{"id":88597,"date":"2026-07-23T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=88597"},"modified":"2026-07-23T11:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T01:29:40","slug":"grafton-best-bets-friday-july-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2026\/07\/grafton-best-bets-friday-july-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Grafton Best Bets \u2013 Friday,\u00a0July 24\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Friday racing heads to Grafton with a competitive card on offer, and with Matt Dunn looking set for a big day, we\u2019ve done the form to find our best bets on the program.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Race 2 – GRAFTON SHEETMETAL COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES)<\/div>\n
No. 1 Torque So Hot<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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TORQUE SO HOT (1)<\/strong> was good at the Gold Coast last start when seventh beaten 3.31 lengths over 1200m after settling too far back and needing a positive ride.<\/p>\n

Prior to that, he was solid first-up at Ballina when second beaten 2.89 lengths over 1000m on heavy ground after over-racing.<\/p>\n

This looks easier than last start and the Matt Dunn-trained gelding gets blinkers on for the first time.<\/p>\n

He should settle in a prominent position and gets a great chance to break through.<\/p>\n

Grafton R2 – Grafton Sheetmetal Country Boosted Mdn Hcp<\/span> <\/div>
Final<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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1st<\/span><\/div>
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1. Torque So Hot (5)<\/span>
J: Nick Heywood<\/span> 58.5kg<\/span><\/div>
54×27<\/span>T: Matthew Dunn<\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
1.26<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/div>
1.02<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 24\/07\/2026 12:16:24 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n View Results: Grafton Race 2<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Race 5 – HERB BLANCHARD HAULAGE MAIDEN PLATE (1125 METRES)<\/div>\n
No. 3 Sorrenti<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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SORRENTI (3)<\/strong> resumes from a long spell after placing in both runs during his first preparation, including a close third beaten 0.59 lengths at Murwillumbah.<\/p>\n

The Matt Dunn-trained three-year-old has since been gelded and his two trials should have him ready to fire first-up.<\/p>\n

He showed enough ability last time in to suggest a maiden like this is within reach.<\/p>\n

He should enjoy a nice run for Nick Heywood on speed.<\/p>\n

Grafton R5 – Herb Blanchard Haulage Mdn Plate<\/span> <\/div>
Final<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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2nd<\/span><\/div>
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3. Sorrenti (6)<\/span>
J: Nick Heywood<\/span> 59kg<\/span><\/div>
23x<\/span>T: Matthew Dunn<\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
2.15<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/div>
1.16<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 24\/07\/2026 01:59:40 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n View Results: Grafton Race 5<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Race 7 – GRAFTON GAS & PLUMBING CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1125 METRES)<\/div>\n
No. 4 Brutal Miss<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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BRUTAL MISS (4)<\/strong> resumes on the back of a nice trial after contesting stronger races last preparation.<\/p>\n

She finished last time in with runs at Eagle Farm and Sunshine Coast in handy three-year-old company, which looks tougher than this.<\/p>\n

The Matt Dunn-trained filly was a strong first-up winner last preparation, scoring at the Gold Coast over 1000m.<\/p>\n

With that fresh record and a softer assignment, she looks ready to run well.<\/p>\n

Grafton R7 – Grafton Gas & Plumbing Hcp (C1)<\/span> <\/div>
Final<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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3rd<\/span><\/div>
<\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
4. Brutal Miss (1)<\/span>
J: Nick Heywood<\/span> 57.5kg<\/span><\/div>
187x<\/span>T: Matthew Dunn<\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
1.55<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/div>
1.05<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 24\/07\/2026 03:12:17 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n View Results: Grafton Race 7<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Race 8 – SWEET SISTERS BOUTIQUE COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1430 METRES)<\/div>\n
No. 2 Permission Granted<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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PERMISSION GRANTED (2)<\/strong> endured a tough run over 1215m here last start when fifth beaten 1.99 lengths and can be forgiven for the effort.<\/p>\n

Prior to that, the Matt Dunn-trained gelding was below his best at Ballina but had been good here three starts ago when second beaten a whisker.<\/p>\n

He is rock hard fit deep into the preparation and getting onto a drier track will help.<\/p>\n

The rise in distance should suit and he can settle handy enough to give this a shake.<\/p>\n

Grafton R8 – Sweet Sisters Boutique Country Boosted Hcp (Bm58)<\/span> <\/div>
Final<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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9th<\/span><\/div>
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2. Permission Granted (3)<\/span>
J: Frederick Larson<\/span> 61kg<\/span><\/div>
x4255<\/span>T: Matthew Dunn<\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
3.00<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/div>
1.45<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 24\/07\/2026 03:55:49 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n View Results: Grafton Race 8<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday racing heads to Grafton with a competitive card on offer, and with Matt Dunn looking set for a big day, we\u2019ve done the form to find our best bets on the program. Race 2 – GRAFTON SHEETMETAL COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200 METRES) No. 1 Torque So Hot TORQUE SO HOT (1) was good at the Gold Coast last start when seventh beaten 3.31 lengths over 1200m after settling too far back and needing a positive ride. Prior to that, he was solid first-up at Ballina when second beaten 2.89 lengths over 1000m on heavy ground after over-racing. This…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":76736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[861],"hub_post_cat":[8162],"class_list":["post-88597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing-tips","tag-racing-tips"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"23\/07\/2026","event_country":"Australia","race_card_tips":[{"author_id":"33","race_id":"4f1ee589-2200-4484-a28e-fdfcd32c0bfd","racing_tip":[{"entrants":[{"entrant_id":"ad8d0c32-e3db-4c8e-8e96-50b5eaebff12"}],"summary":"TORQUE SO HOT (1) was good at the Gold Coast last start when seventh beaten 3.31 lengths over 1200m after settling too far back and needing a positive ride. Prior to that, he was solid first-up at Ballina when second beaten 2.89 lengths over 1000m on heavy ground after over-racing. This looks easier than last start and the Matt Dunn-trained gelding gets blinkers on for the first time. He should settle in a prominent position and gets a great chance to break through."}]},{"author_id":"33","race_id":"5e25b028-2538-428f-aeb2-dd23e7c7d1a1","racing_tip":[{"entrants":[{"entrant_id":"16554f95-6b4c-4934-9eb3-ff6872f6602a"}],"summary":"SORRENTI (3) resumes from a long spell after placing in both runs during his first preparation, including a close third beaten 0.59 lengths at Murwillumbah. The Matt Dunn-trained three-year-old has since been gelded and his two trials should have him ready to fire first-up. He showed enough ability last time in to suggest a maiden like this is within reach. He should enjoy a nice run for Nick Heywood on speed."}]},{"author_id":"33","race_id":"e46f513d-5fbf-4160-9818-88e7164deb0e","racing_tip":[{"entrants":[{"entrant_id":"49ec90a2-b6c0-440b-80b4-d4b3be6249aa"}],"summary":"BRUTAL MISS (4) resumes on the back of a nice trial after contesting stronger races last preparation. She finished last time in with runs at Eagle Farm and Sunshine Coast in handy three-year-old company, which looks tougher than this. The Matt Dunn-trained filly was a strong first-up winner last preparation, scoring at the Gold Coast over 1000m. With that fresh record and a softer assignment, she looks ready to run well."}]},{"author_id":"33","race_id":"36ca8fb5-eb8b-4cf5-96e4-bca2a93188e4","racing_tip":[{"entrants":[{"entrant_id":"91513137-7c46-46e7-a3fc-14e55550fc3d"}],"summary":"PERMISSION GRANTED (2) endured a tough run over 1215m here last start when fifth beaten 1.99 lengths and can be forgiven for the effort. Prior to that, the Matt Dunn-trained gelding was below his best at Ballina but had been good here three starts ago when second beaten a whisker. He is rock hard fit deep into the preparation and getting onto a drier track will help. The rise in distance should suit and he can settle handy enough to give this a shake."}]}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88597"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88601,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88597\/revisions\/88601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88597"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=88597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}