Cleveland Bay Handicap 2020 betting tips & strategy
North Queensland’s premier sprint will be run and won on Friday with the staging of the $65,000 Townsville Cleveland Bay Handicap over 1300m. As is usually the case in this time-honoured sprint, there will be plenty of speed engaged from the likes of Dalon, Fratellino, Tango Rain, Monsieur Gustave, Doctor Zous and race favourite Langhro. Nine runners come through the Mackay Newmarket, which gives punters a slight gauge on the form, but we can still expect there to be plenty of value.
Free betting tips for 2020 Cleveland Bay Handicap
Drumbeat’s Choice @ $15 Sportsbet
Elyce Smith and Drumbeat’s Choice filled the placings in both the Rocky and Mackay Newmarket after overcoming the carpark barrier. They’ve drawn gate one here, which will allow Smith to find a good spot on the eight-year-old gelding rather than having to snag back to the rear or be posted wide without cover like she has had to do in the two CQ features. A trip to Brisbane on Saturday will have done the Manzelmann runner a world of good and should see him peaking in this race. He was a narrow runner-up in this race in 2017 when trained by Tom Bourke, so no doubt his new trainer will be hoping to go one better.
Monsieur Gustave @ $11 Sportsbet
Monsieur Gustave was brave in defeat in the Mackay Newmarket when finishing fourth after being wide throughout before finding the front a long way from home. Ash Butler retains the ride on the Darryl Hansen gelding and will press on towards the front from barrier 14. He’s an Eye Liner winner, a Glasshouse Handicap winner and a Group 3 George Moore winner, so the Cleveland Bay is a race that would fit nicely on his CV. He will need luck from the wide gate and top weight, but he’s an old marvel and as tough as they come in racing. It will take a good run to win it, but you simply cannot rule him out.
Casino Thoughts @ $27 Sportsbet
There’s a handful of others we can easily make a case for, so exotics plays may be worth a go. Langhro was dominant when winning at Ipswich three weeks ago by nearly two lengths but will have to work hard for the lead from barrier 21 (16 after emergencies), which could see him fold in the straight. Casino Thoughts, another warhorse, is paying a ridiculous $27 despite running second in the Rockhampton Newmarket and fifth in the Mackay Newmarket. He should get a good run off the pace and make his case known in the concluding stages. Finally, former Waterhouse & Bott galloper Tango Rain gets in this very well at the weights. He won five on the trot at Mt Isa before finishing second at this course last week when beaten by a tenth of a length, so he deserves his chance in the race.
Drumbeat’s Choice – $10 each way
Monsieur Gustave – $10 each way
Casino Thoughts – $10 each way
1-4-5-9-14 – $40 boxed quinella