Canberra Preview & Best Bets – 12/04/2024

Canberra Tips for Friday, April 12

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.4  CODE IN TIME 

Annabel Neasham saddles-up CODE IN TIME here who is second-up today and looks set for back-to-back wins. Last start, the Encryption gelding resumed off an 18-week break and showing no signs of lacking fitness, clobbered his rivals to breakthrough for his maiden win, here over 1200m. Hammered in the betting that day ($1.90 to $1.40), he sat behind the leader to the turn, then exploded to the lead and went on to put more than three lengths on them over the line. Heavelon Van Der Hoven was aboard that day and steers the ship again in this contest. Drawn ideally in gate two today, he maps to be box-seating again and will take a ton of beating.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.8  LIGHT PRESS

The Garry Kirkup-trained LIGHT PRESS has improved with every start this time in and looks a super chance of making it two-straight today. Last start, the Press Statement mare was third-up and secured her second win on home soil when she took out an Open company Hcp, here over 1300m. She had to share the spoils however, dead-heating with the Nick Olive-trained Ready To Humble and they couldn’t be separated when crossing the line. Jeff Penza grabs the reins for the first time here and at her peak today, she will give this contest a real shake.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.6  TOKYO ICE

The locally-trained TOKYO ICE sees her home track for the first time today and third-up, looks a winning chance in this contest. Last start, the Mikki Isle mare improved off her unplaced first-up effort when she took home third prize in a BM58 over 1100m at Nowra. With regular rider Damon Budler aboard, she drew the outside gate (8) and settled three-wide with cover, right behind the speed. She looked a winning chance on straightening, but the extra ground she covered cost her in the end. It’s a whole new ball game here as she draws ideally in gate three and has Budler sticking with her for this assignment. She maps to settle just behind the speed (one off the fence) and already a third-up winner, she can get the job done today.