Best Bets for Nicopolis Stakes Day at Belmont.

We head to Belmont this weekend with the Nicopolis Stakes the feature event with eight races on the card.

Good weather during the week sees the track rated a Soft 5 on Thursday, and with fine conditions forecast up to and through Saturday, we could be on a Good track for the first time in a while.

The rail moves back to the 7-metre position for racing this weekend on what is a competitive card with The Pinnacles just around the corner.

We'll touch on the feature to begin because there looks to be some value about the first-up galloper BOOTS LIKE BRUCE who makes plenty of appeal at an each-way price.

He's been off the scene for a little while, but lines up at his preferred track and trip off a 287-day break with a sharp trial under his belt.

The Lark Hill heat was the fastest of the day and the form coming out of that trial has stood up over the past couple of weeks.

He was probably outclassed in his three runs last campaign, but his fresh effort in the Prince Of Wales over 1000m last year turned in a strong figure.

Where he gets to from the barrier is a query, but this is a winnable race for him based on what we saw 12 months ago and at the trials recently.

Final Siren is another who ticks a few boxes following a nice Belmont trial recently where he shot clear of his rivals after setting the tempo. He was strong late in the Beaufine down the Pinjarra straight, but this scenario looks to suit him much better with the Golden Saddle at Kalgoorlie on the horizon.

Another Golden Saddle contestant Stormchaser comes here second-up off a good run behind Phanta in the Newmarket.

He did jump favourite there which holds plenty of weight and the map looks to work out well for him in the Nicopolis this weekend.

It looks a good race on paper, but as mentioned off the top, Boots Like Bruce looks to have a bit of value about him and he's the way I'm leaning in the Nicopolis.

Only a couple of races later, Simon Miller's SHMOOV MOOVA steps up to 1400m for the first time this campaign following a narrow defeat over 1200m three weeks ago.

The lightly races son of Territories moved through the grades nicely last time in work and ticked the 1400m box in a BM66+ at Ascot in March.

Pike was on board for his fresh effort where he jumped a $1.90 chance and didn't handle the heavy conditions, but with a firmer deck on offer today, it's expected that we can see him back to his best.

With Cosmic Crusader being off a year-long spell and Sunny Honey maybe not at his best his past couple and drawn sticky, the door is wide open for Shmoov Moova to show what he's capable of, and maybe even throw his name into the fray for The Pinnacles.

The Best From The West

Race 4 #1 BOOTS LIKE BRUCE

Race 6 # 9 SHMOOV MOOVA