112.45pm – Rosehill – WHATELEY

He comes here with the BEST last-start rating and goes very well fresh. He’s had a little freshen-up, so the only question is exactly where his fitness is.

On the numbers though, he’s an outstanding each-way play and I’m also pretty confident the favourite is very beatable.

Whateley doesn’t win very often — he treats winning like I treat going to the gym: plenty of good intentions, just not enough actual appearances.

But if ever there was a race for him to remember what the winning post is for, this looks it.

Each-way confidence: 7/10

2.19pm – Gold Coast – GOLDEN SMILE

She raced last start like someone had let 20 PSI out of all four tyres. It was completely unexpected because her form before that had been good for her.

My main concern is how she handles the all-weather surface. On the numbers it looks a three-horse race between her, Top Weight and Weekend Artist.

At the current price, she’s very tempting.

Confidence: 7/10

Last start was hopefully one of those performances we delete from the browser history and agree never to discuss again.

2.54pm – Gold Coast – KHARIF

Won well last start and this is his distance.

If he simply holds that form, he looks a pretty safe play at the current odds. Constant Café is the testing material, particularly with the 3kg claim.

Win confidence: 6/10

Not one I’d be selling the house to back — but I’d certainly be prepared to put the air fryer on Facebook Marketplace.

4.28pm – Doomben – PEREILLE

Fast becoming one of our favourite horses because of his incredible consistency — and gee, he looks beautifully placed here.

The key is getting him a back early so he switches off. If that happens, he should be explosive late.

Taltarni Fields and Epic Proportions look the main dangers, but if Pereille holds his form, he’s the one they have to beat.

Each-way confidence: 9/10.

A quality horse.

If this bloke was any more honest, he’d ring the ATO himself and tell them about the cash jobs.

4.44pm – Gold Coast – TWOEXCEL

Well-bred filly who produced a career-best last start, but unfortunately she walks straight into another tough race.

She’s been harder to catch than a tradie who owes you a quote, and on current ability this looks about 2–4 lengths too hard for her.

Happy to watch, cheer and hope she proves me completely wrong.

But the current $7.50 is absolutely poisonous.

I’d rather gargle glue than take $7.50.

She should be double that quote, and at that price the bookmaker isn’t offering us value — he’s checking whether we’ve suffered a recent head injury