Greg Hoopers tips for Ascot 7th April - Easter

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Thu 5 April, 2012

compliments to TABOZBET for sharing Hoops this weekend.

RACE 1 -playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 1800m

No. 2 LUNAR IMAGE - We start the day with a small field but there appears to be a few chances. (2) LUNAR IMAGE is a galloper on the way through the grades and he will be hard to beat in this race. Both of his efforts this preparation have been good, including a last start win, and the step up to 1800m will suit. (1) CHONG NONSI is a talented mare who has a top winning strike rate. She'll appreciate the claim of Mitchell Pateman and she definitely has winning claims. The other big winning chance appears to be (6) DOMINICUS. He's a galloper who likes to sit off the speed and motor home late so the small field should suit. The next best is (4) SETH'S BLESSED who is probably suited over further but has solid top four claims.
Numbers - 2, 1, 6, 4

RACE 2 - FACEBOOK.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 1100m

No. 3 BARAKEY - The highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the return of this undefeated sprinter, (3) BARAKEY. At his six starts to date, he has been a brilliant winner on each occasion and that trend will be continuing on Saturday. He should go straight to the front, run time and win! His stable mate (2) LATORIA will appreciate the drop in grade. She will run top three. (5) BEACH EXPRESS is in career best form and with only 51kg, he'll be fighting Latoria for second. The next best is (7) MEGEM'S BOY who ran solidly when resuming from a spell.
Numbers 3, 2, 5, 7

RACE 3 - WESTSPEED NURSERY HANDICAP 1200m

No. 2 FUDDLE DEE DUDDLE - This is an interesting race as we have a couple of Karrakatta Plate runners backing up from last week. I'll go for one of them and tip (2) FUDDLE DEE DUDDLE. She's been a model of consistency over her juvenile career and if she gets some luck from her gate, she will take some beating. (1) EL RIJES won the Perth Stakes two starts back and then just had no luck whatsoever in the Karrakatta Plate when he got hemmed away on the fence and never saw daylight. He's been up for a while but has solid claims. (8) MAKE YOUR MOVE is a first starter from the Lou & Dion Luciani team and he appears to have plenty of ability. He was the dominant, 4 length winner of his recent trial. (7) KOROLENKO just missed out on getting a run in the Karrakatta Plate and no doubt connections will be looking for a consolation prize by pinching this event. He certainly has solid each way claims.
Numbers 2, 1, 8, 7

RACE 4 -TWITTER.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 2200m

No. 3 CRISPIANO - This is a tricky little staying race with plenty of form lines clashing. I'll go with (3) CRISPIANO who appears to have found his best form at his last couple of starts. At his most recent outing, he drew a wide gate and settled at the rear but finished strongly into second placing. This isn't an overly strong Saturday event and he gets his chance to break through in town. (2) CHESTER ROAD has been a little disappointing at his last couple of starts but the blinkers do go on which could just give him the edge he needs. (5) SUPER HAWK is racing in top fashion. His efforts in both the Bunbury & Pinjarra Cups were good. William Pike goes back on and he did steer this galloper to a win three starts back. (1) THE OTHER HARV has to lump the 59kg which is a concern but she has each way claims again.
Numbers 5, 1, 9, 7

RACE 5 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1600m

No. 2 THE SOCIAL NETWORK - This is an interesting little race as we see (2) THE SOCIAL NETWORK drop back from the 2400m of the W.A. Oaks last week to race over a mile. Despite the unusual preparation, I'll go her way. She has found her form at her last three starts including the last start second in the W.A. Oaks. She'll probably get back but be very strong late in this race. (8) GAPS IN ME KNEES stepped up to listed company at her last start and she performed well. She led and gave a good kick to eventually finish third. She should find the front and give them something to run down. (3) ELUSIVE IMAGE has been a little disappointing at his last couple of starts. If he can find his best form he'll be in the mix. (4) BLUABLE has won his last two starts in midweek company. This race contains more depth but he has solid each way claims.
Numbers 2, 8, 3, 4

RACE 6 -WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1000m

No. 6 MENDICITY - This is a really good quality three-year-old sprint and it should be close to each way odds the field. I'm happy to be on (6) MENDICITY who resumes from a spell and has had the benefit of a barrier trial in which she acquitted herself very well. In her first preparation she showed plenty of ability, winning once and placing on the other three occasions. If she can settle midfield, she will take some holding out. (10) TRAVINATOR won well first up when he found the front from an outside gate and found plenty late to beat a subsequent winner, Accelerometer. He should lead again and give them something to run down. (1) ALMACHINO is the class filly of the race and she looks well in after the claim for Mitchell Pateman. (4) GRACETOWN will get back but should be flooding home over the concluding stages.
Numbers - 6, 10, 1, 4

RACE 7 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP 1200m

No. 12 CARRY THE NATION - This looks to be a very open race with a plenty of chances. I'll go for (12) CARRY THE NATION who I thought was a top first up winner when resuming at Albany. He carried the 60kg, settled last and went past his rivals under a throttle hold. This is clearly a step up in grade but I think he's up to the task. (5) SOLSAY will lead and give them something to rundown. This is his level and he looks a major player. (9) SINGLE SPICE resumes from a spell and her recent trial was good. It's never easy for the three-year-old fillies to take on the older horses but she does have a touch of class about her when she's firing. (1) BABEICA NOIRE has to lump the 60kg but he's always a chance in this type of race.
Numbers 12, 5, 9, 1

RACE 8 - KEVIN DUNN 70TH BIRTHDAY HANDICAP 1400m

No. 1 GUM NUT GURU - It looks like a wide open race with which to end the day and there will certainly be plenty of value for the punters. (1) GUM NUT GURU has his hoof on the till and despite the fact that he has to lump 59.5kg he looks well placed and should go very close. His last start effort in the Chaff City Pinjarra Classic was full of merit and from his good draw he should take a spot right over the speed and prove hard to beat. (5) THE TENBY FRIAR has run an astonishing nine seconds from just fifteen starts so it's hard to tip him with a great deal of confidence but he definitely has good claims again. (8) BALI CRUISER ran well in the feature sprint at Geraldton and he looms with each way claims. There was plenty of money for (13) FLASH GIFT at his most recent outing, suggesting an improved effort was on the cards. If he repeats that effort he can make it back to back wins.
Numbers - 1, 5, 8, 13