Cairns Preview & Best Bets – 22/04/2024

Cairns Tips for Monday, April 22

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.5  MYSTERY ‘N’ MAGIC

Atherton Tablelands trainer, Roy Chillemi saddles-up stablemates here as we run with MYSTERY ‘N’ MAGIC who appears to be the most likely to salute today. Last start, the Rothesay gelding was third-up when he had ‘lethal’ Lacey Morrison back aboard and was successful when taking out a 1400m Open Hcp at Townsville’s Cluden Park track. Back on home soil today, he draws nicely in gate four and will settle back in the 12-strong field. Morrison is a regular rider for the Chillemi stable, boasting a 30% success rate and often chooses her rides when the stable has two or more runners in the same race. Fourth-up today, the six-year-old will be at his peak and after three-straight podium finishes this preparation, he can go on with it here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.2  INDICTMENT

Locally-trained by Steve Massingham, INDICTMENT is three starts into this campaign and now looks ready to be first past the post in this contest. Last start, the Street Boss gelding was third-up off a near six-month absence when he finished second (again) in a BM65 over 1300m at Townsville. He drew gate 11 in the 13-strong field and settled well back with Ryan Wiggins in charge that day. In the run home, he was too far back to win the race but gave it a real fright, taking home the silver medal, finishing just half a length behind the winner. Back on home soil today where he is a two-time winner at the track and distance, Wiggins has the reins again where he may need just a little luck at barrier rise, jumping from gate number eight. If he can settle near mid-field (with cover) and enjoy a trouble-free run from there, he can get the job done today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.5  BETTA AL

Local trainer, Alwyn Bailey sends BETTA AL to the gates here and third-up today, drops in grade and looks a winning chance in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Better Than Ready gelding was second-up and improved enough to land a podium finish, taking home third prize in a Class 3 set weights event, here over 1250m. Lacey Morrison was having her fifth ride on the gelding and did well to steer him into the minor money after having to overcome a few setbacks in the run. Bailey sends him over the 1400m trip for the first time today as he drops back in grade here, facing BM58 company in this event. Morrison sticks with him here and from gate five, he maps to settle a little worse than mid-field. After two runs back and facing an easier task today, he looks right in the mix.