Ascot Preview & Best Bets - Saturday, April 1
Muswellbrook Preview & Best Bets – Friday March 31
Muswellbrook Tips 31/03/2023
Our form expert provides Muswellbrook tips for today’s horse racing at Muswellbrook Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 6: No.5 TUCSON VALLEY ($3.60 with Palmerbet)
The Stephen Jones-trained TUCSON VALLEY boasts an impressive resume, winning almost half of her races to date and looks poised for another victory here today. Last start, the Swiss Ace mare made it three-straight podium finishes this preparation when she claimed third prize in a BM72 Hcp over 1100m at Warwick Farm. Carrying 60kgs, she tried to lead all the way but was grabbed late by a couple of swoopers, beaten just over half a length on the line. She ran the trip out, 3 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this line-up by almost 4 lengths. She drops back a little distance today and has less weight to carry as Aaron Bullock takes the reins for the first time. Already a winner at the track, she looks the goods here.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 1: No.3 EMPRESS ZOU ($2.80 with Ladbrokes)
The Paul Shailer-trained EMPRESS ZOU is unbeaten so far this preparation and looks set to bring up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Zoustar mare made it two in a row when she took out a BM66 Hcp over 1315m at Coffs Harbour. She finished too strong for them that day, running her last 600m, 4.5 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best last-start effort here. She also clocked the fastest final 800m and 600m sectionals for the race. Aaron Bullock returns for today’s assignment (after steering her to victory at Taree two starts back). She has to overcome the outside gate but with a trouble-free run here, the four-year-old can account for these today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 3: No.4 DEVIL’S INN ($5 with Neds)
Newcastle galloper DEVIL’S INN is third-up today and fitter for two starts back, he ticks enough boxes here to get interested in his chances of winning this event. Last start, the Bull Point gelding was sent out favourite where he was too far back in the run home, but finished well enough to grab third prize in a BM58 Hcp over 1200m at Port Macquarie. With Aaron Bullock aboard, he ran his last 600m, 1.8 slower than benchmark, still the best in this field and posted the fastest final 200m sectional as well. Bullock sticks with him here where he is already a winner when third-up and has saluted at the track and distance as well. If he gets the breaks from gate 11 today, he should be finishing on strongly in this contest.
