Albury Preview & Best Bets – Friday March 24

Steve Bennett

in Albury 24 Mar 2023

Albury Tips 24/03/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3: No.4 TAPA CAPALL ($3.90 with Ladbrokes)

Mornington galloper TAPA CAPALL had made a promising start to his career and second-up today, looks a serious player for the main prize. Last start, the Fiorente gelding resumed after 10 months in the paddock and was impressive when finishing second in a Class 1 Hcp over 1300m at Sandown. Box-seating to the turn, apprentice Celine Gaudray waited for a gap which never came, forcing her to ease back and go around the leading three, costing the three-year-old up to three lengths and momentum. Once steadied, he hit the line strongly and was stiff not finish closer, beaten a length on the line. He draws nicely in gate five today where he maps to settle better than mid-field and off the fence (still with cover), as Beau Mertens takes the reins for the first time. Already a winner when second-up and successful over the trip, the scene looks set for him to finish one better today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2: No.2 EMPEROR OF FRANCE ($6 with Palmerbet)

Formerly with the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stables, EMPEROR OF FRANCE has had one start for his new stable and impressed enough to suggest he is a prime contender here today. Last start, the Epaulette gelding made his debut for new trainer Debbie Delphin and did well to finish third in the Towong Cup run over the 1600m trip. Slowly away, he settled last of the ten runners, spotting the leaders a dozen lengths and could still see them all on straightening. From there Lewis German threaded his way through narrow gaps and although never really clear, he managed to bullock his way passed others to get up and grab the bronze medal on the line. The big step up in distance looks ideal for him today and rock-hard fit from four starts this time in, he should prove hard to hold out here.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 7: No.8 SUMMERBEEL ($6.50 with Neds)

The Waterhouse & Bott Team make the long trek to Albury today and saddle-up SUMMERBEEL here who finished top-two at his past three starts and looks primed for a crack at victory in the big one here. Last start, the Savabeel mare was shooting for the hat-trick but came across one a bit stronger as she finished second in The Mystic Journey over 2040m at Moonee Valley. Sent out a white-hot $1.90 favourite, she chased Queen Air all the way home but to no avail, finishing four lengths back on the line. She still ran the trip out, 8.2 lengths quicker than benchmark, setting a new personal best that day. Four starts into this campaign, she will be rock-hard fit today and is joined by Winona Costin for her first ride on the mare. She jumps from gate three and maps to box-seat here, giving her every chance to take the cup back to Tulloch Lodge.