Bathurst Preview & Best Bets – 29/02/2024

Bathurst Tips for Thursday, February 29

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.7  CHOICE WITNESS 

The Brett Cavanough-trained CHOICE WITNESS is in top-shelf form after three starts back and looks every chance of another podium finish today. Last start, the Showtime filly came off a devastating maiden win (where she put four lengths on them at Dubbo) and wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in a BM58 over 1100m, also at the Dubbo track. She settled too far back that day (despite drawing the fence) but finished strongly for that minor placing. She meets similar company over the same trip today as she makes her Bathurst debut and Braith Nock is the new pilot. At peak fitness today, a clear run to the line should see her storming home again.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  PACKER  

Greg Hickman saddles-up PACKER here who is in the groove after three starts back and looks set for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Written Tycoon gelding kept the improvement stream going when he found the winner’s circle by taking out a BM58, here over 1400m. Mitch Stapleford steers the ship today and brings along a 2kg claim which will help. The five-year-old faces similar opposition here and he should also be at peak fitness today. He has six podium finishes on soft tracks so conditions look ideal for him. A trouble-free run puts him right in the thick of things in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.2  LUAI

Trained at Hawkesbury by Claire Lever, LUAI has visited Bathurst twice previously and at the moment remains unbeaten at the track and is capable of bringing up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Epaulette gelding came off a crushing four-length maiden win when he franked that effort by taking out a Class 1 over 1400m, here on a Heavy 8 that day. Grant Buckley was aboard for both victories and remains the pilot for today’s contest. His only glitch today is the outside barrier but his early gate speed should see him settle better than mid-field with cover. If Buckley can have him around that mark, he can make a big impression on this event.