Canberra Preview & Best Bets - Friday January 20
Canterbury Preview & Best Bets – Friday January 20
Canterbury Tips 20/01/2023
Our form expert provides Canterbury tips for today’s horse racing at Canterbury Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.3 WHANGAEHU ($2.50 with Ladbrokes)
The Chris Waller-trained WHANGAEHU is in red-hot form of late and this contest is at his mercy tonight. Last start, the Proisir gelding came off four-straight minor placings when he turned it all around and took out a BM72 Hcp, here over the 1900m trip. On a Heavy 8 that night, he set a new personal best, covering the trip, 2.3 lengths quicker than benchmark, also the best in this line-up. He crossed the line 1.5 lengths ahead of the field, recording the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals as well. James McDonald is in the saddle tonight and should secure a near-perfect sit from gate two. The four-year-old has finished top-two in all three starts here over this trip and against similar company, will take beating tonight.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 4: No.1 FRENCH MARINE ($4.40 with bet365)
Third-up tonight, the Kris Lees-trained FRENCH MARINE has returned in white-hot form and looks the testing material here. Last start, the Epaulette gelding came off a big first-up win when the Heavy 8 got the better of him as he finished runner-up in BM72, here over 1100m. Despite the conditions, he still managed to run the trip out, 2.4 lengths quicker than benchmark, second-best here behind Compassionate (who is still looking for her first win this preparation). Dylan Gibbons sticks with the five-year-old tonight who is already a winner when third-up and a two-time winner over the trip. With plenty of early speed here, he maps to settle mid-field and with a clear run to the line, he should prove hard to hold out.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 3: No.8 LUCKY VARIETY ($8 with Palmerbet)
The Kris Lees-trained LUCKY VARIETY is in top-shelf form this time in and looks a solid each-way chance in this contest tonight. Last start, the Capitalist filly brought up win number two when she took out a Class 1 Hcp over 1100m at Gosford. She was third-up that day and although ridden a half kilo over (by Aaron Bullock), still won comfortably in the end. She ran the trip, 1 length slower than benchmark, posting a new personal best. This is by far her biggest test as she takes on city class gallopers for the first time, but is reunited with Dylan Gibbons who steered the three-year-old to her maiden win three starts back. In form and with the runs on the board, an each-way ticket looks on the menu tonight.
