We’re off to Emerald for the first time in 2021 and Australia’s best cowboys will climb aboard some of Australia’s meanest bulls on Saturday evening.
Yet to do the form? Don’t worry! I’ve run the rule over the entire PBR Emerald Invitational program, and you can find all of my best betting plays below.
I’m kicking off the program with a bet on a Bull – I am confident that Summer Times Blues will prove too strong for Taran Chirgwin.
Chirgwin has returned some competitive performances at recent events, but he steps out in Emerald following a duck egg at Mackay.
Summer Times Blues was covered by Brady Fielder in Cairns earlier this year, but I think that the $1.60 we’re getting is still over the odds.
Betting suggests that one of the better contests in Emerald will materialise between Kelsey Pavlou and Toy Boy, and at publish we’re faced with $1.82 each for rider and bull.
Pavlou had found good and largely consistent form in 2021, and he arrives in Emerald following another strong showing in Rockhampton, at which he finished second overall.
Toy Boy has made just two appearances at the PBR previously, bucking Wyatt Milgate in 2.59 before being covered by Taran Chirgwin last time.
Pavlou’s recent performances have been enough for me to stick with him this week.
Troy Wilkinson finished second at Mackay a couple of weeks ago and I think the he can go one better in Emerald, so I am going to back him in both rides.
His first sees him climb aboard Living On Dreams, who is yet to be defeated in three starts at the PBR, but who is also yet to face a rider of Wilkinson’s quality.
Wilkinson can win this match and take confidence into his second.
This certainly looks to be the harder contest for Wilkinson, but he is the right form to win the event, and I am keen to take the $2.35.
Freckles Brown has won each of his last four contests at the PBR, but he was covered by Lachlan Richardson earlier this year, and he certainly faces a similarly stern task in Wilkinson.
Lachlan Richardson is another leading hope in Emerald this weekend and I’m confident he’ll return a competitive performance aboard King Kong.
Richardson has been one of the standout Cowboys on the PBR Australia tour for several season now, and he has podiumed several times in 2021, including a win at the PBR Bull Mania event at Burnett Heads in September.
King Kong was covered by Aaron Kleier in Rockhampton three events back, but he successfully unseated Qynn Anderson and Jake Curr at his last two appearances.
The bull’s recent form suggests that he’ll win, but I think there’s serious value to be found in ride duration bands betting.