Hawkesbury Preview May 18 – Thursday Best Bets & Tips

Hawkesbury Tips 18/05/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.1  KUNNESE  ($4.80 with bet365)

The locally-trained KUNNESE is third-up here and after putting on a display at Kembla Grange, looks set for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the son of Better Land broke through for his Maiden win and did it in style, beating home his rivals by 5.5 lengths over the 1000m sprint on a heavy track at Kembla Grange. An easing favourite on the day ($1.90-$2.50), he sat at the leader’s girth until straightening, then took control and left the rest to fight out the minors as Rachel King drove him to the line with 59kgs on his back. After just two race-starts, he appears to know what its all about now and with King remaining aboard for this assignment, he will take beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.1  RUBY FLYER  ($4.20 with bet365)

Local galloper RUBY FLYER is second-up today and after the message he left at Wyong last start, he looks poised to make it two-straight here. Fresh off an 11-week spell, the Flying Artie gelding gave his maiden rivals no chance as he put 5.5 lengths on them over 1350m at the Wyong track. Zac Lloyd rode a patient race, keeping the four-year-old on the fence then in the run home, pushed his way out and left them chasing dust as he found another gear and hit the line full of zest. Skybeam finished 6.5 lengths behind him in third place, then went on to break his maiden next start, so the form looks good from that race. Jason Collett has the job today and from gate two, the galloper maps settle just behind the pace again. If he can handle the class rise today, he should prove hard hold out again.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.1  FUNAMBULIST  ($6 with Ladbrokes)

The Annabel Neasham-trained FUNAMBULIST is third-up today and should be ready to produce his best in this contest. Last start, the British-bred gelding finished mid-field in a BM68 Hcp over 2000m at Kembla Grange when second-up. He settled back in the field and on a Heavy 8 that day, he passed a few in the run home. Two previous starts here have ended in a win and a runner-up finish so his track record is first class. Jett Stanley remains aboard and his 2kg claim here brings the five-year-old back to the field. Already a winner when third-up, he should be doing his best work late and is a genuine winning chance here.