Armidale (NSW) horses tips & previews

15 Nov, 3:24 am AEDT

One race at a time: field, form guide and win/place odds for Armidale (NSW), with capture times on every price.

Meeting — Sun 8 Nov, 11:00 am AEDT

Meetings · Sun, 8 NovArmidale (NSW)Change

Race 4 — Bishops Hardware / Guyra Bowling Club (Bm66) 1100m · jumps Sun 8 Nov, 3:40 pm AEDT

Race preview

Welcome to Armidale for race four on the card, the Bishops Hardware / Guyra Bowling Club Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1100m. The track is rated a Good 4 with fine weather overhead, setting up a ripping contest. Looking at the win market order, Breukelen heads the betting as the shortest runner, followed closely by The Lupercal, Soobooco, and Denial rounding out the front end of the market. The numbers jump off the page for this clash, so let us dive straight into the form and find some value for your quaddie tickets!

The market leader Breukelen returns here for a second campaign following a 32-week spell, jumping from barrier eight for trainer Melanie O'Gorman and jockey Mikayla Weir. This runner showed plenty of promise during the first preparation, wrapping it up with a confidence-boosting win over 1300m at this exact Armidale track, and tuned up nicely with a recent trial placing at Tamworth. Meanwhile, The Lupercal sits next in the betting order from barrier three under Zac Wadick for trainer D B Campbell, coming off a solid fourth over this exact 1100m trip at Port Macquarie in soft going, and the stats say this fit campaigner can make its presence felt. Further down, Denial jumps from barrier seven for Paul Snowden and Ben Looker, looking to bounce back after making some headway without threatening over 1300m at Taree before dropping back to this shorter trip.

Race notes

BM66,BM66 HCP,Benchmark 66
GOOD4
Fine
8 runners

Shortest win price

Breukelen (5)

2.30

Most career wins

Soobooco and To Be Frank

5 each

Speed map

Back left · leaders right

Backmarker

8Northern Boogie

Midfield

2Enniroc
5Breukelen
1Denial

Offpace

9Desert Cougar

Onpace

3Soobooco

Leader

6The Lupercal
7To Be Frank

Denial · Positive
Rider SR
Jockey recent POT is 20% better than Career Avg.
Enniroc · Positive
Fast Finisher
Fastest Overall Finishing Sectionals Last Start
Soobooco · Negative
Current SR
Rider’s recent POT is returning 6% lower than Career Avg.
Breukelen · Negative
Trainer Recent
Camp struggling with S/R just 9%

No.RunnerBarWgtLast 5WinPlace

1DenialJ: Ben Looker·T: Paul Snowden761kg6 5 6 5 515: 2-2-1$9.00$2.35

Career

15: 2-2-1

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Midfield

BackLead

Figures

Jockey100%
Trainer80%
Jockey/Trainer Combo100%
Early Speed80%
Rating60%
Closing Speed80%

Record

First-up
4: 1-1-0
Second-up
3: 0-1-0
Third-up
2: 0-0-0
Fourth-up
2: 0-0-0
Track Kembla Grange
2: 1-0-0
Track Taree
1: 0-0-0
Track Caulfield
1: 0-0-0
Distance 1000m
1: 0-1-0
Distance 1004m
1: 0-0-0
Distance 1020m
1: 0-0-0
Going Good
7: 2-0-0
Going Soft
8: 0-2-1

Last starts

5Taree1300m16 Oct 2026 · BM86 HCP · SOFT63.5L
5Port Macquarie1004m27 Sept 2026 · BM74 · GOOD42.04L
6Kembla Grange1200m15 Aug 2026 · Benchmark 64 · GOOD42.5L
5Illawarra Grange1200m30 July 2026 · BM68 HCP · GOOD43.5L
6Moruya1020m10 July 2026 · BM66 · SOFT53L
5Hawkesbury1100m7 Mar 2026 · Benchmark 64 · SOFT51.8L
5Goulburn1300m12 Feb 2026 · BM66 · GOOD44.5L
9Randwick Kensington1250m21 Jan 2026 · 3&4Y BM64 · SOFT76.2L

Insights

Rider SR
Positive
Jockey recent POT is 20% better than Career Avg.
Key Rider
Positive
Ben Looker 27% above market expected in L100 Rides
Early Sectionals
Negative
Recent sectional data suggests slow early pace
Awkward Draw
Negative
Would have liked a better draw
Blinkers Off
Positive
Blinkers coming off this start
Class Rise
Negative
Racing in stronger company
Up In Weight
Negative
Goes up 6kg weight here

Comments

AAP

Made some headway without troubling at Taree. Drops to shorter trip. Capable of making an impact with even luck.

ILB

Jumped at $9.00 and hit the line well when 5th last run at Taree and matched against less formidable competition. Ben Looker is in form for this stable. Not at all out of this race.

Finished fifth but wasn't beaten too far (3½l, Taree) last month upped to 6½f; not always shown an awful lot since winning a handicap at Gundagai in January; others more likely.

RSIS

At 8/1 ran past a few when 5th last time at Taree and facing a weaker group of contenders. Ben Looker and Paul Snowden are a formidable team. Could feature here.

2EnnirocJ: Grady Spokes·T: D J Hatch161kg1 4 7 5 122: 4-3-4$9.00$2.35

Career

22: 4-3-4

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Midfield

BackLead

Figures

Jockey80%
Trainer100%
Jockey/Trainer Combo100%
Early Speed100%
Rating60%
Closing Speed100%

Record

First-up
4: 0-1-1
Second-up
3: 2-0-0
Third-up
3: 0-1-1
Fourth-up
2: 0-0-0
Track Gosford
1: 0-0-0
Track CurrentTrack
2: 0-2-0
Track Grafton
2: 1-0-0
Distance 1030m
1: 1-0-0
Distance 1050m
1: 0-0-1
Distance 1115m
1: 0-0-0
Going Good
12: 1-2-2
Going Heavy
1: 0-0-0
Going Soft
9: 3-1-2

Last starts

1Tamworth1000m25 Aug 2026 · CL3 BM66 · SOFT5-0.1
5Dubbo1120m10 Aug 2026 · HCP · HEAVY93.2L
7Quirindi1200m4 Aug 2026 · BM66 · GOOD32.2L
4Grafton1115m5 July 2026 · CL3 HCP · SOFT50.7L
1Grafton1030m6 June 2026 · CL3 · SOFT6-0.4
3Inverell1050m22 May 2026 · BM58 · GOOD41.7L
11Gosford1000m9 May 2026 · 3yo+ · GOOD46.9L
3Tamworth1000m24 Apr 2026 · BM58 HCP · GOOD40.9L

Insights

Fast Finisher
Positive
Fastest Overall Finishing Sectionals Last Start
Hot J/T Combo
Positive
Combo are out performing market expectations by 50%
Trainer ROI
Positive
Runners from this stable currently going at 6% POT in L100 Runners
Tricky Map
Negative
Runners with this map, underperform market by 8%
Early Splits
Positive
Has early speed. An advantage on this circuit
Solid Run LS
Positive
Won last start
Drawn In
Positive
Suited drawn down low
Track Exp
Positive
Knows this track well

Comments

AAP

Let-up (75-days). On a tight rein and mowed them down late in Hcp (C3) at Tamworth. Solid efforts here. Tougher ask here but stays on the radar.

ILB

First run back from a break. Displayed a good turn of foot when winning last run at Tamworth and has drawn the rails. Demonstrating upward trajectory in recent races. Gets a chance against these.

Scored by a slim margin in a handicap at Tamworth in August; hard to ignore.

RSIS

First run back from a break. Finished well when winning last time at Tamworth and can save some energy from the draw. Getting better in recent performances. Very capable of taking this out.

3SooboocoJ: Jasmine Urquhart-Warren·T: T G Payne261kg2 6 1 8 548: 5-10-1$4.40$1.40

Career

48: 5-10-1

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Onpace

BackLead

Figures

Jockey20%
Trainer80%
Jockey/Trainer Combo20%
Early Speed100%
Rating60%
Closing Speed80%

Record

First-up
8: 1-3-1
Second-up
7: 0-2-0
Third-up
4: 0-0-0
Fourth-up
4: 0-0-0
Track Randwick
6: 0-0-0
Track Armidale
4: 1-1-0
Track CurrentTrack
4: 1-1-0
Distance 1125m
1: 0-1-0
Distance 1300m
1: 0-0-0
Distance 900m
5: 1-2-0
Going Good
24: 2-5-1
Going Heavy
5: 2-0-0
Going Soft
18: 1-5-0

Last starts

5Moree950m30 Oct 2026 · BM66 · SOFT55.18L
8Port Macquarie1000m9 Oct 2026 · BM66 · GOOD44.55L
1Armidale1100m20 Sept 2026 · Benchmark 66 · GOOD3-0.43
6Mendooran1200m5 Sept 2026 · Benchmark 663.7L
2Gunnedah1000m14 Aug 2026 · BM58 · SOFT60.4L
10Grafton1000m16 July 2026 · BM66 · GOOD36.5L
1Inverell1050m19 June 2026 · Benchmark 58 · GOOD4-2.9
6Coffs Harbour1014m3 June 2026 · BM58 HCP · HEAVY107.8L

Insights

Current SR
Negative
Rider’s recent POT is returning 6% lower than Career Avg.
Rider
Negative
Negative rider change today
Cold J/T Combo
Negative
Combo are losing -100% POT in their L100 Races
Early Sectionals
Negative
Recent sectional data suggests slow early pace
Nice Barrier
Positive
Well drawn from gate 2

Comments

AAP

Sent out $13 when unable to threaten at Moree. Well into preparation now, has some claims.

ILB

Started $13.00 and chased well when 5th last start at Moree and has a positive gate. The large claim from Jasmine Urquhart Warren should help. Watch the betting.

A winner over C&D; beaten just over 5l in fifth over 4½f at Moree (handicap) last Friday; others are preferred.

RSIS

Was 12/1 and made ground when closing off to finish 5th last run at Moree and gets a favourable stall. The large claim from Jasmine Urquhart Warren should help. Betting is the best guide.

4PolymerScratched3––––

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Offpace

BackLead

Figures

Jockey50%
Trainer80%
Jockey/Trainer Combo50%
Early Speed50%
Rating100%
Closing Speed80%

Comments

AAP

Got back and wasn't totally disgraced on a soft deck at Port Macquarie off spell. Strips in better shape. Can show more here.

ILB

At $1.85 picked up some late ground when 5th last run at Port Macquarie.

RSIS

Started 5/6 and edged past some when finishing 5th last time at Port Macquarie.

5BreukelenJ: Mikayla Weir·T: Melanie O'Gorman858.5kg1 3 1 1 24: 2-0-1$2.30$1.20

Career

4: 2-0-1

Rating · IRD

100

Speed map

Midfield

BackLead

Figures

Jockey40%
Trainer40%
Jockey/Trainer Combo100%
Early Speed100%
Rating100%
Closing Speed50%

Record

First-up
2: 0-0-1
Track Coonabarabran
1: 0-0-0
Track Tamworth
1: 0-0-1
Track Armidale
1: 1-0-0
Distance 1000m
1: 0-0-1
Distance 1200m
2: 1-0-0
Distance 1300m
1: 1-0-0
Going Good
4: 2-0-1

Last starts

2Tamworth1000m12 Oct 2026 · Barrier Trial · SOFT(5)0.4L
1Armidale1300m29 Mar 2026 · BM58 · GOOD4-0.4
1Moree1200m17 Mar 2026 · CTRY MDN · GOOD4-1.2
3Tamworth1000m2 Mar 2026 · CTRY MDN-SW · GOOD43.7L
1Scone900m30 Jan 2026 · Barrier Trial-0.1

Insights

Trainer Recent
Negative
Camp struggling with S/R just 9%
Hot J/T Combo
Positive
Combo are winning 27% POT in their L100 Races
Trainer A2E
Negative
Stable currently underperforming market expectation by 32%
Map Suits
Positive
Suitable Map, where runners in this position outperform market by 1%
Lightly Raced
Positive
Limited race experience but shown potential
Track Exp
Positive
Knows this track well
Resuming
Negative
Poor strike rate when first up
Class Rise
Negative
Racing in stronger company

Comments

AAP

Back for second campaign (32-weeks). Will have matured further and shown encouraging trial form. Showed promise throughout first preparation and finished with a confidence-boosting win at this track.

ILB

Back from a 32 week break. Displayed a good turn of foot when winning last start at the track and putting a tidy record together. Competitive type.

On a hat-trick after last win and has made a pleasing start to his career with two wins from three starts; landed a narrow success in a handicap in March; returns from a break here; in with a big shout.

RSIS

First run back from a break of 32 weeks. Charged home to win last start at this track and showing consistent performance in races. Has to be in the finish.

6The LupercalJ: Zac Wadick·T: D B Campbell357.5kg1 3 2 4 440: 4-7-8$4.80$1.50

Career

40: 4-7-8

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Leader

BackLead

Figures

Jockey20%
Trainer40%
Jockey/Trainer Combo20%
Early Speed100%
Rating40%
Closing Speed80%

Record

First-up
4: 0-0-1
Second-up
3: 0-0-0
Third-up
3: 1-0-0
Fourth-up
3: 0-0-1
Track Armidale
4: 0-1-1
Track CurrentTrack
4: 0-1-1
Track Grafton
7: 0-1-2
Distance 1030m
1: 0-0-1
Distance 1050m
2: 0-2-0
Distance 1170m
1: 0-0-0
Going Good
21: 4-5-3
Going Heavy
5: 0-1-1
Going Soft
12: 0-1-4

Last starts

4Port Macquarie1100m25 Oct 2026 · Benchmark 66 · SOFT62.5L
4Grafton1175m13 Oct 2026 · BM58 · HEAVY83.83L
2Grafton1106m29 Sept 2026 · Benchmark 66 · SOFT60.67L
3Grafton1190m21 Sept 2026 · BM66 · GOOD43.2L
1Coffs Harbour1010m3 Sept 2026 · CL3 · GOOD4-1
6Ballina1250m11 Aug 2026 · BM58 · HEAVY105.9L
3Port Macquarie1206m31 July 2026 · BM58 CL2+ · SOFT63L
9Grafton1100m19 July 2026 · Benchmark 58 · SOFT54.2L

Insights

Trainer Recent
Negative
Camp struggling with S/R just 6%
Jockey Booking
Negative
Less suitable jockey engaged
Cold J/T Combo
Negative
Combo are losing -100% POT in their L100 Races
Trainer A2E
Negative
Stable currently underperforming market expectation by 32%
Fast Early
Positive
Sectionals suggest goes hard early
Ran On Hard LS
Positive
Ran on well last start
Dist S/R
Negative
Poor performer at the distance
Form At Track
Negative
Yet to win here

Comments

AAP

Latest attempt this journey when reasonable effort without seriously threatening in soft going at Port Macquarie. Fit from racing, can make his presence felt.

ILB

Jumped at $14.00 and moved ahead of some to finish 4th last run at Port Macquarie. Has good tactical speed and will be nicely positioned. Minor claims.

Respectable effort in defeat (beaten 2½l, Port Macquarie) last month; knocking at the door recently; he can be competitive at this level.

RSIS

At 13/1 overtook some late when 4th last run at Port Macquarie. Shows good early pace.

7To Be FrankJ: Jenny Duggan·T: Ms S Grills657kg4 1 8 7 537: 5-1-2$13.00$2.90

Career

37: 5-1-2

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Leader

BackLead

Figures

Jockey100%
Trainer100%
Jockey/Trainer Combo100%
Early Speed100%
Rating40%
Closing Speed40%

Record

First-up
4: 0-0-0
Second-up
3: 0-0-1
Third-up
3: 1-0-0
Fourth-up
3: 0-0-0
Track Wellington
1: 0-0-0
Track Coonamble
2: 0-0-0
Track CurrentTrack
3: 0-0-0
Distance 1300m
3: 0-0-0
Distance 1400m
14: 3-0-1
Distance 1440m
1: 0-0-0
Going Soft
10: 1-0-1
Going Synthetic
2: 1-0-0
Going Good
19: 2-1-1

Last starts

5Coonabarabran1400m25 Oct 2026 · BM66 · GOOD45.2L
7Coonamble1400m11 Oct 2026 · BM66 HCP · GOOD32.66L
8Scone1400m25 Sept 2026 · BM74 · GOOD49.93L
1Tamworth1400m14 Sept 2026 · Benchmark 66 · GOOD4-0.2
4Scone1600m1 Sept 2026 · BM66 · SOFT52.5L
4Moree1600m6 Aug 2026 · BM58 · GOOD32.1L
3Quirindi1600m13 July 2026 · Benchmark 58 · SOFT72.5L
8Tamworth1400m15 June 2026 · Benchmark 58 · SOFT53.7L

Insights

Rider SR
Positive
Jockey recent POT is 53% better than Career Avg.
Key Rider
Positive
Jenny Duggan 65% above market expected in L100 Rides
Hot J/T Combo
Positive
Combo are out performing market expectations by 55%
Hot Jockey
Positive
Jenny Duggan in hot recent form, out performing market expectation by 65%
Ideal Map
Positive
Map position exceeding market by 4%
Fast Early
Positive
Sectionals suggest goes hard early
Dist Drop
Negative
Distance decrease from last start
Well Placed
Positive
Drops back to a suitable class

Comments

AAP

On pace but found little at the business end at Coonabarabran over longer test. Coming back in distance. A few runs under his belt this campaign, has some claims.

ILB

Started $6.00 and came in 5th last time at Coonabarabran and back in trip. Has shown early pace in races to date. Do not dismiss entirely.

Finished fifth, beaten just over 5l, over 7f at Coonabarabran (handicap) last month; makes limited appeal.

RSIS

Odds of 5/1 and finished 5th last run at Coonabarabran and will be facing a significant drop in distance. Will be positive in the run early.

8Northern BoogieJ: Adam Farragher·T: Philip Duffy455kg8 7 5 9 445: 3-4-8$17.00$3.40

Career

45: 3-4-8

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Backmarker

BackLead

Figures

Jockey100%
Trainer20%
Jockey/Trainer Combo20%
Early Speed20%
Rating20%
Closing Speed50%

Record

First-up
4: 0-1-1
Second-up
3: 0-0-1
Third-up
3: 0-0-1
Fourth-up
3: 0-0-0
Track Armidale
7: 1-0-2
Track CurrentTrack
7: 1-0-2
Track Ballina
2: 0-0-0
Distance 950m
1: 0-0-0
Distance 1205m
1: 0-0-0
Distance 1208m
1: 0-0-0
Going Good
16: 1-1-4
Going Heavy
6: 1-2-0
Going Soft
21: 1-0-4

Last starts

4Tamworth1000m3 Nov 2026 · BM50 · SOFT62.08L
9Tamworth1200m12 Oct 2026 · CTRY CL3 · SOFT53.65L
5Tamworth1000m28 Sept 2026 · CL3 · GOOD41.85L
7Moree950m6 Sept 2026 · CL3 · GOOD46.5L
8Scone1000m17 Aug 2026 · Benchmark 66 · SOFT54.6L
3Quirindi1000m4 Aug 2026 · CL3 · GOOD30.4L
3Coonabarabran900m25 July 2026 · CL3 · SOFT51.5L
11Tamworth1200m3 July 2026 · BM58 CL2+ · SOFT76.5L

Insights

Trainer Recent
Negative
Camp struggling with S/R just 3%
Trainer Recent
Negative
Stable runners are currently underperforming market by 51%
Trainer Form
Negative
Stable out of form, losing 54% Profit on Turnover
Primed
Positive
Fitter here racing on a quick back up
Class Rise
Negative
Racing in stronger company
Weight Drop
Positive
Drops 4.5kg from LS run

Comments

AAP

Backing up quickly. Not disgraced on a soft deck at Tamworth. Not fancied.

ILB

Backing up quickly for this race. Jumped at $3.10 and finished 4th last run at Tamworth and up in class. Does take a while to get into stride. Hard to warm to.

Suited by this C&D; not a frequent winner; finished fourth but only beaten 2l over 5f at Tamworth (handicap) on Tuesday.

RSIS

Racing on a quick back up. Started 11/5 and ran 4th last start at Tamworth and up against stronger opponents. Gets back and needs luck. Gets a reduction in weight.

9Desert CougarJ: Braith Nock·T: T G Payne555kg12 6 9 4 626: 4-2-1$51.00$5.00

Career

26: 4-2-1

Rating · IRD

Speed map

Offpace

BackLead

Figures

Jockey100%
Trainer80%
Jockey/Trainer Combo100%
Early Speed20%
Rating20%
Closing Speed80%

Record

First-up
3: 0-0-1
Second-up
2: 0-0-0
Third-up
2: 1-0-0
Fourth-up
1: 0-0-0
Track Armidale
4: 2-0-0
Track CurrentTrack
4: 2-0-0
Track Doomben
1: 0-0-0
Distance 950m
3: 0-1-0
Distance 1000m
9: 2-0-0
Distance 1005m
1: 0-0-0
Going Good
10: 1-1-0
Going Heavy
2: 1-0-0
Going Soft
8: 1-0-0

Last starts

6Moree950m30 Oct 2026 · BM66 · SOFT58.02L
4Bundarra1000m3 Oct 2026 · BM505.27L
9Armidale1100m20 Sept 2026 · Benchmark 66 · GOOD36.43L
6Moree950m6 Aug 2026 · BM58 · GOOD34L
12Grafton1100m19 July 2026 · Benchmark 58 · SOFT56L
10Tamworth1000m15 June 2026 · BM58 · SOFT54.1L
7Inverell1200m26 Dec 2025 · BM589.2L
6Gunnedah1000m6 Dec 2025 · BM58 · GOOD42.4L

Insights

Hot J/T Combo
Positive
Combo are out performing market expectations by 89%
Well beaten LS
Negative
Not competitive last run
Track And Dist
Positive
Excels at this track and trip
Form At Track
Positive
2 time winner here at Armidale
Struggling
Negative
Doesn’t look to be going well

Comments

AAP

Failed to threaten at Moree at wide odds. Others with greater appeal.

ILB

Was $41.00 and performed below standard when 6th last start at Moree. Struggling this preparation with no placings from 6 attempts. Looking elsewhere.

Close up behind Soobooco when sixth at Moree over 4½f (handicap) last week; a C&D winner; she meets the required standard ability wise; capable of making an impact.

RSIS

Started 40/1 and ordinary performance when 6th last start at Moree. Yet to fire of late.

Odds correct as at Sun 8 Nov, 3:40 pm AEDT. Odds can change.

Past meetings

Sun 20 Sept, 10:00 am AEST · 7 races