Port Lincoln Preview & Best Bets – Sunday 18 February

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

Port Lincoln Tips 18/02/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 8 No. 1 I NEED A DRINK ($3.40)

What on earth did we just witness with I NEED A DRINK last start?!! The horse has proven himself in a breakout prep this time in, but that was just uncalled for. Stable rider Rochelle Milnes found herself caught out as she tried to slot in somewhere forward off a wide gate. They weren’t letting her in so it just handlebars down from Rochelle as I Need A Drink surged to a clear lead inside the 1000m. Milnes did manage to find a late-race breather for I Need A Drink before testing her opponents’ staying abilities. I Need A Drink romped in with a 3.5L victory over this track and trip and now rises only half-a-kilo for his trouble. Overall race time rated through the roof for Lincoln and it makes no sense to look elsewhere for a Best Bet.

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 2 No. 3 INTO THE WOOD ($7.10)

The hot local stable of John Dunn & Krystal Bishop nearly upset punters when they trained the quinella of the 1350 metre maiden here on New Year’s Eve. INTO THE WOOD settled towards the tail of the field during the run before looming ominously into the straight. Favourite backers had their hearts in their mouths over the concluding stages as the heavily-fancied stablemate Hotfootit burst through along the fence to hold a narrow margin over Into The Wood who put in a late dive out wide. Over-raced under apprentice Nichola Yuen before going down narrowly when the stable got their horse out to 1750 metres last time. Has had nearly a month between runs and fingers crossed Into The Wood is fresh for another tilt over 1350 metres on Sunday.

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 1 No. 5 A FEW GOOD MEN ($11)

Local trainer Annette Harder found plenty of improvement out of A FEW GOOD MEN when racing over 1250 metres last start. The horse gathered his feet well enough to surge to the front under Murray Henderson. The pair were taken on shortly afterwards by one to their outside, ensuring a speed battle through the early part. A Few Good Men dropped the challenger prior to straightening before finding themselves a sitting duck for the swoopers. A Few Good Men battled on for fourth despite shortening stride considerably inside the last 100 metres. Does still have the task ahead to turn the tables on Diamente Tagliato who accounted for him easily enough last time they met. A Few Good Men couldn’t get into stride that day and may have just turned a corner last start.