Greg Hooper's Tips for Belmont 24th August

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 24 August, 2011

RACE 1 - tabtouch.mobi.MAIDEN

No. 6 TWILIGHT OBSESSION. We start the day with a maiden and on paper it doesn't look an easy race. Without much confidence going for TWILIGHT OBSESSION, he's a galloper who has always shown some ability but has been disappointing on a number occasions. His effort first up behind RETURN TO RIO was solid and if he can work his way over to settle outside the leader then he's a good chance at breaking his maiden tag. ORUANUI ERUPTION is first up with no trial but we have seen this galloper show some good toe in the past but been found wanting late. I think he'll burn straight to the front and given them something to catch. MUSICAL DANE has had ten starts and is yet to break through. Once they get to double figures I'm normally happy watch them win a race before I get involved, in saying that she has undeniable claims in this event. METRO MASTER has his first run for the David Harrison team. We all know this horse has ability, it will be a question whether he turns up on race day.
Numbers 6, 5, 12, 4

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP

No. 10 MOUNT MARION. This looks a fairly even bunch of three-year-olds with no real standout. I've always had an opinion of MOUNT MARION and I thought her first up effort over the 1200m was sound. From barrier 2 she should get a perfect run behind the speed and I think she will run out the 1400m better than most of her rivals. PRINCESS DEIRDRE jumps from 1000m to 1400m but she should beat the majority of these on raw ability alone. She should settle close to the speed and look the winner somewhere in the straight. PRIVATE BUSINESS has ability and definitely has claims but he will have to give most of the field a start from his wide gate.
Numbers 10, 7, 1, 5

Suggested Bet - Mount Marion eachway

RACE 3 - racingjobs.com.au HANDICAP

No. 2 ROYAL CULTURE. I think this is a thin race mares' race with limited chances. As we all know ROYAL CULTURE is a mare who is very hard to catch but I think she looks very well placed in this event. She won over 1000m two starts and last time out she ran well in a race dominated by the leaders. From barrier 2 she should settle very close to the speed and with the claim for the whizz kid, Michael Grantham she looks very well in. I think the main danger in GRACEFUL CHARLI. She hasn't had much luck this campaign and from a good draw I think she will jump straight to the front and give them all something to rundown. BOXO'CHOCOLATS is a tiny mare but she always gives her best. She resumes from a spell but should be around the mark.
Numbers 2, 3, 6, 1

Suggested Bet - Royal Culture win and save Graceful Charli

RACE 4 - CALL TAB TO BET 132 369 HANDICAP

No. 7 EASI CUMMINS. This looks a tricky sprint race to find the winner. The pace should be hot with MASTER TENBY, TWILIGHT HERO and RETURN TO RIO all front running types. Going for EASI CUMMINS who is first up with no trial but he does have a good fresh card. First up last campaign he didn't get the best of luck of in the straight and eventually ran third beaten 1 and ½ lengths to Cavallo Pazzo. A repeat effort would see him go very close. RETURN TO RIO has plenty of scope. He was able to lead all the way last week despite being very green. He'll be in the mix again. Expect plenty of improvement from RIVALE BOY back on top of the ground and with Paul Harvey aboard. Playing with fire getting involved in this event.
Numbers 7, 5, 3, 2

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 5 - PERTH RACING MEMBERS HANDICAP

No. 1 MCSCAR Fair to say this is a massive leap in class from the previous sprint. There are plenty with a genuine chance. Despite the outside draw I'm going for the grey, MCSCAR. I just think he is going super at the moment. His win two starts back in this type of company was dominant and he ran very well in Saturday grade last start, bucking the trend for the day and making good ground late. Back to midweek company suits and he just needs a little luck from his wide gate. There are plenty of other chances, UNION CITY has just been lacking that killer blow in his races maybe the addition of blinkers will help him find that extra length he needs. From barrier 1 he gets the sweet run. RECODE has won on four occasions and every time P Harvey has been the pilot. The combination look a big chance to make it win five from seven outings together. SUMMER SWALLOW is a classy type. He resumes without a trial and will be looking for further but class alone should see him figure. A top race with plenty of chances.
Numbers - 1, 10, 2, 6

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 6 - DIANA VERSACE 50TH BIRTHDAY HANDICAP

No. 3 ANCIENT SPELL. The first leg of the quaddie and it looks a very open race. I'm going for ANCIENT SPELL who should appreciate the drop back to midweek company and on paper looks one of the only gallopers capable sitting on top of the speed. If he can find the front, get away with some cheap sectionals then he will be very hard to get over. His last start effort to run third after sitting three wide with no cover was a big effort. I loved the way MALAIKA attacked the line at her most recent outing, she has shown previously that she is a mare with more than her fair share of ability. COME PARTY is the interesting runner. He put in a real eye catching effort first up but he just never got warm last start and was no hope how the race panned out. William Pike goes on and he should be able to settle closer from his good draw. ASCOT TAXI ran solidly first up and Paul Harvey sticks, clearly he is in the mix.
Numbers - 3, 12, 13, 2

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - ozbet.com.au HANDICAP

No. 6 WHALAH. This should be run at least an even tempo with NO TOUCHING and WHALAH both capable of going forward and rolling along. I was pretty keen on the chances of WHALAH last start and he almost got the money at big double prices. His effort to run a close up third was enormous as he tracked three wide no cover throughout, dashed clear on straightening and refused to lie down late. From his good draw he can either lead or control the tempo from the breeze, both scenarios suit and I think he'll take some running down. STEALTH CAT put in a real eye catching effort last week in her first run for the Mark Reed stable. She drew wide, settled down last and was only getting warm in her final 100m. With the blinkers being added and from her good draw I expect her to take a much closer spot in running and she'll be hard to hold out late. Of the rest MOSSROY will appreciate the drop back to midweek company but he just lacks a knockout blow in his races and IHT'S ELUSIVE is horse on the way up and is in the mix.
Numbers 6, 13, 2, 1

Suggested Bet - Whalah each way

RACE 8 - tabtouch.mobi HANDICAP

No. 3 DARE TO DOUBT. This looks a very thin race on paper and I think DARE TO DOUBT should have them covered. He was very good last start. He was having his first run in seven weeks, tracked three wide no cover for the duration and ran a close up second. If he can get over from his wide gate without spending too many petrol tickets I think he should win. DOM SEBASTIAN improved sharply last start when the blinkers were added, from barrier 1 he should get a gun run and looks the danger. LUCASDEMANDAS was very good last week in his first run for over two years. A repeat will see him in the mix again.
Numbers - 3, 1, 4, 7

Suggested Bet - Dare to Doubt win and save Dom Sebastian if odds allow

RACE 9 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP

No. 7 UNDERCOVER LIZZY. Hopefully we are saving the best to last. UNDERCOVER LIZZY has her hoof firmly planted on the till and this looks an ideal assignment. Her three runs this preparation have been eye catchers and she has been badly hampered by drawing wide gates at her last couple starts. From barrier 2 she should be able to settle much closer in running and with clear running at the top of the straight I think she should finish all over the top of her rivals. The blinkers go on STRALETA and although she is a maiden she still has good claims. She will need some luck from her wide gate but she should be around the mark. COUGAR TOWN is a consistent mare who is always a chance in this type of event.
Numbers 7, 14, 8, 4

Suggested Bet - Undercover Lizzy win