Coonamble Preview & Best Bets – 17/12/2023

Coonamble Tips for Sunday, December 17

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.6  TURNAWAY  ($5.50 with Bet Right)

Cameron Crockett saddles-up TURNAWAY here who is three starts into this campaign and now looks ready to win. Last start, the Star Turn gelding made it back-to-back runner-up finishes when he beat all but one home in a Class 1 Hcp over 1400m at Mudgee. Taking over on the turn, he looked home at the 250m mark but was then challenged all the way to the line, missing out by the bob of the head on the post. At his peak today, Jake Pracey-Holmes returns for his second ride on the five-year-old and looking to go one better himself. The stable put the blinkers back on today and from gate five and a trouble-free run here, he can turn his track debut into a winning one.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.2  DRIVING FORCE  ($7 with Unibet)

The Dubbo-based galloper, DRIVING FORCE, is in great touch this time in and looks well placed here to keep the flag flying today. Last start, the Artie Schiller gelding blew like a gale ($9 – $14) but still got the job done when he took out a Class 3 over 1180m at Gundagai. With Ronald Simpson aboard (for the first time), he had to play the waiting game until the gaps came which saw him dart through to grab victory right on the line. Simpson sticks with him today and already a winner when third-up, from gate four, he looks a serious player here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.2  MARYLAND BRIDGE  ($11 with BlueBet)

Dubbo galloper, MARYLAND BRIDGE, sees the Coonamble track for the first time today and second-up, looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Pariah mare was fresh off an 18-week break and after a slow start, made up plenty of ground when finishing mid-field in a Class 1 over 1000m at Gunnedah. She is up in grade and distance today but has Anthony Cavallo in the saddle for the first time who has won for the stable previously. She won second-up in her last campaign and from gate five, she looks a main contender for the major prize here at each-way odds.