Grafton Preview & Best Bets – 22/08/2023

Grafton Tips for Tuesday, August 22

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.2  CAPTAIN UNDERPANTZ  ($4.05 with BoomBet)

Murwillumbah galloper, CAPTAIN UNDERPANTZ is third-up today and down in grade here, looks the testing material in this contest. Last start, the Savabeel gelding held his own in a Class 3 Hcp over an unsuitable 1400m when he finished fifth (beaten just 1.5 lengths) in the Casino event. Today, he drops sharply in class and steps up to a more suitable distance and has Ben Looker returning for the ride (who has ridden him in all four podium finishes to date). Placed at his only start here (two runs back), he gets the gun-run from gate one today and should prove hard to beat.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  MR MONEGASQUE  ($9 with Bet Right)

The Matt Dunn-trained MR MONEGASQUE is three starts into this preparation and down in grade today, looks in the mix at good odds. Last start, the lightly-raced Astern gelding was out of his depth when finishing unplaced in a Class 2 contest over the mile at Coffs Harbour. Sent out a $41 chance, he wasn’t totally disgraced, beaten 4.5 lengths on the line. This contest looks more his speed today and he should strip even fitter with those three runs under his belt. Drawn ideally in gate two, Matty McGuren returns for his third ride on the five-year-old (having ridden him to his only success to date, last preparation). He does no early work as he maps to settle better than mid-field with cover and a trouble-free run today could see him worry some of these at odds.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.9  HE’S A DEVIL  ($9 with Ladbrokes)

In an open betting race, the Brett Cavanough-trained HE’S A DEVIL is third-up today and looks well placed here to bounce back in this contest. Last start, the Tycoon Ruler gelding stepped up in grade and took on a Class 3 contest over 1200m at Coffs Harbour where he found it a little too rich for him on the day, finishing unplaced, beaten five lengths over the line. Prior to that, he was placed in a Class 2 Hcp on this track. Today, he drops significantly in grade and has Matty McGuren on board for the first time. Formerly with the Sears stable, he has his third start for Cavanough today and well drawn in gate four, he can give this a real shake at odds.