Clare Preview & Best Bets – 30/03/2024 

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

Clare Tips 30/03/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 2 No. 6 BONA FIDE STAR – ($3.10) 

The presence of a Richard and Chantelle Jolly first-starter has enabled us to get an opening price about BONA FIDE STAR. Race experience comes as a big plus on the tight-turning Clare Racetrack, and Bona Fide Star brings plenty of experience from higher grades. The Gordon Richards & Damien Moyle stable bring Bona Fide Star in first-up with the benefit of two trials under his belt. The latest of which saw Bona Fide Star placed under some pressure with Jade Doyle keeping him honest to the line. The pair finished a couple of lengths astern of the winner while gaining a good hitout in strong company. It was the sort of work we want to see as the stable set Bona Fide Star for a first-up tilt in a country maiden. 

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 3 No. 11 TRUE GEM – ($3.60) 

The early market has zeroed in on the main chances of a thin meeting for the Easter race meeting at Clare on Saturday. There is still some value to be found as punters attempt to sort out the order amongst the top chances. Happy to side with the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor trained TRUE GEM with the filly having her first run for her new stable. Trialed up nicely through the early and middle stages behind city class horses in Santastico and Give Some Lip. There wasn’t a lot there when Jacob Opperman asked her to let down after them into the straight. True Gem did keep coming under strong encouragement from Opperman to finish within half a length off them. She’s a big mare who carries some condition and is another who could take benefit from the solid hit out. 

NEXT BEST 🥈  

Race 1 No. 6 EXALTED BELLE – ($4.60)

We marked Iconic Jewel as a horse to follow out of a recent review from Strathalbyn Racecourse. That horse pushed Under The Cone as the pair came away from the rest of the field to go under narrowly. Under The Cone since came out to score at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day. We’ll keep the maiden in mind as a race to follow with Iconic Jewel since  being bested over the same track and distance by EXALTED BELLE. We’d be silly not to change horses as the pair meet again over 1800m at Clare on Saturday, particularly with the breakout season Jordan Frew is experiencing. He has transferred the horse to Nikki Gordon while maintaining his connection, and Exalted Belle is well-placed to land as Nikki’s first ever runner.