Townsville Preview May 5 – Friday Best Bets & Tips

Townsville Tips 05/05/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.2  YES DREAM  ($3.40 with bet365)

The Michael Lee-trained YES DREAM resumes off a 19-week absence today but ticks every box known to mankind here and will take a ton of beating. Last start, the Dream Ahead gelding ended a short preparation by winning back-to-back races, here in Open company, with ‘Lethal’ Lacey Morrison onboard for both victories. This four-year-old has done it all, especially here on the Cluden Park track where he is unbeaten in six starts here, and is two from two at the track and distance. He is also unbeaten first-up, boasting three wins from as many appearances and Morrison is yet to taste defeat on the galloper after seven previous rides on him. He maps to settle in the first half-dozen today from gate seven and on fresh legs, he will test out this field.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.4  MIRROR ILLUSION  ($7.10 with BoomBet)

Trevor & Peter Rowe saddle-up MIRROR ILLUSION here who has come back in good form and looks a real chance in this contest. Last start, the Irish-bred filly came off a first-up win when she drew poorly, carrying more weight and wasn’t disgraced when finishing just behind the placegetters in a BM55 Hcp over 1250m on her home track in Cairns. Today she makes her Cluden Park debut as Krysten Swaffer sticks with her again. Fitter for those first two runs back, she drops in weight today and has the ability to give this a real shake.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.11  WINNING SAGA  ($8 with Bet Right)

We’re shooting for a bit of value in the last as we run with local galloper WINNING SAGA who is three starts back from an 18-month absence and now looks ready to win. Last start, the Real Saga mare showed a ton of improvement when she beat all but one home in a Class 3 Plate, here over 1000m. Unwanted in the betting that day ($61), young apprentice Isabella Teh rode a patient race on her which paid dividends as the mare, saving valuable ground along the fence, flew home to grab the silver medal that day with plenty still in hand. Teh sticks with her today and now rock-hard fit after three runs back, she can figure in the finish here at odds.