Preview & Best Bets – Ipswich 04 August

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

Ipswich 04/08/2023

BEST BET 🏆  

Race 2 No. 3 HARBELLE ($4.40)

Jimmy Orman replaces Justin Huxtable in the saddle of HARBELLE and we feel that the mare still has a bit of upside to come. Huxtable put her into a good position early as she stalked the speed from one-off the fence at Gatton. Harbelle then put the acid onto No More Red who was the early leader under non-claiming apprentice Bailey Wheeler. Harbelle dropped that horse into the straight only to be set upon by Cloudy Miss who had Harbelle done to a dinner. The mare had other ideas however and kicked back strongly to come away again. She was racing third-up that day and will only strip fitter for the run.

NEXT BEST 🥈  

Race 1 No. 2 HEARTONI ($3.80)

Two winning trials is enough to have us backing HEARTONI against the odds-on pop in the first at Ipswich Racecourse on Friday. We haven’t seen Tricketeer publicly as both horses prepare to resume over 800 metres. Heartoni looks to have improved on his one and only run where sat handy to the speed. The winner came away from him while Heartoni just held ground over the other on the synthetic track. Showed speed in a 650 metre trial to move well with some cut in the ground. Missed the kick slightly in his second trial which was over 850 metres. Had the clear class edge over his opposition, many of whom he meets again on race day. Trial time was good, and Heartoni should be right in amongst the finish here.

BEST VALUE 💰  

Race 7 No. 2 OLYMPIC LEGEND ($7)

Apprentice rider Jai Williams afforded OLYMPIC LEGEND every possible chance on the speed last start. He rated the horse beautifully out in front while being stalked by the eventual winner First Son. Happy to go with that formline in an open betting affair. Olympic Legend was found wanting late as both First Son and rival runner Majestics Request got the better of him late. Not sure where the runner-up will get to in the run on Friday; however, Williams can find a handy position with Olympic Legend once again from an inside draw. They stay to track and trip while Olympic Son may have more upside with that second-up run under the belt.