Kempsey Preview & Best Bets – Monday December 5

Kempsey Tips 5/12/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 1:  No.1  TILLMAN  ($2.15 with Ladbrokes)

Hawkesbury galloper TILLMAN makes the five-hour trip north to see the Kempsey track for the first time and brings good form with him today. Last start, the Epaulette gelding couldn’t quite match it with the Class 1 contenders at Newcastle, finishing just behind the placegetters in the 1880m event. He ran out the last 600m, 2.4 lengths slower than benchmark, still the best last-start effort here. He should find this contest a little easier and has the experienced Aaron Bullock in charge for the first time. From gate seven, he maps to cross and settle on speed but Bullock does have the option to take a sit behind any battle up front if he chooses. Rock-hard fit after five starts this time in, he looks a strong winning chance in this line-up.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.5  VELVET HAZE  ($2.80 with Neds)

Kris Lees saddles-up VELVET HAZE here and third-up today looks a leading contender in tis field. Last start, the Spieth filly wasn’t too far away when she took home third prize in a BM58 over 1106m at Port Macquarie. On a Heavy 10 that day, she managed to record the fastest final 600m and 400m sectionals for that race when second-up after almost five months off the scene. Winona Costin has the reins today where the filly maps to settle just off the speed as she jumps from gate six here. Three starts to date have produced three podium finishes and although she faces a class rise here, she has form and fitness on her side today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

RAce 7:  No.3  FOUR EGOS  ($6 with Palmerbet)

The Taree-based galloper FOUR EGOS has two minor placings from three visits to Kempsey and will out to show that its third time lucky today. Last start, the Casino Prince gelding came off some impressive form when he stepped up in grade at Grafton and took on Class 3 company over 1420m. A change of tactics appeared to fail as the five-year-old tried to lead all the way, but he weakened out of it to finish down the track. This is a big drop in class today and Brooke Stower returns for the ride, bringing with her an impressive record with the gelding, finding the podium five times from seven previous rides. He gets the gun-run form gate one today and looks a genuine chance at good odds.