Tim O'Connor's Thursday best at Ballarat (25/06)

ANALYSIS: Tricky way to start the meeting at Ballarat, but BETTING ATTACK (1) looks likely to run well given his good gate speed, nice barrier and recent form. He led, handed to DIAMONDONTHEROCKS (3) and then worked into second in a race a few of these contested at Bendigo on June 17. He’s a key winning chance. Fast beginner SEASIDE LADY (5) and JUST LIKE NUGGET (4) have been beaten less than 10m in their past five starts and appear ready to win a race, while MISTY ALWAYS (12) was somewhat of an eye-catcher on debut after galloping early, drifting back to last and then closing nicely to finish fifth. She was in the market in that race and might be the late closer from the wide back row draw.

SELECTIONS: BETTING ATTACK (1), SEASIDE LADY (5), JUST LIKE NUGGET (4), MISTY ALWAYS (12)

ANALYSIS: ALCOMBZ (11) had shown a bit at the trials – including a nice second to the talented Spirited Lass – before completely mucking up his race debut at Geelong last Friday night when beaten out of sight. He’s worth another chance in this maiden event where there’s not a lot of form to get excited about. ROCKINWITHSASS (12) made an early move to find the front and boxed on well enough for third last time at Maryborough, MI BOW (7) has had 25 starts without success but is inching closer to victory, while EL UNO (10) has raced roughly his last couple but is amongst a host of other chances like NEDZA THRILLER (2), ISLAND RUBEE (3), ARIVADERCHI (6) and SOLO SAPPHIRE (8) that wouldn’t completely shock at their best.

BACK: ALCOMBZ (11) – 1 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: ALCOMBZ (11), ROCKINWITHSASS (12), MI BOW (7), EL UNO (10)

ANALYSIS: ESCOBAR (10) is first-up for new trainer Vince Vallelonga and warmed up for this with a third placing to Soho Hudson – a subsequent victor at Melton – and Inter Dominion-winning trotter Arcee Phoenix at the Kilmore trials. That reads well for this, and he might be worth a play at likely each-way odds in a wide-open event. JUSTLIKEDAVE (9) couldn’t work into things when out the back at Cranbourne last time, but I loved the finale from last when fourth to in-form pair Talkbabytalk and Shiffrin two runs back at Geelong, BLUE MIKI (8) won a tune-up trial following his last outing and has some form to like, while WICHITA KANSAS (2) would be a winning hope if he pushed forward and found the front.

BACK: ESCOBAR (10) – 0.5 units (each-way)

SELECTIONS: ESCOBAR (10), JUSTLIKEDAVE (9), BLUE MIKI (8), WICHITA KANSAS (2)

ANALYSIS: POPPY POPSTAR (2) is currently in great form and certainly looks capable of adding another victory to her resume. She led and was only nailed late by Deep Love at Maryborough on June 17 and before that ran second to Artigas, who has won twice at Melton on a Saturday night since. Hard to beat. AI SEDHAI (5) is also racing in great form and followed up a good Maryborough win with a game third placing at Geelong last Friday, NO TELLING HEATHER (1) isn’t setting the world on fire at present but should run well in this grade from gate one, while NIGHT FLIGHT (4) has blistering gate speed and can figure if he gets down to the pegs from gate four.

BACK: POPPY POPSTAR (2) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: POPPY POPSTAR (2), AI SEDHAI (5), NO TELLING HEATHER (1), NIGHT FLIGHT (4)

ANALYSIS: SHEZALOVER (4) has won both her starts this campaign in good style and strikes a very suitable assignment to make it three on the trot. Louis Emerson takes over the reins in this concession drivers’ contest and should be able to drive a confident race on the four-year-old mare. THE FIERY SUNSET (9) hasn’t been seen at the races or trials since October last year, but finished that campaign in great form and certainly looks up to a race like this, ALLWATFUNJINGLES (3) is usually around the mark at this level, while BAARLINEE (7) has won five of 12 starts at the Ballarat circuit and is going along fairly well at present.

SELECTIONS: SHEZALOVER (4), THE FIERY SUNSET (9), ALLWATFUNJINGLES (3), BAARLINEE (7)

ANALYSIS: MONTANA PRIDE (5) has been buried away on the fence his last three starts and nowhere to be seen in the finish, but produced an eye-catching third to the in-form Major Blitz when last at Ballarat in what was a great run. The small field suits and he looks well and truly up to turning around his form in this. CELESTIAL ZODIAC (4) has been hitting the line hard recently and looms as a good chance, LEAVEMEOUT (2) draws alongside stablemate SHAZZA LOVE (1) and beat home all bar SWEET IRISH LOCH (6) last time at Melton, while KATUNGA EXPRESS (7) is racing well and is another of the hopes in a race where they all have claims.

SELECTIONS: MONTANA PRIDE (5), CELESTIAL ZODIAC (4), LEAVEMEOUT (2), KATUNGA EXPRESS (7)

ANALYSIS: REIGN EM IN (4) looks the likely leader here and must be a great winning hope based on recent form. Last time, he withstood pressure, eventually handed up the front and battled away to only be beaten 7.2m in good time and in a stronger race than this. Before that, he chased home the smart Some Magic at Geelong with a good gap back to third. He should give a great sight. CALYPSO MISTRESS (2) now starts from the pole with the scratching of SOMETUFFLUV (1) and is another that’s going really well, IM THE REASON (6) performed well at the trials but ran into a smart one first-up at Ballarat and can improve sharply here, while GOODTIME CAPTAIN (7) won from the front at Melton on May 15 and is also a hope along with debut winner SWEET GEM (5).

BACK: REIGN EM IN (4) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: REIGN EM IN (4), CALYPSO MISTRESS (2), IM THE REASON (6), GOODTIME CAPTAIN (7)

ANALYSIS: IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (6) has been racing well since joining the Carson Millar team and put in another good performance when third after leading up the three-wide line at Geelong last Friday night. That looked a stronger race than this and I’d be surprised if he didn’t win or go really close. QUICK CRUNCH (5) had the dream run in behind the leader and sprinted well to score second-up at Cranbourne last time, RENNIE TIN TIN (4) has ordinary race form but has trialled up nicely with two wins at Bacchus Marsh ahead of this first-up assignment, while DOT BALL (3) came from last at the bell and went within a neck of victory in what was a great effort last time at Bendigo.

BACK: IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (6) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (6), QUICK CRUNCH (5), RENNIE TIN TIN (4), DOT BALL (3)