Hawkesbury Betting Tips for August 20, 2026 - Esquire Has the Right Credentials

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Tue 18 Aug 2026 14:18

Alex Marsh 1 hour ago

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Harrybegood (Race 6) highlighted as the best bet with James McDonald riding
Value found in Esquire (Race 4) and longshot Point Score (Race 8)
Rowley Mile (Race 7): Punch Lane and Juja Kibo are prime contenders in a competitive feature

Punch Lane winning the 2025 Hawkesbury Gold Cup. (Getty)

Provincial racing ventures to Hawkesbury on Thursday, where the Listed Rowley Mile headlines the eight-race card.

Hawkesbury Tips August 20
Happy Retirement Adam Carney Maiden Tips (Race 4)
Peter Smith Memorial Super Maiden Plate Tips (Race 6)
Pioneer Services Rowley Mile Tips (Race 7)
Brad Widdup 2025-2026 Champion Trainer Tips (Race 8)

The track is currently rated a Heavy 8, with the rail in the true position.

For wider betting angles, our Daily Racing Multi brings together leading combinations from multiple programs.

Hawkesbury Tips August 20

Happy Retirement Adam Carney Maiden Tips (Race 4)

Hawkesbury Value Bet - Race 4 No. 8 Esquire

This Ryan and Alexiou-trained colt is well bred, with the son of Exceedance out of Eshq, who comes from Group 1 winner Rewaaya and the same family as three-time Group 1 winner and influential stallion Snippets.

Although Esquire would not have threatened the dominant Steel Will when making his debut at Wyong on August 2, he still should have finished an outright second after settling back, struggling to find a comfortable rhythm over 1100m and being held up in the straight.

That performance suggested the rise to 1300m should suit, while Steel Will has since franked the form by winning at Rosehill last Saturday after having also been tried at Group 3 level during his first preparation.

Tim Clark takes over in the saddle and has been in terrific touch through winter, striking at almost 28% since the beginning of June, including a Listed victory for the Ryan and Alexiou yard aboard Chilly Girl last Saturday.

Clark is also striking at better than 19% for the stable over the past 12 months and, ideally from a more prominent position on settling, the three-year-old can give this a nudge at a price.

Peter Smith Memorial Super Maiden Plate Tips (Race 6)

Hawkesbury Best Bet - Race 6 No. 8 Harrybegood

Raw ability was evident from Harrybegood throughout a three-run autumn campaign, despite the son of Harry Angel not quite putting everything together at his first preparation.

That included a debut placing before a third at Newcastle on April 11, where he was well backed when rounding out the campaign.

Connections have opted to geld Harrybegood ahead of his return and that could prove the making of the youngster, with his winter trial work also catching the eye.

He first impressed in an 800m Gosford heat on July 22 before completing a 1000m trial in his latest appearance, where he travelled strongly and worked through the line under a hold.

The engagement of James McDonald is significant, with the champion jockey striking at better than 38% for the Kris Lees stable over the past 12 months, and while he'll likely get over more ground, with the notable jockey booking and strong lead-up work, class could well get him home fresh.

Pioneer Services Rowley Mile Tips (Race 7)

Hawkesbury Feature Bets - Race 7 No. 2 Punch Lane & No. 5 Juja Kibo

An open early market underlines the competitive nature of Thursday’s Rowley Mile, with Punch Lane and Juja Kibo both among the leading contenders.

Punch Lane has not been at his best this campaign, although his best effort came in the Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill last start when held up at a key stage, and the Freedman stable has again kept him on the fresh side again with a fair tick-over trial completed.

His only previous appearance at this track resulted in victory in last year’s Hawkesbury Cup over this distance and, while he was in much better touch then, several rivals here are early in their preparations and likely to improve over further.

Tim Clark is likely to be positive from the wide draw and Punch Lane could be the fit horse looking to run them into the ground, while Juja Kibo is another of interest on return after some outstanding trial work.

The lightly raced six-year-old, who also holds a nomination for Friday’s Murwillumbah Cup, was Stakes placed three times through a frustrating autumn and arrives here after a quiet but nice Gosford trial on July 22 followed by an impressive 1200m trial victory.

Brad Widdup 2025-2026 Champion Trainer Tips (Race 8)

Hawkesbury Roughie - Race 8 No. 8 Point Score

Although Point Score may not have been entirely comfortable when leading at Illawarra Grange third-up on July 30, he still showed his versatility when Andrew Collett used the wide draw to cross and take up the running before finishing less than two lengths away.

That came in a provincial BM64 following a plain second-up effort at Randwick, although the latter was a Saturday metropolitan BM72 where the son of Blue Point may simply have been outclassed.

His preparation began on the Randwick-Kensington circuit, where there was good market support and Point Score made ground to finish third in a city race that has since produced four subsequent winners.

There are also some solid references through his previous campaign, where his only victory came second-up before he remained competitive in stronger company, including a credible effort at massive odds in the Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes.

That preparation ended with a fourth-of-nine in a metropolitan BM64 at Randwick-Kensington behind Clear Proof, who has since won in stronger company, and Point Score looks capable of outperforming his bolter’s quote in the finale.