SENTrack: Tasracing’s Wednesday best bets at Launceston for the Newmarket Handicap (27/11)

The 2024/25 Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival begins in Launceston on Wednesday night with the running of the Newmarket Handicap and 3YO Cup program.

Both features have attracted outstanding fields, and the supporting six races are also quite strong.

The rail is back in the true, but with up to 20mm of rain forecast on Wednesday, it’s a wait-and-see approach to what surface they’ll be racing on.

See the best bets, courtesy of Tasracing.com.au.

Best bet

Race 4 – 5. Sushi Express

The price has gone about the good thing of the night (Ms Tasmania – race 6), so I’ve ended up with one at each-way odds as my best. I thought the return of Sushi Express was excellent, racing wide without cover in a race where the leader ran them along, the 7YO was still strong to the line for third. From the low draw here, he should box seat behind the speed and looks like a great each-way play. I marked him a $4.50 favourite in a good betting race.

Best value

Race 2 – 4. Ralph the Rocket

This is start 10 of the campaign for Ralph the Rocket, but his recent runs have been good, and the last in particular was a complete forgive, held up until the race was over. He meets the favourite, Thonatus, 2kg better, with Byrne Burke claiming 2kg on this card, and the beaten margin was unfair for the reasons mentioned. $10 is the wrong price for me, I marked him half that.

Best roughie

Race 3 – 9. Makarska Sunset

Makarska Sunset almost pulled off a huge upset at $91 at the track and distance two starts back before getting a mile out of her ground when much more prominent in the market last start. Those at the head of the market here will be hard to beat, but the race has a long tail, and I’m very happy to be forgiving of the last-start effort.

Selections

Race 1: 2-1-3-5
Race 2: 4-5-9-2
Race 3: 11-2-9-14
Race 4: 5-2-4-10
Race 5: 7-1-10-4
Race 6: 4-10-1-11
Race 7: 9-1-10-3
Race 8: 1-2-3-5

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