Best Bet | Race 2 #10 Uncommon James

Happy to punt on the O’Dea/Hoysted stable continuing their stellar season by notching a first-up win with the talented Uncommon James. From the low gate and with Ben Thompson aboard, he should get an economical run before showing his class at the finish. He’s won at this track, beating classy animal Maotai last start before going for a break. The two trials should have him ready to perform, and the tongue tie goes on which indicates they mean business here. The two trials were excellent.

Next best | Race 6 #7 Fetch

Another classy runner for the O’Dea/Hoysted stable. She returned a winner first-up last start, getting into her work nicely in the closing stages at Doomben to score a dominant win. This is clearly much tougher but she’s shown a lot of potential in her career to date, which has yielded three wins from six starts. The step up to 1200m looks ideal and she gets a sweet run from the good draw. Her only start at Eagle Farm resulted in a third behind Glorious Ruby, but that was over 1000m. I’m sure she’s a better filly this time in.

Best Each-Way | Race 7 #11 Honey Pot

Becoming a costly conveyance for punters but there’s little doubt she has plenty of ability. She’s on the quick back-up here after a narrow defeat at Ipswich when an odds-on favourite. Trainer Tony Gollan said she didn’t handle the track – and she wouldn’t be the first to turn her form around after a below-par run on the Ipswich surface. She’ll go back from the wide gate, but if she has some luck and can produce something like her only run at Eagle Farm, when motoring home along the fence two starts ago behind Stroll, then I’m sure she’ll be in the finish.