Ballina Preview & Best Bets – 15/08/2023

Ballina Tips for Tuesday, August 15

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.12  REVONTULET  ($4.65 with BoomBet)

Locally-trained by Stephen Lee, REVONTULET has missed just one podium finish in six career-starts and third-up today, looks the one to beat here. Last start, the Foxwedge mare finally shook off the minor placings bug when she broke through for her maiden win over 1410m at Grafton. She showed a strong turn of foot over the final 200m as she came from behind to claim victory in the event, starting from the outside gate (11) that day. Drawn even better today in gate five, Jai Williams returns for his second ride on the four-year-old and after his claim, the mare comes in nicely at the weights with just 56kgs to carry. With a trouble-free run today, she looks the testing material in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.15  CONNELLY  ($4 with bet365)

The Team Edmonds-trained CONNELLY gains a start here and has the runs on the board to suggest he will take beating today. Last start, the Capitalist gelding came off his Maiden win on the synthetic track at the Gold Coast when he then took on a BM60 field on the same track and beat all but one of them to the line over 1100m. He steps-up a little in grade today and has Andrew Mallyon as the pilot for the first time. At his peak after four starts this time in, he is well drawn in gate five and looks to play a major role in the outcome of this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.9  SMOOTH TORQUE  ($4.20 with Palmerbet)

SMOOTH TORQUE has his first start for the Matt Dunn stable today and looks well placed here to kick things off on a winning note in this contest. Last start, the Sebring mare ended her relationship with the Kacy Fogden stable when she broke through for her maiden win, here over 1310m after a four-week let-up. She steps-up to the mile today and has Ben Looker in the saddle for the first time. She draws wide today (gate 11) but is expected to drop back and should be doing her best work late. She looks in the mix today.