#Mark Du Plessis

A midweek wedged between Christmas and New Year often provides the unexpected and market leads should not be ignored. With the rail out seven metres on a good track all will get their chance and staying with the better stables and in-form riders usually proves profitable.

One lucky Melbourne Cup punter pulled off the unthinkable on Tuesday, correctly guessing the order of the first four finishers to turn a measly $10 bet into $240000. Cup winner Almandin and Heartbreak City were neck and neck down the hope straight but to the punter's delight the Kerrin McEvoy gelding edged home - and Hartnell and Qewy followed in…

Friday night racing returns to the Sunshine Coast for a solid seven race card. BEST BET: TRANQUIL BAY (Race 5 No 9) NEXT BEST: LOOSE UNIT (Race 4 No 5) VALUE BET: CADERAS (Race 2 No 3) Quaddie numbers are: Race 4 - 4,5,7 Race 5 - 2,6,9,10 Race 6 - 4,7,9,10 Race 7 - 3,4 96…

The Summer Carnival is upon us with the Listed Keith Noud the feature and whilst Doomben plays to front runners, on a good surface with the rail true all horses should get their chance. Mares in form have been good to me of late and I have gone overboard here. BEST BET: SALATEEN (Race 8 No 8) NEXT BEST: EKATERINA (Race 6 No 4) VALUE BET: STRATEGIC…

Ipswich has been getting plenty of racing and with the rail out between eight and 10 metres that will make it tough for those drawn in the boondocks. The tight track favours front-runners and with a bit of light rain around to take the sting out of the ground I want to be on those that can make their own luck.

Leaders dominated last week at Eagle Farm and with rail going out to four metres much of the same can be expected. Once again, there are southern raiders coming up in search of good ground but previous experience on the track is advantageous. The talented 3kg claimer Angela Jones is currently leading the Queensland Metro Jockeys premiership and I…

Good gates and luck in running often make the difference at Ipswich and I am expecting much of the same again. The tight track favours front-runners and on a soft surface with the rail out half a metre I want to be on those that can take luck out of the equation.

The time-honoured Weetwood and Toowoomba Cups along with the first two-year-old race of the season herald the start of spring racing in Queensland. The undulating track can pose issues for visitors and it pays to be wary of the local trainers on what is their big day. Some rain is forecast but with the rail true all horses should get their chance…

Another off-season meeting brightened by some talented ones resuming. With fine weather forecast a good track is likely for Eagle Farm and with the rail out seven metres all horses will get their chance. With no standouts on the card I will be avoiding the short-priced ones and looking for value runners from in-form stables.

After a spate of Ipswich and Doomben midweeks it is back to the wide-open spaces of Eagle Farm. The firm surface can bother a few but with the rail out 10.5 metres all horses will get their chance and I am keen on a few dropping back from Saturday grade. BEST BET: GEMELON BOLT (Race 5 No 1) NEXT BEST: THIRD TIME ROUND (Race 7 No 12) VALUE…