Benalla Preview & Best Bets – Friday September 23

Adam Cusworth

in Benalla 23 Sep 2022

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

Benalla Tips 23/09/2022

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8 No. 4 SPANISH TIDES ($3)

SPANISH TIDES is the one to beat in the feature of the day, the Benalla Cup. The mare from the Luke Oliver camp is fit and in form, coming off a last start win at Caulfield ahead of Storm King. That was her first go over the 2000m and she went 8.1 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which are the best last start figures of any runner. The daughter of Puissance De Lune likes it wet and can go on with the job.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2 No. 1 JILTED LOVER- ($2.50)

JILTED LOVER gets his chance in Race 2. The Busuttin & Young galloper has had the five starts for three minor placings at his current campaign. The last two have come on Heavy tracks over the 1600m at Bendigo and then at Swan Hill. He lost ground at the 200m last time out before landing two lengths off Jaykayann, going 4.8 lengths slower than standard benchmark, which is more than four lengths better than the next best last start figures of any runner. The son of Tivaci has firmed in the betting and should enjoy a nice run from barrier 3 with Blaike McDougall to ride.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5 No. 2 NASRAAWY- ($2.90)

NASRAAWY should be hard to beat in Race 5. He claimed two on the trot earlier this preparation and comes back to a country setting after missing behind the likes of Squid Game, Chain Of Lightning and Asfoora at his past few runs. He last stepped out at Sandown on September 7 and was solid when 3rd behind Asfoora, who will jump as favourite in a 955m race at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Nasraawy rises to the 1200m and has won twice at the trip, while the 3kg claim for Hannah Le Blanc gets him down to a winnable weight.

BEST VALUE 💰(EACH-WAY)

Race 6 No. 1 KARAKA LAD- ($5)

KARAKA LAD is an interesting runner in Race 6. The Ben & JD Hayes-trained galloper won two to kick off his career in Queensland before being sent down to the Hayes yard at Euroa. He stepped out for his new trainers on September 1 at Sale and battled but I expect improvement from the five-year-old, who did jump sharply on figures at his only second up run when scoring at the Sunshine Coast.