 won by BULBASAUR (1). He was an 18-start maiden there and received a good rails hugging ride from Thomas Doyle. He rises 2kg from that result. SPIRIT OF WIORA (3) flashed home with a similar run to the winner but just missed. TASSIE O'REILLY (6) looked the winner of that race but died on his run when the race was seemingly over. That run should have topped him off though and he's drawn well. SCOTS WHA HAE (4) had heavy support that night but raced flat and now has the blinkers back on. SIR DA VINCI (5) is the best of those coming via a different formline. He was second over this T&D two starts back with third in that race being Bulbsaur so it's pretty easy to tie his form in. The 5YO struggles to win but he's a strong each-way player.
R6 Steve's Liquor Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1600m
GREGORIAN CHANT (3) was smashed in the betting before running second to Dark Wanderer in a race where the winner dictated from the front. She went as well as she could there and BARJEEL (1) was fine in fourth too. Both rise in weight for the drop in class. MYWORDIS (2) had a throw at the stumps in the Mowbray Stakes and acquitted himself well. This race lacks an obvious leader, and it could be him. PHENOMENAL DANCER (6) was a bit unlucky in this class last start, held up at key stages. She rises 3kg with the senior rider going on and Codi Jordan instead rides ILFRACOMBE (7) who ran home well in the same race. MISS EXCESS (5) drops back in distance and has been racing consistently this campaign.
R7 Kreglinger Wine Estates Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1200m
STINKA (5) runs his best races in Launceston, again proving that with a win last start at a big price. SANCTION KING (2) and BORDER PROTECTION (6) rounded out the placings there, Sanction King in particular was heavily backed that day but appeared to have his chance. MAGIC WALER (4) drops in class and two of his three career wins have been second-up. The 1200m should also be more to his liking but you have to go back to October 2019 to find his last win. MERCIABELLE (8) was solid at her interstate hit-out last time and a winner over the T&D the start prior. Border Protection has a big 4.5kg swing in his favour from what was essentially a photo finish from that meeting. ALINJER (1) resumes with a good first-up record and should be running on late. BLUSHED (9) was a drifter fresh and never really threatened the placings. She's out of her grade here but has no weight on her back.
R8 Ladbrokes Benchmark 84 Hcp, 1200m
GEE GEE DOUBLE DEE (2) is a classy performer but not the easiest horse for Team Wells to place given her rating. It's been 14 months since her last win, but she has a good fresh record and if she can be close enough turning form home, she will be hard to hold out. BALEARIC (1) is another horse that will be coming from off the speed. He had the run of the race in the Royal Rambo and put in a good performance accordingly. GEE GEE QUEEN BEE (5) covered ground on Cup day and just peaked on her run in the straight. She's returned in good fashion. APRIANO (4) is the leader with a light weight and may prove hard to run down particularly if that pattern is favoured on the night.
