Horse Racing Tips : NSW Thursday 3rd March 2022

Athelric (Canterbury Race 7 No.2) & Fleet Air Arm (Canterbury Race 7 No.4)

Going to try to nab the winner with these two, taking on the short-priced favourite.

Athelric is returning a gelding on the back of one short course trial, where he was third to Zapateo, who has since run well in Sydney first-up. I thought he trialled well and was cruising nicely through the line. He has brilliant form for this, placing in a stakes race at Moonee Valley, running a tight second in an open class race, and finishing 1.6 lengths off the winner in the Caulfield Guineas. He drops down majorly in class for this first-up assignment, gets a strong rider in Nash Rawiller aboard and he should get into a nice position from the draw. Nice each-way play.

Fleet Air Arm is looking to remain undefeated after three wins, winning all over them by at least two lengths. This will be his second-up run after saluting by 2.3 lengths at Newcastle over the 900m first-up, where he made light work of his opposition. This is harder but his figures to date suggest that he can run a big race in town with the right run. He has the right jockey as Hugh Bowman is down to ride and he is drawn nicely to be able to get a trouble-free run up near the pace. His past runs suggest the ground shouldn’t be an issue, and if that’s our only query, the price is right.

0.4 unit @ $10.00 & 1 unit @ $4.00

Publicist (Canterbury Race 4 No.6) & Divina (Canterbury Race 4 No.8)

There are around 4 chances in my opinion that can win this race, hopefully, we make the right choice with this half.

Publicist is coming off a tough win at Warwick Farm where he was a short-priced favourite. He beat home Russian Ruble who has since come out and won next start and they both beat the rest of the field by over four lengths. Being a Waterhouse/Bott runner he should improve nicely again third-up and they have decided to drop him back slightly in distance and pop the blinkers on which is a solid move. He is drawn wideish but he has no speed inside him so he should get across no worries with the best front running rider aboard. He should handle the ground with no issues and he has the fitness to run these into the ground.

Divina is looking to make her 2022 debut after missing out on three runs due to wide draws and an abandoned meeting. She should be ready to go first-up on the back of two trials though she will take plenty of benefit from the run. She has had two first-up runs in her career for a first and a third, with her win coming at this track and distance mid-last year. Her first run in her career, she ran third by 2 lengths to a group horse named Hilal and a listed horse called King of Sparta, that form is too good for this benchmark 68, you would think. She is drawn nicely to get a suck run, handles the going, and is capable of reaching a much better grade.

1.3 units @ $3.30 & 1.1 units @ $3.70

Smirnova (Canterbury Race 7 No.5)

First-up on heavy ground at Canterbury from a wide draw spells disaster, and she may just blow them away but I think she is way unders and I am happy to take her on.

$2.80