Kempsey Preview & Best Bets – 18/12/2023

Kempsey Tips for Monday, December 18

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.6  OCTOBER REVOLUTION  ($3.50 with bet365) 

The Port Macquarie-based OCTOBER REVOLUTION is in good touch this time in and third-up today looks a genuine contender in this contest. Last start, the Russian Revolution gelding carried the grandstand (62.5kgs) when second-up at Tuncurry and did well to beat all but one home in a BM58 over the 1000m sprint. Aaron Bullock had his second-straight ride on the four-year-old that day and sticks with him again for this assignment. He has the outside gate to contend with today and will need a little luck from there but maps to cross and settle with some cover. Fitness won’t be an issue here and with a trouble-free run, he is capable of throwing down a challenge in the run home. All going well, he can claim the major prize today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.3  OTTOMAN EMPIRE  ($6 with Ladbrokes)

Grafton galloper, OTTOMAN EMPIRE, is three starts into this preparation and down in grade today looks a genuine contender for the main prize here. Last start, the Pierro gelding came off his maiden win on his home track when he stepped up sharply in grade and took on Class 2 company over the mile. Still on his home track, he drew the outside gate (12) where he used up a lot of gas to go forward and sit outside the leader. That took its toll as he weakened to finish mid-field. Today, he drops back to a more suitable challenge and from gate four, maps to settle mid-field with cover this time. Counting on an easier run in transit today, he should be at his peak after those three runs and we can expect a big improvement today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.6  SKATES ON  ($9.50 with Picklebet)

Race 5 – 4:30PM THE BOWLO-KEMPSEY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1450 METRES)
The Colt Prosser-trained SKATES ON is on a rollercoaster of form this time in but down in grade today, has claims to put him in the ball park here. Last start, the Denman gelding came off an impressive win in Class 1 company at Armidale when he stepped up a notch and on the same track faced a Class 2 contest over 1300m. With Ben Looker having his fourth-straight ride on the four-year-old, he was trapped wide all the way and was never in the race, finishing down the track that day. He drops sharply in grade today with Looker sticking with him for this assignment. From gate six, he maps to settle near the speed and up against easier opposition, he can give this event a real shake at odds.