Moruya Preview & Best Bets – 19/01/2024
Canterbury Preview & Best Bets – 19/01/2024
Canterbury Tips for Friday, January 19
Our form expert provides Canterbury tips for today’s horse racing at Canterbury Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 1: No.2 HELLFIRE EXPRESS ($3 with Picklebet)
The Annabel Neasham-trained HELLFIRE EXPRESS has won three on the trot and ticks enough boxes here to suggest that another picket can slip onto the resume tonight. Last start, the Hellbent gelding brought up the hat-trick with a strong win, here in a BM64 over 1550m. Tracking wide on the turn, he still finished too strong for them, giving every indication he will handle the class rise here. He is a proven wet-tracker so conditions today are ideal. James McDonald pilot’s the three-year-old for the first time tonight and well drawn in gate four, maps to settle right behind the speed. Already a track and distance winner and a three-time winner in the wet, he stands out as the best for the night.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.2 SHALAILED ($5.50 with Unibet)
The Bjorn Baker-trained SHALAILED is second-up tonight and ticks enough boxes to get the job done here. Last start, the Shalaa gelding was having his first start for the Baker camp after transferring from the John O’Shea stables when, clearly in need of the run (after seven months off the scene), he finished unplaced in a BM78 over 1200m at Randwick. He drew the outside gate (10) that day and was never really in the contest. Jason Collett is the new pilot tonight where conditions look perfect for the four-year-old as his resume shows a win and four minor placings from seven starts on wet tracks. He is already a winner when second-up and has saluted at the track and distance before as well. Down in grade tonight, expect a big improvement from him here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 5: No.2 DEEP ROMANCE ($7.50 with Bet Right)
Nathan Doyle saddles-up DEEP ROMANCE here who is second-up off a seven-month absence and really looks the part in this contest. Last start, the Deep Field mare came off three successful trials when she franked those efforts by winning first-up in a BM64 Hcp on Newcastle’s Beaumont track. Ben Osmond rode her a treat that day and remains in the saddle for this assignment. She has won in similar company previously (on a Heavy 9 at Rosehill) but is yet to salute on this track after three previous attempts. After the claim, she carries 2kgs less than last start and all three career wins have come on wet tracks so conditions look ideal for her tonight. She looks a little ‘overs’ here and is well worth a ticket here.
