Albury Preview & Best Bets – 15/04/2024

Albury Tips for Monday, April 15

Our form expert provides Albury tips for today’s horse racing at Albury Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.3  SNAP BOOK 

The Donna Scott-trained SNAP BOOK drops sharply in grade today and third-up here, ticks every box that puts him up as our best of the day. Last start, the Fighting Sun gelding wasn’t disgraced when he beat all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp, here over the 1500m trip. He jumped well enough but the early speed in the race had him settling worse than mid-field on the fence. With Blaike Mc Dougall aboard, he eased off the rail on the turn and worked into a challenging spot but the leader was off and gone, leaving the five-year-old with the bridesmaid’s prize in the race. Nicely drawn in gate five, he maps to settle in a similar position here. His chances are boosted with yesterday’s Wellington Cup winning rider, Coriah Keatings in the saddle today who also brings a 2kg claim along. Already a winner when third-up and a two-time winner at the track, he looks the testing material in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.3  CHECK SIDE

Locally-trained by Kym Davison, CHECK SIDE has shown plenty of promise in his three starts this preparation and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the well-bred Scissor Kick gelding was third-up when he broke through for his maiden win, here over 1175m. With Nick Souquet aboard, he missed the jump by four lengths and settled last, a dozen lengths off the pace. Looking 100-1 nearing the turn, Souquet had him wide and on the turn, wound him up for a final crack where he stormed home to pass them all and grab the gold medal, going on to put 1.5 lengths on the field. The extra distance here looks ideal for him today after a strong finish like that. Souquet remains the pilot here and fourth-up he should be at his peak and ready to win again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.3  SHOOTING FOR STARS

Wangaratta trainer, Andrew Dale saddles-up SHOOTING FOR STARS here who boasts a good track record and ticks all the boxes that suggest she is the one they have to beat today. Last start, the Shooting To Win mare recorded her second win for this campaign when she easily accounted for a BM66 over 1000m at Wagga. Slowly away, she made-up ground to settle on the leader’s heels and in the run home, had punters (who took the skinny $1.65) a little nervous until Billy Owen ‘persuaded’ her to give a little more to which she did and went on to win by 1.5 lengths on the line. Owen sticks with her today where she is already a winner at the track and now has a win over the 1000m as well. With a little luck at barrier rise (from the outside gate), she can go back-to-back today.