Railway Stakes 2024 betting preview & tips | November 23

The 2024 Railway Stakes is set to headline the second day of The Pinnacles at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, with a full field of 16 runners expected to clash in the 1600m contest. With a prize pool of $1.5 million up for grabs, the top trainers from Victoria and New South Wales have launched an assault on the season’s first Group 1 race in Western Australia.

The Neville Parnham-trained Bustler claimed victory in the 2023 Railway Stakes, and he will attempt to defend his title. Will the West Australian dominance of the Railway continue, or will one of the interstate raiders claim victory in the feature for the first time since 2015?

2024 Railway Stakes odds

Horse racing bookmakers believe the 2024 Railway Stakes is a wide-open affair, with only four runners marked in single figures. The betting market is led by the Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man at $4, closely followed by Zipaway ($6) and Belclare ($7). Democracy Manifest ($9) rounds out the runners under $10; however, the chances don’t end there, as the likes of Socks Nation ($13), Bustler ($15) and Super Smink ($13) all come through strong form races.

2024 Railway Stakes speed map

Belclare, Comfort Me and Searchin Rocs will settle in the first three, with each of those runners drawing middle barriers. From wider gates, expect Socks Nation and Zipaway to push forward and attempt to settle forward of midfield along with the race favourite. Democracy Manifest and Super Smink have drawn horrible barriers, but that won’t worry them too much as they are expected to settle at the rear of the field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Railway Stakes.

Railway Stakes 2024 preview & form

Zipaway won the Group 2 WA Guineas on this day last year, and he will return to Ascot for his second start of the preparation. First-up, the Neville Parnham-trained gelding was held up at the top of the home straight before switching back to the inside to run home strongly into fourth place. The son of Playing God went within a head of Zaaki and Dom To Shoot in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes last year, and if he brings that form to this contest, he will prove extremely hard to beat.

If Zipaway is unable to secure the prize, Socks Nation appears to be a great each-way bet with PlayUp following her third-place finish behind Atishu and Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes last start. Light Infantry Man and Super Smink are a couple of the main dangers to the top two, and if the leaders run the race along at a strong tempo, look for them swooping home down the middle of the track late.

Railway Stakes 2024 selections & best bets

• 16
  

  ZIPAWAY

• 10
  

  SOCKS NATION

• 5
  

  LIGHT INFANTRY MAN

• 13
  

  SUPER SMINK

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