Townsville Preview & Best Bets – 05/03/2024

Townsville Tips for Tuesday, March 5

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.4  CRAICARO

Peter Cullen has CRAICARO engaged here today and fresh off a six-month absence, looks a solid chance of victory on fresh legs in this contest. Last start, the Press Statement filly ended her last campaign finishing unplaced in a Three-Year-Old Open over 1200m at Mackay. That was her first look at the tight-turning track and after settling back in the field, she didn’t handle the solid pace they set that day. Back on home soil today, all three career-wins have been here and she has a new pilot with the return of local favourite, Frank Edwards who has just recently returned from a bad fall last year. Edwards rode her to victory in a recent barrier trial and already a winner when first-up, she looks a strong chance of taking this out today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  BEAUTY BOOM

The Lindsay Hatch-trained BEAUTY BOOM heads north today and sees Cluden Park for the first time. Last start, the Spirit Of Boom gelding came off a first-up win and with 60kgs to carry, couldn’t get going in the run home and finished unplaced, beaten two lengths on the line in a BM68 over 800m at Ipswich. Hatch has decided to give the four-year-old a shot at Nth Qld competition today and puts him over more ground as well. In-form apprentice, Gabrielle Semmens is the new pilot and after her 3kg claim here, the gelding has a 4.5kg advantage over the topweight (Hurtle) who is currently the white-hot race favourite at $1.70 and clearly the one to beat. Already a winner when third-up, the Hatch galloper will have last crack at them and with that weight advantage, just might give them a fright in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.5  MYSTERY ‘N’ MAGIC 

Atherton trainer, Roy Chillemi saddles-up MYSTERY ‘N’ MAGIC here who ticks all the boxes to suggest he can roll the odds-on favourite today. Last start, the Rothesay gelding resumed after six-months off the scene and while the 1000m event was always going to be too short, he fared well and finished off nicely, collecting third prize in the Open class event, beaten just over a length on the line. He likes racing here, boasting four wins and eight minor placings to date. He is also a second-up specialist, claiming two victories and as many runner-up finishes from five second-up appearances. The 1400m today is right up his alley with two wins over the trip already achieved. Jason Taylor has steered him to victory three times to date and steers the ship again. He does no early work from gate one and fitter today, he looks a great chance of pinching this contest.