Canberra Preview & Best Bets – 01/12/2023

Canberra Tips for Friday, December 01

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.4  MASTER JOE  ($4.40 with Ladbrokes)

The Scott Collings-trained MASTER JOE is in top-shelf form this time in and looks placed well enough here to give this contest a real shake. Last start, the Unencumbered gelding made it three-straight podium finishes when he beat all but one to the line in a BM85 over 1000m at Queanbeyan. Hannah Williams rode him a treat and had him taking over soon after straightening and looked the goods, but was grabbed near the line by Major Time and had to settle for second prize that day. He clashes with Major Time again today as Mathew Cahill takes the reins for the first time. At his peak now, and placed twice in two starts over this track and distance, he can turn the tables here and rack-up career-win number five in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.4  ZABELLSARERINGING  ($3.40 with BoomBet)

Gundagai galloper, ZABELLSARERINGING, makes his Canberra debut today and showing good improvement after two runs back, he looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Zariz gelding was second-up and did a mighty job to finish second in a Class 1 over 1400m on his home track. Jumping from the outside gate (10), he travelled three-wide most of the way and looked set for victory but had one finish a little better, nabbing him on the line. Billy Owen has the reins today as he draws the outside gate (9) again, but he steps-up to the mile today and will strip even fitter from those two runs back. He is a winner when third-up and is capable of doing it again today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.3  CHAMPIONS LEAGUE  ($8 with Bet Right)

Andrew Bourke saddles-up CHAMPIONS LEAGUE here who is second-up today and looks well placed to go one better in this contest. Last start, the Savabeel gelding resumed off a nine-week break and finished like a train to grab second prize in a BM58 over 1180m at Gundagai. The effort was impressive as he drew the outside gate (11) and had 60.5kgs to carry. The step-up to the 1400m looks ideal today where the five-year-old is already a two-time winner. Up slightly in grade, he drops 3kgs for this event and has placed twice when second-up previously. Beany Panya returns for her second ride on the galloper and ideally drawn in gate two today, he should be finishing on strongly again and looks great value here.