3 minute read

Track likely Soft 7 and rail out 5m from 800m to WP & 3m the remainder.

Competitive opener over the mile, although it sets up nicely for improving local mare and reliable wet tracker 7. Gold Lunar fourth-up. Was unwanted in betting when hitting the line here 18 days ago in a deeper race, and ready to peak, getting out to her preferred distance.

Dangers: Lightly raced two-year-old 2. Diatonic can give a big sight after clinging on to win his maiden here over the same trip. Drawn the widest, but experience and fitness are on the up. Consistent provincial mare 5. Just Like Lisa (also accepted for Dubbo) gets weight relief and a soft run back midfield, although taking on some better ones here. Keep safe home track mare 3. Elegant Poetess with a weight advantage after the claim; while 1. Bill Peyto who is honest; and 6. Oakfield Tepee from a better draw; can run into the minor end of the prize.

How to play it: Gold Lunar each way and box exacta 2,5,7
Odds and Evens: Split

All aboard well-touted Exosphere three-year-old 4. Zenti on debut with gear additions. Was very strong through the line in the second of two trials, and bred to eat up the ground.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 2. Hypnosis was well supported when hitting the line first-up, and importantly stays at the short trip. Big watch on two-year-old Deep Field first starter 11. Custo who bolted in a recent trial here; while Pariah two-year-old 13. Garside can peak third-up down in weight; and 1. Geewhiz Johnny has enough early speed to off-set the wide barrier third-up.

How to play it: Zenti to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Open race with a tonne of chances. Leaning to underrated provincial mare 1. Visceral at the value resuming off an 11 week break. Has been given two progressive trials up to 1200m, and front concussion plates coming off is a key indicator. Gets right back in at the weights after the junior rider's full claim.

Dangers: Home track filly 10. Shemakesastatement is hard fit, and has finished hard just behind the placegetters in her last two, with winkers being added here. Improving 2. Hemsworth is second-up off a nine week break, and comes through a stronger CL3 formline. Honest four-year-old 7. Cheeky Nugget gets a nice trail from the draw. Both 3. Rhineland second-up; and 5. Don't Forget Dad coming off a maiden win; are worthy inclusions in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Visceral each way
Odds and Evens: Split

It doesn't get much easier here, with many of these three-year-olds unproven in the ground. The wraps are good, though, for NZ-bred provincial debutant 7. Willinga Freefall who opens his career behind a recent impressive trial win in soft going. Looks well above average, and is by renowned Kiwi mudlark and dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls.

Dangers: Loved the tenacity shown here by 4. Tennagain (also accepted for Dubbo) just being edged out at his second start, although first time in these conditions. Big watch on 8. Selfie Time who resumes for a second prep behind two trials; while 3. Diamond Tipped is best of the rest, resuming off a lengthy break and solid trial win, with blinkers coming off.

How to play it: Willinga Freefall to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky affair over this middle distance. Locally-trained five-year-old 3. Fanmalia is hard fit and never raced better. Hit the line hard in two similar-graded races either side of a spell before sweeping home for a deserved win at Tamworth. Building a nice record on rain-affected ground, and the extra 100m is a further plus back at home third-up.

Dangers: Tough four-year-old and last start BM 66 winner 1. Scorched Land is an obvious threat from a soft draw, but won't want to drift too far back under a big weight. Keep safe four-year-old 5. Casirina who peaks third-up in ground he relishes; while including 2. Fine Weather and 9. Persian Beauty in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Fanmalia to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen on talented Rubick filly 14. Opal Ridge who resumes after a stunning debut win in Canberra back in January when missing the start before rounding them up with ease. Given plenty of time, and stable has since relocated to Scone.

Dangers: Watch the betting on provincial three-year-old 6. Uzziah who hasn't started since being well outclassed in the much tougher Group 2 Run To The Rose last September, but has won both lead-up trials narrowly. Plenty of each-way hopes further out in the market headed by 2. Apache Blue who improves sharply second-up; and 9. Talons (Dubbo acceptor) who resumes after a nine week absence from a wide gate, but has more than enough ability.

How to play it: Opal Ridge to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

A stack of chances too in this headed by progressive filly 6. Valoria who can pounce at her third start. Charged late on debut at Canterbury to miss by a neck in heavy ground before nothing went to plan from a tougher draw at Muswellbrook. Drawn out, but suited on this circuit, and a superior rider goes on.

Dangers: Promising filly and another dual acceptor with Dubbo 4. Rockbarton Ruby loomed to win second-up here before edged out by one who had enjoyed a much softer run. Will have to slot in from a wide barrier, but very capable on rain-affected ground. Emerging two-year-old filly 13. Powerful Peg must be respected off an impressive debut, hitting the line hard from a mile back, and draws to get a softer run here; while metro three-year-old 3. Talisman Saber wearing blinkers on debut; and 8. Exo Angel at her third start; head the rest.

How to play it: Valoria each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Wide open sprint to finish. Tough and emerging provincial filly 12. Keynote dug in hard to beat a talented one first-up at Tamworth three weeks back, and that horse has since won easily. Will have to get across from the gate, but late in the day drawn wider out could be an advantage, and she's bred to get over further.

Dangers: Lightly raced three-year-old 7. Vengeful stalked the speed before sweeping clear for a dominant win second-up, and is well up to this next level drawn much closer in where he can either lead, or take a sit right behind the pace. Expecting sharp second-up improvement from lightly raced home tracker 9. Russley Crown over a bit more ground. Include improving three-year-old 1. Taborca behind a dominant second-up maiden win at Tamworth.

How to play it: Keynote each way
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 4. ZENTI
R5 3. FANMALIA

BEST VALUE:
R7 6. VALORIA