Canterbury Preview & Best Bets – 17/04/2024

Canterbury Tips for Wednesday, April 17

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.13  BRIASA

Team Hawkes saddle-up BRIASA here who is unbeaten in two starts and looks the goods again today. Last start, the Smart Missile gelding franked his debut maiden win by going back-to-back and taking out a BM64 over 1200m on a Heavy 8 at Kembla Grange. Tommy Berry takes the reins today and from gate three, does no early work as he maps to settle mid-field with cover. A clear run to the line here should see him charging home again and a big chance of bringing up the hat-trick.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.6  SALISANO

The Nathan Doyle-trained SALISANO resumes off a 19-week break today and ticks enough boxes to suggest she can give this contest a real shake at big odds. Last start, the Shalaa mare came off a winning hat-trick when she drew the outside gate and attempting to cross, found herself in a speed-race with Esperanto, which turned out to cost them both any winning chance, as they weakened out of it, finishing unplaced in the BM78 over 1100m at Rosehill. She has drawn wide again today but race tactics may be different here as Koby Jennings retains the ride. She is unbeaten first-up (winning both previous efforts) and is four from four on Good tracks. A winner of five of her seven starts to date, she looks a tad overs with double figures (currently) available. An each-way ticket here looks the go.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.2  CASUAL CONNECTION 

The John Sargent-trained CASUAL CONNECTION is third-up today and fitter for two runs back, looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Complacent gelding put in an eye-catching effort when he came from well back to finish fourth in a BM78 over 1550m on the Kensington track at Randwick. Molly Bourke was aboard that day and sticks with him for this assignment. He drops in grade today and the step-up to the 1900m looks ideal now. He does no early work from gate three and maps to settle mid-field with cover. Already a winner when third-up, the five-year-old looks a sound investment at (currently) double-figures today.