Townsville Preview & Best Bets – 07/05/2024

Townsville Tips for Tuesday, May 7

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.1  SPEED LEGEND

Roy Chillemi saddles-up SPEED LEGEND here who has come back in great touch and looks a huge chance here of scoring his seventh career win today. Last start, the Star Witness gelding was first-up off a lengthy six-month absence when he finished third in a Class 6 set weights event over 950m at Cairns. ‘Lethal’ Lacey Morrison was aboard that day as she secured her sixth podium finish from as many rides on the seven-year-old. He meets similar company today only this time over a much preferred distance and from gate three, maps to be ideally settled just behind the early speed. Unbeaten in two starts at the Cluden Park track and fitter for that first-up return, he will take a power of beating today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.3  SWITCH AND SLIDE 

Local trainer, Bill Kenning has a new addition to his stable with SWITCH AND SLIDE making his Cluden Park debut today. Formerly with Chris Meagher camp, the Sidestep gelding was second-up last start when he finished fourth in a Three-Year-Old Maiden over 800m at Ipswich. He has since had a six-week freshen-up whilst preparing for his North Queensland debut today and has trialled on his new home track which he won by more than a length on the line. Today, Ryan Wiggins is the new pilot as Kenning makes a few gear changes, pulling off the blinkers for the first time and is fitting a tongue tie as well. He has drawn wide in gate ten but his early gate speed has him crossing and settling just behind the speed. With a trouble-free run here, he can figure in this contest and finally break-through today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.8  MISSILE THUNDER 

Another from the Chillemi stable is MISSILE THUNDER who steps up in grade today but ticks enough boxes to suggest he can go back-to-back in this contest. Last start, the Smart Missile gelding was third-up when he scored his seventh career-win in a Class 6 over set weights on the Cannon Park track at Cairns. Confidently ridden by Nathan (Grubby) Day, he settled last in the field and despite a big betting drift ($7.50 to $11), he stormed home to pass them all and cross the line 1.5 lengths clear on the line. Adrian Layt is the new pilot today as the four-year-old will do no early work from gate three and should settle in the back half of the field. He looks to have come back in great touch after almost a year off the scene and boasting track specialist status here, he can go on and chalk-up his seventh win on this track today.