Orange Preview & Best Bets – Monday December 12

Orange Tips 12/12/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.7  SEMANA  ($1.90 with Neds)

The Maher & Eustace-trained SEMANA is also a ‘newbie’ on the scene and going by her first two efforts, she will take beating here today. The Winning Rupert filly won her Maiden on debut (two starts back) at Murwillumbah, then last start took on Class 1 company at Gosford. Not disgraced, she came from mid-field to grab third prize beaten less than a length on the line. She took a while to get going in the run home that day but was finishing as good as any other in the race. She covered the trip, 5.3 lengths slower than benchmark, still the best in this line-up. She looks a real improving type and ideally drawn in gate two today, she is every chance of taking this one out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.6  COVALENT  ($3.90 with TAB)

Bjorn Baker has a float-full of runners today and here he saddles-up COVALENT who has recently found her mojo and looks set to strike again. Last start, the I Am Invincible filly came off her Maiden win at Taree when she beat all but one home in a BM58 Hcp over 1300m at Bathurst. Beaten just half a length, she covered the trip, 5.9 lengths slower than benchmark, still the best in this line-up. A late riding change here sees apprentice Ashley Stanley in the saddle today and after her claim, the filly carries a kilo less than last start. Perfectly drawn in gate two, she maps to be box-seating on settling and with a clear run to the line, should prove hard to beat from there.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 2:  No.4  ITHICUS  ($4.20 with Ladbrokes)

The Brett Thompson-trained ITHICUS has made a flying start to his career and with three runs now behind him, he looks well placed here to go on with it. Last start, the Artie Schiller gelding came off his big Maiden win at Narromine when he faced BM58 company at Mudgee. He lost no admirers when finishing second to Jet Pack in the 10-strong field, holding his own to take home the silver medal that day. Brooke Stower has been with him for his past two and remains on board today. Ideally drawn here, he maps to lead again and coming back to the 1000m today could see him hard to run down. The bagmen are taking him on here and currently a little overs in the market, he looks a good investment.