Ballina Preview & Best Bets – 01/03/2024

Ballina Tips for Friday, March 1

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.5  JEWELS STATEMENT 

With half the field now scratched from this event, the job becomes that much easier for Samantha McGuren-trained JEWELS STATEMENT to make it three-straight top-two finishes here. Last start, the Press Statement filly came off a big debut win on this track when she beat all but one home in a Class 1 over 1106m at Grafton. McGuren’s jockey husband Matt has the reins today and from gate two, should have little trouble settling in front. Already a track and distance winner and fitter for those two runs, she looks the testing material in the small field today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.10  TRUE FAIRY

Local galloper, TRUE FAIRY is now three starts into her racing career and looks all set for back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the Real Steel filly broke through for her first win when she finished strongly to beat home the 10-strong field in a 1536m Maiden at Lismore. Noriyuki Masuda remains the only rider to partner the filly and that doesn’t change today as he steers the ship again. Nicely weighted for her first crack in Class 1 company, a trouble-free run here should see her there at the finish again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.6  YUKANUMA

Local trainer, Stephen Lee saddles-up YUKANUMA here who returns to the country racing scene today and looks better suited under these conditions. Last start, the Real Impact gelding came off a big win at Coffs Harbour when he took on Class 4 company at Eagle Farm and found that a little too tough, finishing down the track in the 1600m event. Back on home soil today, he is reunited with Jai Williams who boasts a strong record with the five-year-old, with four rides ending in two wins and a runner-up finish. He still seeks his first home-track win but it can happen here today.