Inverell Racing Tips for May 22 - Moonlight Diva can go back-to-back today

Steve Bennett

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Last updated: 21 May 2026

Steve Bennett 21 May 2026

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Inverell hosts an 8-race meeting on Friday 22 May.
The track is currently rated a Soft 6. Weather Forecast: Fine.
Moonlight Diva the best of the day in Race 2, last start winner, good wet track form.
Samurai Warrior to win Race 5, coming off a win, Kody Nestor to ride today.
Permission Denied can win Race 7, last start winner, unbeaten at the distance.

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Australian Horse Racing (Getty Images)

Inverell racing takes place on Friday, May 22 with an 8-race program set down for the Inverell racetrack.
We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Inverell racetrack.
Race 2: No.10 Moonlight Diva
Race 5: No.3 Samurai Warrior
Race 7: No.4 Permission Denied

We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Inverell racetrack.

Race 2: No.10 Moonlight Diva

The Sally Taylor-trained galloper is high flying after three starts back and looks a major threat in this event.

Last start, the Puissance de Lune mare came off a runner-up finish at Taree when she went one better and broke through to claim victory in a Maiden Hcp over 1405m at Coffs Harbour.

On a Heavy 10 that day, she settled last in the small field before tracking wide on the turn where Grady Spokes took her to the outside fence where the going was better and in the run home, passed them all to collect the gold medal on the race.

Drawn wide in gate 11 here, she maps to cross and settle in the back half of the field with Spokes in the saddle again.

Fourth-up and at her peak today, she looks the testing material in this contest.

Race 5: No.3 Samurai Warrior

Team Geran saddle-up ‘the Warrior’ here who is in great touch of late and looks well placed in this event to feature at the business end of proceedings today.

Last start, the Savabeel gelding made it career-win number three when he took out a BM60 Hcp over 1890m at Toowoomba.

Unwanted in the betting ($16), he settled just behind the speed one off the fence and approaching the turn, was under pressure to keep in touch with them, before finding another wind and in the end, finished too good for them across the line.

The Toowoomba-based gelding is popping south of the border today where he draws gate six and maps to settle mid-field or better with Kody Nestor as the new pilot.

In winning form now, a trouble-free run here can see him there at the finish in this contest.

Race 7: No.4 Permission Denied

The Wayne Lawson-trained galloper is third-up today and looks a big chance of going back-to-back in this event.

Last start, the three-year-old son of The Mission stripped fitter off his first-up run and improved enough to take out a Class 1 Hcp over 1405m at Coffs Harbour.

With Poppie Gorton in the saddle, he led on settling and gave them something to chase as he cleared out to lead by five lengths and on a Heavy 10, in the run home, he had an unassailable lead and crossed the line still more than four lengths clear.

Meeting BM58 company here, similar tactics could be applied as he jumps from gate 10 and maps to be up there in leading group on settling with Gorton retaining the ride.

Already a winner when third-up, he looks a major player in this contest.