Ascot Preview & Best Bets - Saturday 23 December
Lismore Preview & Best Bets – 22/12/2023
Lismore Tips for Friday, December 22
Our form expert provides Lismore tips for today’s horse racing at Lismore Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 5: No.9 ZATTASTAR ($3.80 with bet365)
Brisbane galloper ZATTASTAR returns for a second crack at the Lismore track today and in career-best form, will take plenty of beating in this contest. Last start, the Zoustar mare made it two wins from her past three runs when she defied the wide-gate theory and took out a BM55 over 1350m at Ipswich. Damien Thornton returns for his third ride on the mare, after steering her to two minor placings previously. The six-year-old made her Lismore debut three starts back which resulted in a victory over a BM58 field that day. She gets the gun-run here from gate one and at her peak today, she looks the goods in this field.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 7: No.12 SLEIGH QUEEN ($10 with BlueBet)
Annabel Neasham saddles-up SLEIGH QUEEN here who is three starts into this preparation and with a little luck in running, could give this field a real fright today. Last start, the Shalaa mare came off a game win in a BM65 over 1350m at Ipswich when she finished unplaced at the Sunshine Coast against Class 3 company. She was a little disappointing that day on a rain affected track. All three of her victories have come on dry tracks so today’s forecast for a Good 4 looks ideal. Damien Thornton was aboard for her last two runs and sticks with her today. There is a lot of early speed here, making it difficult to see where she may settle from gate six. Fourth-up today, she should be at her peak for this and she was scratched from last Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting to line-up for this contest. At very generous odds, she looks a sound each-way investment here.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.4 HARDLEY GREY ($13 with BoomBet)
The Ballina-based HARDLEY GREY is in a purple patch of form and looks a good chance here of going on with it today. Last start, the Instinction gelding was sent out at double-figures for the second-straight time and again proved more worthy when he beat all but one home (again) in a BM58 on his home track over 1400m. Carrying 59kgs, he was three-wide most of the way but still stormed home to grab that second prize in the 13-strong field that day. Noriyuki Masuda has had eight rides on the galloper for two wins and three runner-up finishes now and is in charge again today. He has drawn a tricky gate (10) in the big field but maps to settle near mid-field with cover. Currently at double-figures, he still looks worthy of an each-way ticket in this contest.
