Belmont Preview & Best Bets – 23/08/23

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

Belmont 23/08/2023

BEST BET 🏆  

Race 3 No. 5 CITY ANGEL ($10.20)

Ascot trainer Jayce Buckley prepared CITY ANGEL to produce a big win over this track and distance when resuming last prep. The mare was afforded a peach of a ride from Paul Harvey that day who settled her around midfield on the rail. Harvey pulled into clear running on turning for City Angel to race past them into the straight. She did have Frantic War go with her and City Angel won out in a ding dong battle up the straight. City Angel continued to race competitively up in grade while taking up a more prominent position.  Buckley now has her resuming off a forward showing at the trials and we’ll be hoping that Brandon Louis can get her over to stalk some good pressure on Wednesday. 

NEXT BEST 🥈  

Race 7 No. 2 PAIGEY’S TURN ($7)

Weight may be a factor for PAIGEY’S TURN at Belmont Racecourse on Wednesday. Add a stiff barrier draw to the mix and apprentice rider Victoria Corver does have her work cut out for her. Nonetheless, Paigey’s Turn is racing consistently of late and must be included amongst out selections. Carried a feather when Corver stalked the leader before taking over into the straight over this track and distance two runs back. The pair found now answers for The Dominican who raced on by inside the furlong with Paigey’s Turn holding down second place. She was good again at her next start over 2100m here when finishing third, less than a length off the winner Villeins. Comes back to midweek grade and Paigey’s Turn would be the clear best bet had she drawn a gate.

BEST VALUE 💰  

Race 6 No. 4 KOLCHINO ($15.20)

We’re still failing to draw a barrier for our favoured selections, however that may not matter much with KOLCHINO. This horse does have a habit of being slowly away in his races as witnessed with both runs since resuming. Kolchino was probably a length slow into stride on resumption with Natasha Faithfull circling the field on turning. He did peak late into the straight over 1400m and finish behind the placings in a game effort. Kolchino then stepped out to 1700m against similar opposition here a fortnight ago. Missed the kick three lengths before looming as some sort of threat near the cutaway. Understandably peaked on the run to finish into the minors and can improve at his third run back.