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Track is a Soft 7 with the rail out 2m from the 800m-300m, True remainder. Weather is fine.
Race 1 (1:15pm) CARLTON DRY CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)
We open up on a slowly improving track over the staying trip, although rain is likely to return so a late downgrade is well on the cards. Ultra-consistent mare 4. Fusaichi Family ($2 favourite on TAB) was good late from the back in a deeper race at Scone and steps up to this journey at an ideal time. Had previously swept home to beat a similar class field and is the one to beat.
Dangers: Improving three-year-old 2. Fiocchi ($4) is clear on the next line from a handy draw deep into the prep while 3. Forever Spotted ($4.40) can bounce back after dropping out a long way in the Diggers' Cup at Inverell.
How to play it: Fusaichi Family to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 2 (1:50pm) BUY YOUR QUAST CHRISTMAS TURKEY OPEN HANDICAP (1600m)
Decent quality field locking horns over the mile with a few strong chances. Like home track four-year-old 3. Beckford ($4 fav) coming back from an even effort second-up in stronger BM 72 metro class. Looks fairly treated at the weights, peaking third-up, and is a two-time winner from only three starts on heavy tracks.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by rival local 9. Ziggi Rocks ($6.50) who was a bit disappointing working home late in a similar race at Quirindi, but he's consistent enough and only missed a place once in five starts here. Provincial seven-year-old 8. Surjin ($4.60) is banging on the door and gets good weight relief after charging home in that same race, although not convinced he'll find the right spot from the inside draw around here. Tough six-year-old 10. Hardyo ($6.50) flashed home to win the Quirindi battle, although a little more depth here and will likely be forced further back from the outside draw. Both 2. Mister Smartee ($12) and 4. Mo's Glory ($13) are capable of finishing into a place.
How to play it: Beckford to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 (2:25pm) SKY RACING WORLD CLASS 2 HCP - HEAT OF THE RISING STAR (1000m)
Heat of the Rising Star is open as well. Promising four-year-old 2. The Wayfarer ($5) resumes and is bound to come to hand quickly. Hasn't raced on anything near a 7/8 rating, but the way he got through the line in a recent open trial on a Soft 6 suggests there'll be no concern.
Dangers: Always had a nice opinion of lightly raced home five-year-old 1. Anethole ($4 fav) who resumes here behind two trials. Big weight offset by a 4kg allowance, although a genuine query if the track gets to heavy range. Keep safe 7. Foxstorm ($6.50) returning off a six week freshen-up and down in weight, while another local on the rise 5. C'mon And Love Me ($4.80) resumed with a narrow win against weaker class and 10. Zakor ($7) gets good weight relief with blinkers added.
How to play it: The Wayfarer each-way and trifecta 1,2/1,2,5,7,10/1,2,5,7,10
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 (3:05pm) CANNON COHEN + ASSOCIATES CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
It doesn't get any easier here. Home track three-year-old 12. Roussos ($5) shapes as the best value second-up in a wide race. Was huge odds resuming off a long break when beaten under a length in a handy enough maiden and while he'll need some luck from a middle gate in a sizable field, most of these are going around for practice.
Dangers: Lightly raced 2. Fanz ($3.90 fav) stuck on well second-up and drew to get plenty of cover while big watch on 14. Sneaky Truths ($6) coming off a fair first-up run in potentially a much stronger maiden.
How to play it: Roussos each-way
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 5 (3:40pm) AMPSON'S CAR REPAIRS F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Local four-year-old mare 2. Invincible Fire ($2.30 fav) is well placed to break through fourth-up after finishing hard in that Quirindi maiden when forced to make a long and sustained run early after jumping from a wide barrier. She can settle closer here from a softer draw and with a leading jockey sticking strong, she only needs a clear run from the 350m.
Dangers: Big watch on provincial three-year-old 13. Rockbarton Ruby ($7.50) who makes her debut behind two recent trials. Improving four-year-old 4. Kenderesi ($5) has to overcome a tough gate, but she's shown more than enough in three runs to be competitive here.
How to play it: Invincible Fire to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 (4:15pm) TJC CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON DECEMBER 20 MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)
One of the more open and difficult races on the card. Improving provincial mare 3. American Anthem ($3.70 fav) can break through third-up from a fair draw after finishing okay in a deeper race at Port.
Dangers: Local mare 4. Angel's Landing ($6) was unlucky not to have landed her maiden at Inverell when working home wide out, and she backs up in 10 days with a far more senior and experienced jockey taking over. Another improver 9. Lucky Crumpet ($9.50) defied her big odds finishing well late at Quirindi and drew better here for a race with more depth, while 11. Pippen ($4.80) drops back in grade and distance via a trial, but has to overcome a tough draw and 13. Single Babe ($26) is an improver.
How to play it: American Anthem to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 (4:50pm) COURTHOUSE HOTEL TAMWORTH BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1400m)
Good quality race for this grade and naturally plenty of chances. Underrated four-year-old 3. Pyrmont ($4.60) is a good wet tracker and so much better than his modest record suggests. Made up a tonne of ground last start in a Class 2 under a similar weight and screaming for the extra 200m.
Dangers: Capable four-year-old 7. Wiki ($5.50) held on strongly to land his maiden fourth-up and is bred to relish wet tracks. Big market watch on 5. The Borough ($5.50) who resumes off two progressive trials, draws the inside, and will be fit enough to run this out fresh. Topweight 1. Andorra La Vella ($11) was a dominant last start winner, and 8. Honeywine ($6) and 11. Santa Margherita ($12) fourth-up should all be included in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Pyrmont each-way
Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 8 (5:30pm) CLEARVIEW IT CONSULTING BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)
Always been a fan of local five-year-old 3. Danza In The Dark ($5) who resumes for only his 13th start. Hasn't publicly trialled but has performed smartly on the fresh side and the booking of the "Raging Bull" to ride is a big plus
Dangers: A stack of them in a wide race headed by 5. Satin Ruby ($4.80) also drops down from a strong closing Highway run 17 days ago, but is drawn off the track. Watch the betting on progressive mare 12. Majority ($4.60 fav) who charged home first-up while 9. Mook's Sister ($8) who has found the line well in her last two and 6. Eighth Immortal ($11) who is unpredictable but can reel off a big final 400m, are knockout chances.
How to play it: Danza In The Dark each-way and box trifecta 3,5,9,12
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R2 - 3. BECKFORD ($4)
R5 - 2. INVINCIBLE FIRE ($2.30)
BEST VALUE
R7 - 3. PYRMONT ($4.60)