Port Macquarie Preview & Best Bets - Friday January 20
Canberra Preview & Best Bets – Friday January 20
Canberra Tips 20/01/2023
Our form expert provides Canberra tips for today’s horse racing at Canberra Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.2 YOU ARE KING ($2.25 with Palmerbet)
The Matt Dale-trained YOU ARE KING is in outstanding form this time in and will take beating here. Last start, the So You Think gelding came off a Class 1 win on this track when he took on a BM60, here over the mile, and wasn’t disgraced, finishing runner-up to a smarter one on the day. He ran the trip, 9 lengths slower than benchmark, still the best last-start effort here by 4 lengths. Today, he has Robbie Dolan on board for the first time and draws well in gate two, which will be an advantage with the rail out seven metres. He has four-straight podium finishes on his resume and he is already a winner at the track and distance. A trouble-free run here could see another victory for him today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 8: No.3 MISS STALWART ($7.50 with bet365)
Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive saddles-up two runners here with MISS STALWART looking the more likely chance of taking out this contest. Last start, the Reliable Man mare made her debut, here in a 1200m Maiden Plate and wasn’t disgraced when finishing mid-field in the 10-strong event. She missed the start by three lengths and settled second-last, 10 lengths off the pace. In the run home, Alysha Collett stuck to the fence which proved costly as the mare ran into a wall of horses and had nowhere to go. She finished fifth that day but should have finished a lot closer and yet she still posted the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for the race. She clashes with Vella Magic here again, who enjoyed the perfect run last start and took home second prize that day. Jeff Penza takes over for this contest and with a better start, the mare could settle mid-field here and with that first start behind her now, she will strip fitter and should prove hard to hold out today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.6 FROSE ($4.60 with Ladbrokes)
The Maher & Eustace-trained FROSE is second-up today and fitness is on her side in this contest. Last start, the three-year-old filly hadn’t raced for 12 months when she lined-up in a 1000m Maiden on this track. She sat just off the pace and finished off well to take home third prize on the day. She draws nicely here in gate four and maps to settle right behind the early pace. Louise Day was with her first-up and is in charge again today. With that run behind her, she looks a much better prospect with the bagmen than the (unraced) odds-on favourite here. She is value for money today.
