Orange Preview & Best Bets – 11/03/2024

Orange Tips for Monday, March 11

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.4  CANADIAN EXPRESS

Bjorn Baker saddles-up CANADIAN EXPRESS here who is yet to miss a top-two finish and after three runs to date, looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Vancouver gelding came off consecutive runner-up finishes when he went one better at Mudgee and broke through for his first victory in a 1400m Maiden Hcp. Lumping 60kgs that day, he did it tough, sitting outside the leader and soon after straightening, took the lead and fought on for a gutsy win. Robbie Downey is the new pilot today and with a good start and trouble-free run from there, he looks the testing material in this event.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.3  WEAVE THAT WEB

The Dubbo-based WEAVE THAT WEB is in top-shelf form this preparation and commands plenty of respect in this contest. Last start, the Pierro mare made it six-straight podium finishes when she ‘stole’ a BM58 at Bathurst, over the 2000m trip. Sitting outside the leader on settling, Braith Nock applied some daring tactics by taking over at the 600m mark, and on the turn, went for home. Leading by three lengths on straightening, Nock kept the mare going and although tiring late, hung on to win by almost a length on the line. She steps-up in grade today but in career-best form, she has the runs on the board and has six career-wins on her resume to date. Nock sticks with her today and she does look the horse to beat.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.7  RUSSIAN ZARINA

The Claire Lever-trained RUSSIAN ZARINA resumes here off a 13-week spell and on fresh legs, looks in the mix for this contest. Last start, the Russian Revolution filly ended her first (three-start) preparation with a win in a 1200m Maiden Hcp at Gosford. She travelled three-wide most of the way, but taking over inside the final 200m, she still had too many guns for them and hung on for a gutsy win that day. Lever keeps it an all-ladies affair here when she legs-up Olivia Chambers for her first ride on the three-year-old. She brings with her a 1.5kg claim and gets all the favours from gate one today and maps to settle better than mid-field with plenty of cover. The filly has trialled recently (under a good hold) and on fresh legs today can figure here.