Riccarton Park Tips & Preview | Saturday 1 August

Overdraft (#4) ran a great race for 2nd at his hurdling debut last start at Woodville, where he travelled up strongly a long way from home before just peaking over the concluding stages. He should be improved for that first effort over the hurdles heading here and looks to find what appears a slightly softer maiden hurdle on paper. Should be better suited than most if the track is on the better side of the Heavy range. Can go one better. 

The Bambino (#4) has been building nicely this campaign, showing good improvement into his latest start in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle where he closed off nicely to finish a close-up 3rd. He should be better again heading here with that second hurdling effort under his belt this campaign. Expecting him to settle back in the field from his middle draw in a race that should be run along at a genuine enough tempo. Capable of winning this with his best. 

Doubtable (#5) is a 3yo Doubtland filly heading here off a fair effort for 4th last start here over 1000m, where she made a mess of the start and only battled down the straight. She has had the benefit of a trial in the interim on the polytrack, where she jumped evenly and trialled well thereafter against the older horses. The blinkers went on in that trial and they stay on for raceday, which may see some additional improvement out of her. Expect her to find a much more positive position under Lisa Allpress and take plenty of running down. 

Mercy (#8) comes here fresh, last sighted winning her maiden at Otaki back in May where she sliced through from back in the field to win in the shadows of the post. She has the benefit of a recent trial under her belt, where she got home nicely to win well under light riding. She maps to settle well back from the wide draw, likely snagging in search of cover early. Solid each-way chance in an even field. 

Captains Run (#1) lost the rider last start in a maiden hurdle at Woodville, which doesn’t look ideal on paper, but he had a good hit-out without the rider aboard and got around safely. He is much better suited over the bigger fences and should strip much fitter heading here. He’ll likely settle off the speed as per his typical racing pattern and look to out-stay these late. He finished 2nd in this race last year behind Jesko and can go one better this time around. 

On Shaw (#4) won his maiden very impressively two starts back at Wanganui before just battling in the testing conditions at New Plymouth last start when finishing 7th. He should strip fitter again heading here now third-up and remaining at 1600m looks ideal. He should also be better suited by what should be a more even surface underfoot here. Expecting Hayley Hassman to position him midfield with cover from the low draw before looking to pick them off late. 

Bundy (#1) comes here fresh, last sighted finishing 4th behind Exit Left at Waverley back in May where he was caught wide without cover throughout but stuck on well considering. He has had a quiet trial since to prepare him for this 1600m assignment, and should get back in the field with cover from his wide draw in a race that looks to have a genuine tempo. Should be going through his gears down the outer late. Hard to beat with anything close to his best. 

Wire Rope (#3) comes into this off a battling effort for 5th at New Plymouth last start, where he didn’t look to let down as well as he can on the testing Heavy10 track that day. He should get better conditions to work with here and the drop back to 1400m may be more to his liking also. The wide draw is a touch sticky on paper, although this race doesn’t look to have an abundance of early pressure, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Toni Davies chancing her arm early. Well and truly capable of taking this race out with something near his best. 

Platinum Diamond (#17) was doing her best work very late in the Opunake Cup last start, getting home nicely over the final 100m into 7th. Off that effort, she may now be looking for the mile, and she maps to drop out the back as per the norm for her, off what looks a very strong tempo with much of the speed drawn very wide here. She’s proving very hard to catch this time in, but happy to speculate on her showing up at the price. 

Boomtown Boy (#2) hasn’t set the world on fire so far this campaign, with only a game effort three starts back standing out among otherwise disappointing runs. There are a few things in his favour here – the blinkers go on, he drops back into R75 company, and he returns to what has been a happy hunting ground for him at Riccarton in the past. He maps to get an economical run midfield on the fence from his inside draw and should get his chance to run a much improved race.