Townsville Preview & Best Bets – 23/04/2024

Townsville Tips for Tuesday, April 23

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.2  MOOLOOLABA

Another from the Georgie Bourke stable is MOOLOOLABA who is in great form of late and looks a shoe-in at bringing up the hat-trick today. Last start, the Turn Me Loose gelding was having his second start for the stable and after winning at his first run in the tropical north, he franked that effort (and then some) by putting more than three lengths on his rivals in a BM65, here over the 1609m trip. Today, he meets similar company over the same trip and has Ash Butler aboard for the first time. The money has come for him overnight (as expected) and going by his last two performances, he looks the best of the day.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.4  HURTLE

The Georgie Bourke-trained HURTLE has a picket fence alongside his name this time in and looks all set to add another picket to it today. Last start, the well-bred Capitalist gelding was ridden a treat by ‘lethal’ Lacey Morrison who had him settled outside the leader and in the run home, all had the upper hand and went on to win the Open Hcp affair over 1200m on the Cluden Park track. Today, he meets similar opposition over the same trip and has Morrison on board to show him the way. Unbeaten in four starts this preparation, surely just bad luck can deprive him of another rwin today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.7  VANCOUVER BAY

Local trainer, Steven Royes saddles-up VANCOUVER BAY here who is second-up today and looks well placed for back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Vancouver gelding was resuming off a lengthy 31-week break but showed no signs of fatigue as he took out a BM55 over 1250m at Cairns. With Gabrielle Semmens aboard for the first time, she settled him mid-field behind the speed and in the run home, proved too strong on his fresh legs. Today, he steps up in grade and has Semmens sticking with him and after her 3kg claim, the six-year-old carries 2kgs less for this assignment. Already a track and distance winner and fitter for that first-up run, he looks right in the mix today.