Armidale Preview & Best Bets – Sunday December 11

Armidale Tips 11/12/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.3  SUPERIOR WITNESS  ($6.50 with Neds)

The Luke Thomas-trained SUPERIOR WITNESS has been primed for this and second-up today looks a genuine winning chance. Last start, the Star Witness gelding resumed after 11 months off the scene and wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in the Rusty Spanner Sprint over 1000m at Muswellbrook. Trying to lead all the way, he fought like a caged tiger but couldn’t match it with the two that beat him home that day. The main boxes ticked here see Ray Spokes returning for the ride, who is two from two on the five-year-old and his second-up record which reads two wins and a runner-up finish from three previous second-up appearances. He is drawn out but does have early gate speed which should see Spokes cross and settle in the first half-dozen. With a trouble-free run here, he can get the job done today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.7  ARLIEBEL  ($7 with Palmerbet)

Tamworth galloper ARLIEBEL is in outstanding form this time in and with a win here already, she looks primed to make it two from two today. Last start, the Counterattack mare came off back-to-back victories when she just missed the hat-trick, beating all but one home in a BM58 Hcp over 1200m on her home track. She ran the quickest final 600m, 3 lengths better than benchmark, the best last start effort here and posted the fastest final 800m sectional as well. She is up in grade today but certainly looks ready for it and has Luke Rolls in saddle for this contest. Drawn well in a big field (6), she can give this a real shake at odds.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.4  KINGSTAR BULLET  ($14 with Unibet)

Half the field for this year’s Cup are under $10, making it an open affair with track specialist KINGSTAR BULLET standing out as a major player for the trophy. Last start, the locally-trained Bull Point mare was third-up when she rattled home at Tamworth to miss the money by a whisker, taking home second prize in Open company over the mile. With Mikayla Weir aboard, she came from well back to finish a neck shy of victory that day. She ran her last 600m, 3.9 lengths quicker than benchmark, second-best behind Beckford (who concedes her 5kgs today). Weir has enjoyed success with her previously having scored three times (and taking home three second prize finishes as well) from her eight rides to date. With those three runs behind here now, she should be at her peak here and looks well worth an each-way ticket today.