Hoops Tips for Belmont Wednesday 18th July

Greg Hooper | Wed 18 July, 2012

RACE 1 - WESTSPEED NURSERY HANDICAP 1650m

No. 1 DUBAI ESCAPADE - I'm pretty confident we can kick off the day by backing the first winner. This is fairly weak field and (1) DUBAI ESCAPADE looks the class horse who should be too good. He attacked the line two starts back over 1400m which prompted punters to have him installed close enough to favourite at his most recent outing. However, he never really got into the race after settling off the speed. It was a relatively flat effort. He's been freshened up with a month between runs and if he finds the form from two starts back he'll be winning this. (2) EXPRESS SERVICE has been a little disappointing this campaign but he's certainly got each way claims. (4) DAPPER DRAPER for Paul Harvey and (6) WEEKEND RUSTLER for William Pike in his first ride back are in the mix.
Numbers - 1, 2, 4, 6
Suggested Bet - Dubai Escapade win

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1650M
No. 3 DESTROY - I was really taken with the run of (3) DESTROY last week and am happy to put him on top despite the fact he's second up into a mile. He's a galloper who has a big finish on him and he showed that in his first preparation when he won stylishly at his second career start when storming home from well off the speed. Last week he settled a long way off the speed, found trouble but was doing his best work late. I think he'll be hard to beat. (1) FOO FOO THE SNOO has been up for a long time this campaign but she continues to race consistently. The drop back to midweek level and the 1650m are definite positives. (4) BALBONI had a gut buster in the Dayana and predictably faded badly in the straight. If he still has some juice in the tank he's got strong each way claims. (9) WAHAKA KID is a one-batter but sitting over the speed he could be the value runner for the novelties.
Numbers - 3, 1, 4, 9
Suggested Bet -Destroy each way

RACE 3 - TABFORM HANDICAP 1200m
No. 6 STRAWBERRY BEAU - A good quality midweek sprint race with a few handy types resuming from a spell. Interestingly my three top picks all resume and were all engaged in the same trial last Monday. I've always had an opinion of (6) STRAWBERRY BEAU and I'm happy to stick with him in this race. He's galloper who can find traffic problems but hopefully Shaun Meeres can keep him in the clear and he can let rip over his rivals in the straight. His recent trial win was very soft. In that same trial we saw (4) NAKU PENDA run a fast finishing second. He resumes for his new trainer, Justine Erkelens, and based on the trial he should be ready to go. He's a galloper who owes me plenty! (2) JACOBYTE was also in that same trial. He led and was swamped late. He's a quick galloper but will just be a little suspect at 1200m first up I'd think. (1) YOURCAYEYE was solid first up off a long spell. If he repeats he's in the mix again.
Numbers - 6, 4, 2, 1
Suggested Bet - Strawberry Beau each way

RACE 4 - RACING RADIO 1206AM HANDICAP 1000m
No. 11 THE PUZZLER - There look to be a host of chances in this 1000m dash. I'll go for (11) THE PUZZLER who is a 1000m specialist and ran well last start after he missed the kick and settled well off the speed. Not a pattern of racing he is usually accustomed to. He has drawn inside the majority of the speed so if he jumps well he'll be able to lead if Shaun O'Donnell wants to, otherwise he can box seat. (4) LISETTA is a speedy mare who usually excels fresh. She'll just need to get over from her wide gate and she has undeniable winning claims. (5) MY ROUGE is flying and she beat a subsequent Saturday winner last start. (7) HURRITIDANZ is very honest and is suited over the short course.
Numbers - 11, 4, 5, 7
Suggested bet - None recommended

RACE 5 - ozbet.com.au HANDICAP 2100m
No. 4 HE'S HENRY - These midweek staying races are normally raffles however I think this might be a little clearer cut. (4) HE'S HENRY was stepping up from maiden grade at his most recent outing but he won very comfortably after he enjoyed a nice run throughout. From barrier 3 he should get all the favours again and if he repeats his last start win when he kicked clear on straightening then he's clearly the one to beat. Adam Durrant brings a two-pronged attack into the race and both his gallopers should be very competitive. (2) JIM ‘N' JIM takes on the older horses but she should get a soft run from the inside draw. If Ben Patterson can weave a passage she will play a part in the finish. (5) INCENTIVE SCHEME has had plenty of chances to crack it for a win of recent times but has just come up short. However, he's a definite winning chance despite the awkward gate. (7) DEPORTMENT is a hard mare to catch but she does have claims. You can put a line through her last start when she blundered badly in running and dropped out.
Numbers - 4, 2, 5, 7
Suggested Bet - He's Henry each way

RACE 6 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 2100m
No. 4 ASK ME NICELY - This staying race certainly contains more depth and there look to be several chances. I'll stick with the winning form of (4) ASK ME NICELY and hopefully he can make it a winning hat-trick. He's enjoyed perfect runs in transit at his last two starts but has got the job done nicely on both occasions, beating two subsequent winners. There is certainly a query about him running out a strong staying trip, however, from an inside draw he won't be spending a penny in running. (1) VERDELLO BLUE is a tough stayer who looks well placed dropping back to midweek company. (11) GRANDSTAND was an impressive winner last week where he settled just off mid-field and finished powerfully. If he repeats he goes close. (8) STARLIGHT LADY is racing well and is in with solid each way claims.
Numbers - 4, 1, 11, 8
Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP 1200m
No. 11 TALK UP A STORM - A good quality mares' race. I've always had some time for (11) TALK UP A STORM and I thought her effort last week over 1000m was much better and hopefully she's starting to find her form again. She settled last, found interference in the straight but still finished off nicely. The step up 1200m suits and I think she has good each way claims despite the fact that Kyra Yuill has elected to ride the likely favourite, (7) ROYAL RHAPSODY. She's my next pick. It was a masterful ride by Yuill last start when she settled the mare last, weaved a passage and got there late. Much to the delight of many punters going by her on course fluctuation of $5.50 - $2.90! She has undeniable winning claims again. (10) METALLICA finds it hard to win but always looms with each way claims, this race is no different. (9) FLASHFORWARD never got warm last start but if she is better than that and could represent the value for novelty players.
Numbers - 11, 7, 10, 9
Suggested Bet - Talk Up A Storm each way

RACE 8 - magicmillions.com.au HANDICAP 1000m
No. 5 IDENTITY FRAUD - This looks a fairly weak race to finish the day. (5) IDENTITY FRAUD started a short priced favourite when resuming from a spell off the back of a hot trial and he didn't let his supporters down. He settled second on a hot speed and never looked to be in any danger. From barrier 1 he can lead or box seat and he looks the one to beat. (1) BIZET started the short priced favourite last week and predictably was unable to get the job done. He's in the mix again. (3) GIVE ME MONEYHONEY resumes without a trial but is always a chance at this level. (11) EDADI was unlucky last week however you can't back a horse who has not won a race for three years.....
Numbers - 5, 1, 3, 11
Suggested Bet - None recommended