Jumps Tips – Thursday Best Bets for Warrnambool

Warrnambool is Australia’s greatest jumping carnival and all the tips you need to back a winner over the sticks are here. The track is expected to be significantly rain affected come Thursday.

Nobody covers the Bool like Betseeker! Check out our jumps and flat Warrnambool racing tips for all three days of the carnival now.

Race 5 – Champion Novice Hurdle (3200m)

Brungle Bertie was simply outstanding at his jumping return at Pakenham. Times aren’t everything, but he ran, easily, the fastest time of the day and went quicker than Saunter Boy and company in their race. Looks the best bet of the carnival.

Strategy: Back Brungle Bertie


Race 7 – Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m)

My favourite race of the year. The ultimate test of horse and rider. Here are my thoughts on each runner. 

1. Bit of a Lad

Unlikely to run and not much hope if he does.

2. Police Camp

Produced a decent trial for this by running third in the Brierly on Tuesday, albeit a long way off the quinella. Place chance.

3. Getting Leggie

Not the worst. Returned to something like his best form last time and he has won a Brierly around this circuit. The question with him is whether he can run the trip.

4. Britannicus

I think he has a really nice profile for this race in a lot of ways except he just doesn’t handle wet ground. That’s a deal breaker given the forecast.

5. Master Poet

Only won 3 from 57 lifetime so he has the profile of a Grand Annual winner from a few years back prior to the Gold Medals/Zed Em era. Returned to form at the right time with a good second at Pakenham last start, I think he will run the trip and he can jump. Good hope at odds.

6. Vanguard

Backing up from the Brierly on Tuesday. Produced an outstanding trial in winning that race and he only has to see out the 5500m and handle the quick back up to be right in this.

7. Heberite

My top pick. Ridden off speed last time at Pakenham which didn’t suit so forget that. His prior form, breeding and everything emanating from the stable suggests he is an ideal Grand Annual horse.

8. Budd Fox

Short priced favourite (prior to Vanguard’s Brierly win) and I couldn’t back him at the current odds or anything close to it. He struggled getting around some of the turns in his trial here and he had a bad tendency to lay in at his fences in the home straight last time at Pakenham. Unproven at the trip as well.

9. American In Paris

Another one I like at a price. Jumps well, stays and has the ability to race on speed which is never a bad thing in this race. Has never run a bad race over this course either and he is in the right hands.

10. San Remo

Not hopeless at huge odds. He was disappointing last start over jumps but his trial form has been strong and his overall record over the sticks is better than one win from eleven starts would suggest.

11. My King’s Counsel

Making up the numbers.

12. Eyes Are Blue

Has flashed some ability at times. In the right hands as Declan Maher pretty much trains his brother’s jumpers. Seen much worse 100-1 shots.

Grand Annual Tips

1. Heberite
2. American In Paris
3. Vanguard

Strategy: Back Heberite, work exotics around Getting Leggie, Master Poet, Vanguard, American In Paris and San Remo.

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Tim is a wagering industry veteran, having spent more than a decade at Sportsbet, BetEasy, TAB and William Hill working in trading and content.