Muswellbrook Preview & Best Bets – 15/01/2024

Muswellbrook Tips for Monday, January 15

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.6  ZIPPO IDEA  ($1.95 with Neds)

The Rod Northam-trained ZIPPO IDEA is yet to miss a podium finish in three career-starts to date and looks on track for back-to-back wins in this contest. Last start, the More Than Ready filly was second-up and broke through for maiden win, here over 1280m. Ridden a treat by Reece Jones, she showed too much class for them as she came from well back and finished over the top of the 10-strong field to win (eased over the final 100m) by 1.5 lengths on the line. The step-up in distance today looks ideal as Jones sticks with the filly. The money has come for her overnight as she has firmed from a $2.60 opening quote. Winning so effortlessly here last start, makes it extremely hard to tip against her today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.3  CUSTO  ($2.80 with Bet Right)

Stephen Jones saddles-up CUSTO here who is in good shape after three starts this preparation and will take beating in this contest. Last start, the Deep Field gelding returned to the country scene (after an unplaced effort at Randwick) and having no luck in the run, still managed to grab third prize in a BM74 over 1000m at Tamworth. Travelling three-wide without cover for the entire trip, he still gave plenty in the run home where it turned into a three-horse battle with only a long neck separating them on the line. From gate four today, he maps to be near the speed and has a new pilot as Mitchell Bell is legged aboard for this assignment. His only start here was in a Class 1 over today’s trip which he won by 2.5 lengths that day. Rock-hard fit after four starts back ,he will take beating here today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 1:  No.8  STORM’S END  ($7 with bet365)

The Scott Singleton-trained STORM’S END is as honest as they come and third-up today, should be fit enough to give this contest a real shake. Last start, the Pariah mare settled nicely in the box-seat and chased the leaders all the way before having to settle for third prize that day. That was Jenny Duggan’s third ride on the mare and her third time she collected third prize on the four-year-old. She likes the sting out of the ground and gets that here with a Soft 5 being forecast. Runner-up twice in two starts at the track, Duggan sticks with her today and with a change of luck, can take home the big prize here.