Port Lincoln Preview & Best Bets – Sunday 31 December

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

Port Lincoln Tips 31/12/2023

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 2 No. 8 LAILA’S A GEM – ($)

Speedy mare LAILA’S A GEM makes her way back into the Searle yard following a prep with owner and trainer Graham Fryer. She was okay last prep, particularly when racing first-up over 1200 metres at Gawler. Searle stable apprentice Nichola Yuen had plenty of work to do in order to help Laila’s A Gem work over from her wide gate. The pair never found the rail and remained thereabouts to the end as smart race mare Bellalique raced away. Laila’s A Gem was a model of consistency when placing in four from five starts the Searle camp in her first prep. The race is a big step back in class on what she’s used to, and Laila’s A Gem has drawn to be right on the speed again.

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 1 No. 7 CLASSY LILLY – ($)

The money came for CLASSY LILLY as one of the West Coast’s leading stables in McKerlie & Hornhardt sent her out over 1250 metres here last start. Classy Lilly wasn’t the best to begin, though did muster through to be running midfield the fence. Beach Street led the race at a fast tempo before kicking well clear into the straight. Classy Lilly was a minute behind him at that point. She showed a good turn of foot under Ben Price to come clear of the others as she gave chase to the leader inside the furlong. She was never going to catch Beach Street who kept up the good gallop for a convincing win. Stepping up to an extra 100 metres would seem ideal for Classy Lilly who is knocking on the door for a win after that run.

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 8 No. 5 DJANGO EXPRESS – ($)

There will be plenty of speed on in the last South Australian race for 2023. The betting should be open with multiple chances as the barriers shape how this race may play out. We’ll go with impressive last start winner DJANGO EXPRESS who jumped from an inside gate over this track and trip last start. Sword Of War ensured plenty of pace in that event too with Teagan Voorham stalking the leader with Django Express. Voorham slipped her horse more leather into the straight for Django Express to put a gap on them. The pair won’t find any favours from an outside draw, and we’ll be taking the “if he hits, he wins” approach about Django Express on Sunday.