Gunnedah Preview & Best Bets – 15/08/2023

Gunnedah Tips for Tuesday, August 15

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.2  CRYSTAL CHIEF  ($3.50 with BlueBet)

Having his first start for Brett Cavanough today, CRYSTAL CHIEF resumes off a lengthy 35-week break here and on fresh legs, he could take beating in this contest. Last start, the Written Tycoon gelding ended his association with Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton in sad circumstances when he pulled up lame in a BM64 at Bendigo. Cavanough must be confident he is ready to return to the track and should find this company a little easier to challenge, coming off the Victorian provincial scene. He is well drawn here in gate three and after the claim, comes in well at the weights with 58kgs. Already a winner when fresh, he looks right in the mix today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.6  MEMORIES  ($7.10 with BoomBet)

The Dubbo-based galloper MEMORIES has come back in great touch and third-up today looks every chance of making his Gunnedah debut a winning one. Last start, the Ferlax mare came off a first-up win on her home track when she finished third in the Bengalla Cup at Muswellbrook. She is in career-best form this time in and has Shayleigh Ingelse back in the saddle today after steering her to two wins and a runner-up finish from her three rides to date. The mare is a two-time winner over the trip and has won when third-up previously. Fitter for those two runs back, she looks well placed here for a big performance today at odds.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 4:  No.3  IRONPOT  ($10 with Ladbrokes) 

The locally-trained galloper IRONPOT is five starts into his racing career and has done enough to date to suggest he can take this one out today. Last start, the Savabeel gelding stepped-up to the 2400m journey and did well to beat all but one home in BM66 company at Wellington. With Matthew Palmer aboard, he came from well back to pass all but the winner, beaten just a length on the line. Down in grade here, Palmer sticks with him and already a winner at this trip three starts back, he looks a genuine winning chance in this contest at odds.