WA Media Guild thoughts for Friday 3rd February

The harness racing squaregaiters take pride of place on Friday night (Feb. 3) at Gloucester Park for the running of the $50,000 Trotsynd Trotters Cup (2503m).

The Group 2 feature has attracted 11 runners and backmarker Tricky Ric (Muscle Hill), who is shooting for his 10th straight victory, looks the testing material despite his 40m handicap.

Members of the WA Trotting Media Guild have bypassed the trotters when settling on their best bets on the nine-event card.

Guild president Wayne Currall believes punters can add to their bank early doors by supporting polemarker Talks Up A Storm in race two.

“It’s good to see Kyle Harper back in action after that nasty fall at GP a fortnight ago,” Currall said. “And I think he can make a winning return when he does the steering behind the Murray Lindau-trained Talks Up A Storm. Harper will be looking to hold the front from his inside gate and from there he appeals as the one they all have to get over.”

Veteran tipster and longshot legend Pat Harding has made last-start winner James Butt his star bet.

“Looks like an other tough night at GP despite the small fields,” Harding said. “My best bet comes up in race three with No. 2 James Butt. He had a great win last week and I think he can make it two in a row.”

Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, is keen on Machnificent in race four.

“Talented five-year-old Machnificent was highly impressive when he won after racing three-wide two weeks ago and he gets the chance to repeat that effort when again racing in similar class,” Manning said. “He appreciated a drop in grade after running a Golden Nugget fourth and finishing seventh in the Christmas Gift. The horse, trained by Kat Warwick, has proven his quality with 13 wins, including eight at headquarters.”

Award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and Ryan Havercroft, the racing co-ordinator at The West Australian, have settled on Alcopony as their star bet.

“It’s always nice to leave Gloucester Park after backing the winner of the final event, and my advice to punters is to support my best bet, Alcopony, in the ninth race on Friday night,” Casellas said. “Alcopony looks the leader from barrier one and should be able to hold his toughest rival, Vulcan Star, at bay at the end of the 1730m sprint. Alcopony was most impressive at Northam last Saturday when he raced three wide for the first 550m and then in the breeze before winning easily.”

And Havercroft is singing from the same hymn sheet.

“Alcopony looks well-placed to repeat his last-start Northam success when he sat in the breeze and outstayed his rivals to win impressively last Saturday night,” Havercroft said. “Here he should be bouncing straight to the top while his best-credentialed rival, Vulcan Star has drawn the outside and will be forced to work if he is to overcome the Kevin Keys-trained gelding.”

VALUE BETS

WAYNE: On a night when it’s hard to find value, I’ve opted for an all-up win on three polemarkers. Talks Up A Storm, into Hampton Banner finishing with Alcopony. All three will likely go around in the red, but could prove lucrative as an all-up wager.

PAT: My double comes up in race four with No. 2 Galactic Star. Ideally placed over the short journey and should give punters a good return.

ERNIE: Line The Starzzz should not be overlooked in the Trotters Cup despite having been beaten at her past eight starts. She ran impressive Pinjarra seconds after facing the breeze in two races last month. The Terry Ferguson-trained mare has won nine races.

KEN: For value, I suggest Chumani in the Trotters Cup. His close second to Patched last Friday week was full of merit. He is at the top of his game at the moment and should give his rivals something to chase.

RYAN: Smaller fields make it harder to identify value, but for me it is Telkem Jay in the opening event. His recent efforts have been sound and he can sit close enough to be dangerous to his more fancied rivals.

Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.

Good punting.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Wayne Currall, for Gloucester Park