Muswellbrook Preview & Best Bets – 15/03/2024

Muswellbrook Tips for Friday, March 15

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.5  SARDONYX 

Trained at Mudgee by Toby Pracey, SARDONYX lines-up here with three podium finishes from her four starts to date and making her track debut, looks every chance of figuring in the finish today. Last start, the Pariah mare was third-up this preparation when she beat all but one home in a Class 1 over 900m at Scone. Parked just behind the speed, she chased them home but couldn’t reel in the winner, despite doing her best work over the final 100m. Louise Day returns to steer the ship today and from gate six, maps to settle just behind the early speed again. Three starts back now, she should be at her peak for this and sporting a lugging bit for the first time, she gets her chance to bounce back here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.11  HIMORHER  

Rod Northam saddles-up HIMORHER here who is in great touch this preparation and at the weights, looks a major contender for this contest. Last start, the Dawn Approach mare came off a big Maiden win when she did well to grab second prize in a Class 1 Hcp over 1400m at Scone. The four-year-old missed the jump that day and settled mid-field. On the turn, the leader went bush, giving the mare a dream run along the fence to take over. She settled down to a two-horse battle with the $1.30 favourite (Know Thyself) and came out second-best on the day. Fourth-up today, she can’t be any fitter and ideally drawn in gate three, should take beating here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.8  CROP DUSTER  

The Scone-based CROP DUSTER found his mojo last start and looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the son of The Brothers War recorded his third career-win when he took out a BM58 over 1200m at Newcastle. Settling second-last, Andrew Gibbons played the waiting game and turning for home, took full advantage of a rails run and finished too strong for them in the end. He carried 60.5kgs that day and with Gibbons sticking with him, he drops 2kgs for this contest. Drawn in barrier eight, he maps to drop back and settle in the second half of the field again and if he strikes the same luck as last start, it could be a case of déjà vu here today.