Townsville racing tips & best bets – Thursday, 18 June 2020
A bumper 10-race program heads north to Townsville on Thursday for Queensland’s provincial meeting. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, with the rail in the true position for the entirety of the course. Race 1 is set to jump at 11:20am AEST, with the final event on the program to go around at 4:50pm.
Free betting tips for Townsville
Race 3 – Lickety Lachie @ $6
Trevor Rowe has picked up a swag of former Darryl Hansen-trained gallopers from the Sunshine Coast, including Lickety Lachie. He brings north some very good form for a Townsville Class 3 Plate after six months off the scene. Sonja Wiseman has ridden seven winners from her last 50 rides and should get every chance to make it eight here from the lovely draw in gate six. Lickety Lachie is usually ridden forward and maps to get that lead. If he can bring his solid form from the Sunshine Coast, he can be winning this.
Race 9 – Unbiased @ $2.05
Unbiased comes from even further south, having crossed the border from Cody Morgan’s Tamworth stable. The 7yo went north this time last year for a North Queensland Cups tilt and was scratched at the gates as a fancied runner in the Cairns Cup. Prior to that he ran fifth at Rosehill behind Doncaster Handicap placegetter Star Of The Seas under three lengths, which is superior form here. Aiden Holt has been riding very well of late and should find a great spot from barrier seven. Unbiased finished under six lengths off Dr Drill in the Listed Scone Cup in his last start, so the drop back to a Class 6 gives every indication he can win this.
Race 10 – Drumbeat’s Choice @ $10
Now with John Manzelmann, Drumbeat’s Choice is shooting for four wins on the trot and looks a good each-way proposition in the feature race at Townsville. Apprentice jockey Dakota Graham claims 3kg and gets a good draw in barrier four. The pair will likely get back in the run and be scraping the paint in search of a 12th career win for the gelding. It’ll be his second race at Townsville since his runner-up finish in the 2017 Cleveland Bay Handicap, where he crossed the line 3.5 lengths in front of this year’s Stradbroke winner, Tyzone. The $8 appeals on an each-way basis.
R7. 4-5-6-13
R8. 1-6
R9. 3-6-7-11
R10. 2-3-8-10-11-13
$192 for 100%