By Neil Evans
Track soft 5 and rail true.
RACE 1
1. Ring Ahoy is a tough finisher well into his prep, which made up plenty of ground from a wide draw in a much deeper Saturday class 3 Highway. The seven-day turnaround is a strong stable pointer, along with the extra furlong, and he can settle closer in the run here and be very strong late. 5. Descending Mist has not finished further back than second in his past four, and while this is tougher, he draws to get a handy trail just off the speed. 6. Everlasting Kiss draws wide, but looks fairly placed coming back from an even effort in provincial company. 3. Mindspace also draws off the track, but gets a timely drop in class fifth up. 9. Brave Boy, down in weight, and 12. Bill Peyto, suited over a furlong further, both go into trifecta and first four plays in what is an open race.
How to play it: Ring Ahoy to win.
Racing returns to Inverell on Friday.Credit: Phil Carrick
RACE 2
1. City Gold Speed stuck on OK making his debut behind a dominant and odds-on winner in a much better maiden on Scone Cup day. Will appreciate this line-up on a firmer track, importantly backing up in seven days. 4. Zouandme is the immediate threat second up from a low draw, and also benefiting from firmer going. 5. Bobby Is King has more than enough ability second up, but has to get over from a wide gate. 13. Hefty Price is a market watch resuming without the winkers, while 6. Casino Collection is a second-start improver with a far more experienced jockey taking over.
How to play it: City Gold Speed to win,
RACE 3
7. Sugar Osland is an improving Queensland-based three-year-old well placed to break through third up. Was only fair to the line when resuming at home before hitting the line to miss by less than a length in a better maiden at Ipswich. That run reads well for his crossing the border over more ground, and is drawn to get good cover a few lengths off the speed. Watch the betting on 1. Marin County, a US-bred filly on debut behind a 23-week break for the Brett Cavanough stable, in his first Australian run since landing from the UK. 4. Ju Two is another lightly raced Scone raider drawn to be in the finish second up. Gap to the rest, headed by 3. Homeland, which gets key gear changes fifth up, but drawn wide, while 2. Comancheria is an ex-Victorian capable of running into the minor money at big odds on his first outing for the new Armidale stable.
How to play it: Sugar Island to win.
RACE 4
13. Ol’ Mate Coop is a promising and lightly raced two-year-old that can progress off a fast-finishing fresh run at Grafton to strike over a shade further against the older horses. The winner ran a record that day, and he’s drawn to park closer in the run. Only needs clear air from the 400m. 12. Four Degrees was rock solid on debut at Mudgee, and drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. 6. Bouvier is another big market watch, a former UK filly by Invincible Spirit and first up in Australia for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Has placed in five from six starts, although seemingly more effective over further. 11. Show Us Ya Texts is an each-way chance on debut for the Lyle Chandler yard behind two progressive trials, while 7. Gold Puma at big odds improves into his second start.
How to play it: Ol’ Mate Coop to win.
RACE 5
11. Libby is an honest and improving mare well over the odds in an open race despite a class rise fourth up. Was unsuited in two runs at Armidale before showing significant improvement hitting the line late at Glen Innes. Gets some weight relief, with a stronger jockey taking over, and being by Reliable Man will relish getting up to the mile. 7. Talakai is an improving Queensland mare that will likely jump the favourite after finishing close up in a handy BM58 over the border. 12. Redadel has only been fair in two runs back from a spell, but draws to get the right trail, and this is a weak line-up. Include 5. Maurita, which tackled some tougher races in Queensland earlier in the prep, and 15. Girly Pop, which drops in class, in all trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Libby to win.
RACE 6
1. Rhythm Is A Dancer is a talented and still lightly raced six-year-old that looks ideally placed third up coming back in grade. Ran home well in a Saturday Gold Coast race two starts back before again finishing well just behind the placegetters in the tougher Country Cup at Scone on cup day. Reliable weight carrier that will naturally drift back from the draw, but in a race with solid speed on, he only needs to get a clear crack at them over the final 350m to produce a superior closing sectional. 3. Lady Wardel draws to be a threat fourth up, dropping back from a deeper race at Eagle Farm three weeks back. Over the odds is 7. Bow, second up off a good closing effort at Grafton. Keep safe 5. Starzam at good odds after doing his best work late in heavy ground at Taree from an impossible position in the run. 2. Cambourne, which draws to get a soft run behind the speed, and at much bigger odds 4. Tread Softly, resuming off a dominant trial win, can both figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Rhythm Is A Dancer to win.
RACE 7
5. Lesgo Don is a locally trained and underrated four-year-old that can strike second up. Won two straight in weaker company to close his last campaign before working home strongly from near last when first up at Glen Innes. More depth here, but even fitter now and this is his ideal distance. 2. Yellowhammer gets a much-needed class drop from tougher affairs over the border, but still under the odds carrying a big weight from a tricky draw. 6. Church Rock can improve second up with a claim over a suitably longer trip. 3. Stoinka reloads behind a dominant third-up win in a thinner BM 8. Include 11. Bush Warrior, which draws to get an economical run, in all exotic plays, while 8. Jakat, a stablemate of the top selection, is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Lesgo Don to win.
RACE 8
2. Navy Steel is a progressive three-year-old, and well placed to go back-to-back and take his winning strike rate to 50 per cent from six starts. Beat a handy maiden field first up at Wellington before running home late in a good quality class 1. Rubber-stamped that form finishing best in the heavy to claim a deeper BM58 at Muswellbrook. The rise in trip is timely, and he’s drawn to stay out of trouble back in the field before producing that dominant finish. The one to beat. 3. Under Twenty Two chased home gamely in similar company second up at Grafton, and is clear each-way value. 1. Mazita is a talented galloper, albeit unreliable. Better suited here, though, after flopping at Wellington on a difficult surface, but still under the odds carting 62kg. 4. Cardsharp, dropping in grade third up from a wide draw, 5. Better Tomorrow, resuming off a quiet trial and trained on the track, and 9. Meddlesome, third up from a softer draw, are all capable of figuring in the money.
How to play it: Navy Steel to win.
RACE 9
1. Snow Falcon is building a handy record, and presents well over the odds in a wide-open race. Finished hard to claim a BM58 at Grafton in heavy going before being spelled. Picked up where he left off at the same track, rushing home late to win despite being unwanted in betting. Hard to believe he was well into double-figure odds here early, and looks well treated at the weight after the jockey claims 3kg. 8. Ultimate Say is a provincial filly that was well rated in front to score on debut at Grafton, and gets his chance to repeat the dose from a low draw. 13. Starlacca is a big market watch first up for the new Tuncurry yard after switching from Victoria. 3. Boambee Beach has to get over from a tough draw, but has been battling away in deeper races. Watch the betting on 7. Staffa, resuming off a handy trial, although her fresh record is poor. 2. Bellzen steps up from a fast-finishing first-up win in weaker company, and draws to get plenty of cover, while 6. Whitsunday Sessions did not do much when resuming, but gets gear changes and normally improves into the next run.
How to play it: Snow Falcon each way.
RACE 10
2. Cool Fizz is more known as a wet-tracker, but she’s tough and very honest in and around this class. Suited by the four weeks between runs in a moderate affair, and this is her pet distance. 5. Confederate Lad is the likely favourite and immediate threat having missed narrowly in two runs back from a spell, and draws to get a soft run behind the speed. 7. Kirra’s Sister improved nicely to claim a weak maiden over the border, and draws to get a charmed run on or near the speed. 3. Takemine has not won for a while, but is honest and trained on the course, while 9. Abrazen Laugh, which drew the fence third up, and 13. Signatories, back in class third up, although needing a scratching to get a run, both go in wider exotics.
How to play it: Cool Fizz each way.
Best bets
Race 2: (1) City Gold Speed
Race 3: (7) Sugar Island
Best value
Race 7: (5) Lesgo Don
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
