Friday Racing Tips - Caulfield Racecourse 26/01/24

Racing returns to Caulfield this Friday for Tile Importer Manfred Stakes day and we have a belter eight race card ahead of us with two stakes races and three listed races on the card. I have run through the card and picked out my best betting spots so follow me below! 

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#6 - Va Via (NEXT BEST) - $3.20
#2 - Katsu - $4.60
#7 - Foxicon - $7.10
#1 - Najem Suhail - $7.50

BEST BET - #1 - Najem Suhail 
Va Via has to rate highly here for James Cummings coming into this third up and looking amazing last time out. He was second up from a 16 week spell then where he came from three lengths off the pace to charge clear of the field at the 125m and prove to strong for the field when winning well. Should have more to offer still third up here.

THE DANGER - #2 - Katsu
Katsu does his best work with fresh legs for the Begg stable and he did exactly that when resuming last time out from a long 23 week spell at Flemington where he set second in the run and took over at the 200m to power away from the field in fine fashion. He did get in very light there and clearly made good use of it but doesn’t take on too much extra weight here either.

VALUE BET  - #7 - Foxicon
Foxicon is an impressive horse for Peter Moody who has already won half of his career starts and comes back to racing here after a long break of 35 weeks and having won two and placed in one of his three first up runs. He’s had no public trials for this but the way the stable goes he will undoubtedly be strong here. 

Selections:
#2 - Steparty (BEST BET) - $2.90
#3 - Brave Mead - $5.00
#4 - Carbonados - $5.50
#6 - Southport Tycoon - $8.50

BEST BET - #6 - Southport Tycoon
Steparty is a very impressive horse for the Preusker stable who has won five of his six career starts and comes here first up after a 14 week break and off the back of a sharp trial at Stawell where he really got going late to place second there. He’s one of the more exciting runners in the country and I think he kicks off his Autumn campaign with a big win here. 

THE DANGER - #3 - Brave Mead
Brave Mead comes back to racing here after not having stepped out since Late November where he ran very well at Caulfield in the Blue Sapphire where he ran on very well behind Run Harry Run where he was only edged out very late. That is outstanding form for this and he rates highly here. 

VALUE BET  - #6 - Southport Tycoon 
Southport Tycoon is a sharp horse for the Maher and Eustace stable who has already won two of his four career starts and placed in one. He was a bit out of his depth in the Caulfield Guineas when running into midfield quite well. The starts prior to that he had been absolutely flying so I think he should come back well to racing here. 

Selections:
#11 - Jenny Jerome (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $7.50
#15 - Tasman Park - $5.00
#6 - Forbidden City - $8.00
#14 - Marble Arch - $8.00

BEST BET - #14 - Marble Arch
Jenny Jerome can hit back hard here after having excuses last time out and generally goes very well third up with two wins in three third up runs. He pulled up Lame last time out at Flemington but before then he powered home into fourth in an impressive first up effort. I think he’s racing better than it reads on paper and will be strong here third up. 

THE DANGER - #15 - Tasman Park
Tasman Park is a deserving favourite for the Moroney camp and comes to racing here off of a run at the beginning of the year where he didn’t do all that much. However, the start prior he was running very well at Caulfield when into third. He comes here with Shinn’s steering and should prove hard to beat.

VALUE BET - #14 - Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a sharp horse the Hayes boys who generally improves sharply second up and came back to racing after an 18 week break at Geelong and ran home quite well into midfield in a big field. He would have gained a huge fitness benefit off of that run and will be sharp here second up. 

Plan on betting on the races this Friday? Betting online is surprisingly simple these days, and our Best Bookmakers area is the simplest way to discover the best online betting sites to follow our expert’s tips.

Playup is my top selection for Racing this week as they are providing some of the best overall fixed odds amongst the Australian bookies at the moment for racing. They are also very generous, often offering a number of racing promotions such as money back in bonus bets for 2nd and 3rd for a selected runner in a race of your choosing. They cover all Australian thoroughbred racing and are quite comprehensive in their international racing markets.

Join us on Saturday, Wednesday and Friday Racing tips, with articles throughout the week for the greatest free horse racing tips provided by our experts. Each week, our team’s racing tips highlight the most noteworthy race days and tracks, as well as expert analysis and best bets for selected races.

Additionally, we notify you of any significant scratchings affecting the races as well as any details about the track, notable jockeys to follow, or other factors that we feel are good to know. We will also cover any bonus bet or other promotions that are running that day and even have recommendations for other bets like multi tips, and our daily quaddie.
 
For a more in-depth explanation of horse racing bet types and tips for placing, visit our tips and information page.

Avdulla has found great form this year with a near 50% place rate and near 20% strike rate. He has been super consistent in NSW and that has been recognised to a large extent by the bookings that he has been getting. He gets a top selection of rides for some prominent stables such as James Cummings and Chris Waller and I think he is a top shot to pick up at least one win on Friday at Caulfield. 

R2 - #2 - Cylinder - $3.80
R5 - #12 - Kokoro - $7.00
R6 - #6 - Roots - $7.50
R8 - #5 - Zou Tiger - $9.50
R9 - #3 - Welwal - $13.00

Whilst it is scary to tip in some of the bigger field races I think that with it being early in the season and a lot of runners being on resumption that there are some clear top picks in each field and as such I have combined my best runners of the day into a place multi. Whilst it might not be the same level of value we generally get I think that it is a worthwhile bet and has a good chance of coming in. 

Caulfield R6 - #2 - Steparty - PLC $1.35
Caulfield R5 - #6 - Va Via - PLC $1.50
Caulfield R8 - #11 - Jenny Jerome - PLC $2.40

Total Odds = $5.00
$50 Stake = $250.00 Return!

Odds provided by PlayUp, sign up for a new account here to get started.

Our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of exotics betting, check it out for clarification on the different types of exotics betting or just to brush up on your knowledge.

Caulfield Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R3) 
1st: 3, 4, 5, 9 
2nd: 3, 4, 5, 9 
3rd: 3, 4, 5, 9 
 
$50 stake = 208% flexi 

Promotions are traditionally the primary way for punters to create an edge over the bookies, as they can save your cash when your runner fails to win, in the instance of Unibet they often offer 2nd and 3rd money back in bonus bets for a selection of races on the midweek and Provincial racing days. Coupled with their generous odds I have to put them as the top bookie promotion wise at the moment for Australian racing. 

If you are looking for the best promotions this week for Wednesday's racing I wouldn’t look past Unibet, often they offer odds boosts in addition to the money back promotions. Don’t forget to check your account as well for personal offers. 

Promotions often change so make sure you sign up at unibet.com.au to see what promotions are applicable to you and you may even be surprised to find some promotions that weren’t mentioned here!