Canterbury Preview & Best Bets – Friday November 11

Canterbury Tips 11/11/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.3  AKASAWA  ($3.90 with Palmerbet)

The Paul Messara-trained AKASAWA makes his long-awaited return today and with several trial runs behind him now, is capable of a forward showing here. The promising Real Impact gelding had won four of his five career starts, the last of those being a big win in a BM74 over 1350m on the Beaumont track at Newcastle. That day he was heavily backed ($1.90) and ran accordingly, putting almost two lengths on them over the line with Aaron Bullock aboard. After almost a year off the scene, Bullock has partnered him in three trials since returning to work, finishing second in his most recent run. Tonight, Messara has given the job to Zac Lloyd who claims 3kgs for tonight’s assignment. If he is anywhere near his best tonight, he should take care of this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.6  HUON  ($3.10 with Neds)

James Cummings saddles-up HUON here who is second-up tonight and already making his mark when resuming, looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the Kermadec gelding resumed from a 19-week spell where he made his intentions clear by taking out a BM64 over 1100m on a Heavy 10 that day. He ran that trip out, 1 length quicker than benchmark, setting a new personal best and ran the fastest final 400m and 200m sectionals for thew race as well. He sees a dry track for the first time tonight as Hugh Bowman is legged aboard for the first time as well. Yet to miss a podium finish in five career starts, this Godolphin galloper looks a real promising type and he looks every chance of going back-to-back tonight.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.1  VIANELLO  ($4.80 with Unibet)

The James Cummings-trained VIANELLO is second-up tonight and looks in the mix for victory at her debut run at Canterbury. Last start, the Teofilo mare was resuming after almost a year off the scene when she came from mid-field (in traffic) to beat all but one home in a BM72 Hcp over 1000m at Warwick Farm. It was an impressive return to the track for the four-year-old who covered the trip, 4.9 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best here by 4 lengths. She also ran the fastest final 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals for the race. Fitter for that first-up run, she maps to settle near mid-field here and with a touch of luck in running, the Godolphin mare will be doing her best work in the run home.