Latest News

Tips from Brad Gray

All your tips, form and analysis for Sunday’s Dubbo Country Championships Qualifier.

Winner: 10. La La Loopsy ($2.50)

La La Loopsy looks beautifully placed here by Dubbo-based trainer Peter Nestor. She has won both her starts this time in and in the latest carried a massive 63kg at Bathurst. Under the set weight conditions of the race she drops down to 55.5kg. Third-up over 1400m on her home track looks an ideal preparation.

Although a five-year-old she has only had six starts, winning four of them. Gun country hoop Matty Cahill maintains the ride having steered her to victory both times this campaign. La La Loopsy is so well suited and should be able to get the job done for her supporters.

What the trainer says (Peter Nestor): "I think the mare is still improving so with all that you’d think she’s got to be very, very hard to beat"

Related article La La Loopsy Set To Dazzle At Dubbo

La La Loopsy brave with 63kg!

Quinella: 3. Eagles Dare ($17)

This ex-Victorian has always had ability but as his record (20:2-2-8) suggests, he is a bit of an enigma. However, Mark Jones seems to have sparked him into gear with very positive tactics. When he is able to roll along in front, as he proved at Parkes two starts back, he can be tough to run down. He was very plain in town last start but he was beaten too quickly for it to be true to form. Prepared to forgive him that one shocker.

He has drawn wide so Andrew Banks will have his hand forced to press on from the wide gate. He is 4:2-0-2 over 1400m. Don’t be surprised if he fills a hole at double figure odds.

All the way win for Eagles Dare - 21 Jan

Trifecta: 1. A Magic Zariz ($7)

A Benchmark 65 at Mudgee back on February provides an important form reference for this race with five of the 14 runners coming through it. There is no doubt that A Magic Zariz was the best run of that lot. He was strung up half way down the straight before charging to the line.

Like La La Loopsy, he is also very well suited to the set weight conditions of the race being one of the highest rated runners here. Barrier 13 is sticky for Daniel Northey but he knows him better than anyone having ridden him in six of his eight starts (and in two of his three wins). Must be respected on class alone.

That form race at Mudgee - 5 Feb

Roughie: 2. Coming In Hot ($11)

The preparation kicked off with a win at Gilgandra before a second to Lukey at Tamworth and just as everything looked to be going perfectly regarding his Championships campaign, he was trapped five wide at Mudgee last start and dropped right out to finish a long last. Happy to put a pen through the run and go on his previous form.

Drawn barrier 4 here, he should get the run of the race and Greg Ryan sticks.

Related video

Coming In Hot's first-up win - 1 Jan

*All prices courtesy of TAB and are correct as of 2pm Friday on 17 Feb.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Dubbo Championship meeting