Bathurst Preview & Best Bets – 02/02/2024

Bathurst Tips for Friday, February 2

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 2:  No.2  JONNY BE SWIFT

The Greg Hickman-trained JONNY BE SWIFT is unbeaten in two starts this preparation and looks poised to bring up thew hat-trick today. Last start, the So You Think gelding came off a big Maiden win (1460m) at Queanbeyan when he franked that effort by taking out a BM58 over the longer 2000m trip at Taree. Both wins came on Heavy 8 tracks. Back to 1800m today, he has a new rider with Clay Gallagher in the saddle as he gets the gun-run from gate one. In winning form, he looks the testing material in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  ABLE RED

The Bjorn Baker-trained ABLE RED won on debut at Cowra and looks in the mix here to make it two-straight today. With Kayla Nisbet aboard, the three-year-old took a sit behind the pace and enjoyed the trail to the turn. On straightening, Nisbet set sail after the leader and gradually wore him down to arrive in time for first prize, as they streeted the rest, putting five lengths on them over the line in the 1375m event. This contest isn’t much harder as Nisbet sticks with him for this assignment. From gate five, he maps to settle just off the speed again and fitter for that debut win, he can figure here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.9  VAL D’ISERE  

The Rosehill-based galloper, VAL D’ISERE has seen a different track in each of his three career starts to date and facing yet another track debut today, should be fit enough now to lay down a serious challenge in this contest. Last start, the Shalaa gelding fell too far back to mount a serious threat for victory where he finished mid-field in a 1200m Maiden at Kembla Grange. Fitter for three runs, he should know what its all about by now and going by his efforts in finishing last start, the step-up to the 1400m looks ideal for him today. Andrew Adkins is the new rider and should have the galloper in a more forward position here as he draws gate one for the contest. Expect improvement today.