Canberra Preview & Best Bets – 29/03/2024

Canberra Tips for Friday, March 29

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.4  ADAGIO 

Tulloch Lodge runner, ADAGIO is having race-start number five today and with a favourable draw, looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Pierro gelding broke the run of successive top-three finishes when he finished a close-up fourth in a BM64 over 2000m at Hawkesbury. They were strung out like Brown’s cows to the turn ( a dozen lengths, first to last), with Regan Bayliss settling him second and had the job of taking the field up to the tearaway leader. Four of the eight runners fought it out with only half a length separating them on the line. He jumps nearest the fence today (after early scratchings) and maps to settle near the speed with new pilot, Amy McLucas aboard. At peak fitness today, he can ring-up win number two here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.4  LIGHT PRESS

The Garry Kirkup-trained LIGHT PRESS is third-up today and yet to miss a podium finish, here on her home track. Last start, the Press Statement mare showed plenty of improvement from her first-up effort when she beat all but one home in Open company, here over the 1000m sprint. Settling mid-field, she was never on the track and in the run home, still finished strongly but couldn’t hold off the challenge from race-favourite (Blue Grotto) and had to settle for second prize on the day. Danny Beasley in the new pilot for this contest as the mare steps up in distance and already a winner when third-up, looks the one to beat today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.3  OPAL FIELDS 

Randwick trainer, John Thompson saddles-up OPAL FIELDS here who sees the track for the first time and looks a serious player in this field. Last start, the Deep Field filly was third-up and took on a healthy BM64 field at Wyong and wasn’t disgraced finishing fifth, beaten 1.5 lengths in the 1000m contest. Slowly away, she settled third-last of the nine runners, six lengths off the pace. On the turn, she was pushed out to the middle of the track which ended her (winning) chances, but Chad Schofield drove her to the line to collect that fifth-place prizemoney. At her peak today, she steps-up to the 1200m which looks ideal for her at this time and has Reece Jones as the new pilot. Ideally drawn in gate three, the stable slip on the winkers for the first time and with a clear run to the line here, she can give this contest a real shake today.