Tuncurry hosts its feature event of the year with the running of the Tuncurry-Forster Cup come Monday afternoon.
Our best bet comes up in the first race with a three-year-old gelding set to break to his maiden, while the Cup gives us a chance to back around the favourite given how the early market shapes up.
Tuncurry race 1
#1 american president
Of the raced horses in this field, American President brings the best form having run in a maiden at Sydney metro and provincial level.
The three-year-old gelding now tumbles all the way back to country grade and will not have to give much weight away with the two-kilo claim from Jackson Searle assisting him at the weights.
His only ever career run over 1000 metres was on debut at Orange where he ran second, but was immediately spelled after the run.
He is clearly a much better horse than he was at that debut run.
The wide barrier should not present too many challenges either, he should be able to sit comfortably on the speed and put this lot away with ease.
Suggested Bet: American President win at $2.6
tuncurry race 2
#2 Fairey Barracuda
Siding with Fairey Barracuda to notch up her first career win after a solid first-up performance as Gosford over 1200 metres.
She is a lightly-raced five-year-old mare who has clearly taken a while to get to the races, but she seems to have finally put it all together.
The market was telling us she has still has some improvement to come after that debut effort and this race looks the perfect scenario from barrier five.
Gun country rider Aaron Bullock should be able to sneak his way into the trailing run behind the leaders and then go for home as he pees out into the home straight.
Suggested Bet: Fairey Barracuda win at $3.4
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 2
tuncurry race 6
#4 Battle guardian
Battle Guardian is poised to run a big race in the Tuncurry Cup after his runner-up effort in the Taree Cup last start.
He stormed home from the rear half of the field at Taree a fortnight ago and it shows he is racing in great order.
Comes into this race having drawn well off the fence, which might actually bode well given the track is currently reading as a heavy.
If the inside chops up, jockey Georgina McDonnell should be able to find a passage towards the middle part of the track to be in the better ground.
This horse has shown his ability to handle wet going, which is also a big tick given the conditions.
Suggested Bet: Battle Guardian win at $4.4
Suggested Exotic: Boxed First Four – 1, 2, 4, 9
tuncurry race 7
#15 faatinaat
The barrier draw is what attracts us to Faatinaat in this race.
Happy to take the risk that the inside might be a little off as they day wears on.
The inside barrier should see this sprint settle far closer to the leaders than he did at his most recent run where conceding a huge start from a wide barrier at Taree.
He was simply no mathematical chance of winning given how far back he got, but still as the audacity to run fourth only beaten a length.
Can handle the wet track at Tuncurry as well, which gives us more confidence he can fill a placing at the very worst.
Suggested Bet: Faatinaat each-way at $6 the win and $2.25
