Doomben Preview & Best Bets – 20/12/2023

Doomben Tips for Wednesday, December 20

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.2  BIG DEMEANOR  ($5 with Bet Right)

The Tony Gollan-trained BIG DEMEANOR has improved from two starts this preparation and now looks ready to win. Last start, the I Am Invincible gelding had his first start for the Gollan stable (formerly with Annabel Neasham), and impressed when beating all but one home in a set-weights Maiden, here over 1110m with Ryan Maloney aboard. He is third-up today and should be nearing his peak and from gate six, maps to settle just behind the speed. Maloney sticks with him today and if he can avoid trouble, he should be there at the finish.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.11  SALT LAKE BETTY  ($4.70 with BoomBet)

Trained across the road (Eagle Farm) by Desleigh Forster, SALT LAKE BETTY is third-up today and looks all set for back-to-back victories here. Last start, the Heroic Valour filly was second-up when she clobbered her maiden rivals by putting more than three lengths on them, here over the 1110m trip. Kirk Matheson was aboard for the first time that day and taking her straight to the front, she put on an impressive barrier to box display. She is now a track and distance winner and will strip even fitter today. Matheson remains aboard for this assignment and with a clear run home, she should prove hard to hold out here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 1:  No.3  NEVER GIVE UP  ($10 with Picklebet)

David Vandyke saddles-up a couple here as we run with NEVER GIVE UP who drops down in grade today and is capable of upsetting his more fancied stablemate in this contest. Last start, the Heroic Valour gelding stepped-up to Class 4 company and did well to beat all but one home in the 1600m event. After Cejay Graham’s claim, he meets Sacred Mission 3kgs better here and drawn right alongside him, he maps to let him go and settle in behind the speed. Graham can preserve him until the turn when he can unleash on the leaders and (hopefully) get the better of them in the run home. Certainly well worth an each-way ticket today.