Murray Bridge Preview & Best Bets – Monday 01 January

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

Murray Bridge Tips 01/01/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 3 No. 9 PRETENTIOUS DIVA – ($3.90)

Jason Holder replaced apprentice rider Britney Wong in the saddle of PRETENTIOUS DIVA at Oakbank last start. The pair drew out with Holder just keeping the mare balanced from around midfield as they raced down the hill. Pretentious Diva continued her momentum to hit the front inside the furlong. The winner realised that she was in a race and pinged the ears back to dig in again. Alainge came away from Pretentious Diva to score before backing up in town for another gutsy win on Saturday. Pretentious Diva still has a margin to find on Monday’s rival Flying Yank who nearly led throughout in a previous encounter at Balaklava. Should think that Gifford Hill will suit Pretentious Diva over Flying Yank who may have missed a run when scratched from Oakbank on the morning of race day.

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 7 No. 3 MICKLEWHITE – ($5.50)

We’re getting each-way odds about MICKLEWHITE in a thin race on Monday. Micklewhite got up for a last-stride win over this track and distance three starts ago. Jason Holder had settled well back on Micklewhite in the big field as the pace was on early. He brought his mount to the outer part of the track where Micklewhite was able to overcome Manzala right on the line. That horse has won a couple of races in town since while Micklewhite has continued to mix his form.

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 8 No. 20 MR WHITACRE – ($11)

We’ll tip the nonny MR WHITACRE in the last at Murray Bridge Racecourse on New Year’s Day. Not sure why this horse has not been able to secure more wins next to his name. Mr Whitacre generally puts himself into good areas to win races, just seems to lack that knockout punch. He has been consistently around the mark, including in his races here at Gifford Hill. Mr Whitacre towed Bellalique into the run before that mare took over deep into the straight. That was when he last raced here which was back in September with Mr Whitacre racing well since. Has drawn to land in a good spot once again for Sophie Logan, and Mr Whitacre could be hard to beat should he gain a start as the fourth emergency.