Race 1 (1:15pm) SKY RACING WORLD CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)
4. Unzaga ($1.65 favourite on TAB) has more upside than many of his opponents with a win and four placings from eight starts. His 10th in a TAB Highway at Newcastle last time was better than it looks on paper as he was cramped for room down the stretch. He ran on gamely at Muswellbrook prior over 1450m so getting out to 2100m looks right up his ally.
Dangers: Topweight 1. Bartender Blues ($5.50) made good ground late at Taree and is a winner over 1600m but like many of his opponents, has a poor strike rate (31 starts for one win). 6. King Qin ($4) led them up and battled on OK at Narromine but remains winless after 18 starts. 10. Pure Dream ($26) was beaten 12 lengths at Gosford last time but did pick up late and looks the best of the rest.
How to play it: Unzaga to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 (1:50pm) ELITE SAND & SOIL OPEN HANDICAP (1600m)
6. Barellan Bandit ($5) hit the line strongly in the Gurya Cup at Armidale last start and the additional 200m will be much more suitable. The 6yo should get a cosy run from barrier two and has the services of Grant Buckley.
Dangers: 3. Zounique ($12) was having his first run for four months when sixth at Hawkesbury and didn't have a great deal of luck so look for an improved effort from him. 1. Juventus ($2.80 fav) rattled home to just miss in the Kempsey Cup (1450m) but has not won beyond 1400m and has to contend with the steadier of 61kg. 5. Red Beryl ($6.50) has firmed sharply from his opening $9.50 quote and was also close-up in the same race at Armidale as the top pick. 7. Ah Well ($7) hit the line OK at Quirindi and goes in exotics.
How to play it: Barellan Bandit stand-out quinella from 3-1-5-7
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 (2:25pm) TJC CHRISTMAS RACEDAY DEC 24 CTRY BOOSTED MDN HCP (1400m)
9. HERNE HILL ($5) held on solidly at Quirindi and gets his chance to break through at start number 11 following handy efforts on the Newcastle Beaumont Track (3rd) and Scone (4th). He drops 4kg in weight and meets the TAB favourite 7. OODLES ($3.90) 1kg better for beating him home.
Dangers: Oodles was a little wayward in that Quirindi race and seemed to have his chance to get past the top pick but is racing consistently. 4. BEAR'S BEST ($8.50) ran about and cost himself the race here two runs back before a decent effort at Scone and must be respected. 2. DIVINE CRESCENT ($10) was a noticeable drifter ($6 to $19) and made up plenty of ground late at this course last time. 5. DUBLINER BOY ($8.50) goes in wider exotics.
How to play it: Herne Hill stand-out quinella from 7-4-2-5
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 (3:05pm) TJC LADIES RACE DAY JANUARY 28 F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
1. LAGO'S DAUGHTER ($4) put in a tidy effort for second at Armidale in her first start for the Jeremy Sylvester stable since coming from south of the border. The mare was bailed up on the fence but once into the open finished strongly out wide with the winner (Arliebel), who has since franked the form by scoring at Quirindi.
Dangers: Favourite 4. VALORIA ($2.60) came home well for third at Scone in her first run since July and will derive plenty of benefit with the added advantage of drawing the inside gate. 6. DONNACAN ($8) hasn't raced for four months but has trialled nicely on two occasions at Wyong and Gosford and should perform well fresh. 7. EXTESSIVE ($4.80) looks to be on the improve and ran home well at Quirindi.
How to play it: Lago's Daughter stand-out exacta from 4-6-7
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 (3:40pm) TJC COUNTRY MUSIC RACE DAY JANUARY 19 CG&E MDN PLATE (1200m)
4. OUR BOY OLLIE ($13) came from near last for an excellent second at Scone in his first run for five months. In that race he breezed past other key chances here in 9. HAMMOON THUNDER ($7-4th) and 6. BIT OF A STEP ($11-5th). He has drawn awkwardly but that shouldn't matter as he should settle back in the field and finish with a similar burst at enticing odds.
Dangers: 2. DOMMANTELLA ($14) is a former Victorian that has been placed on three occasions and has pace to be on the speed. 12. OSTERBERG ($5) was well-tried at Port Macquarie and ran well, only weakening over the final 50m behind a talented and unbeaten stablemate (Cirebon). That was his first run in a month and will be improved by the outing.
How to play it: Box a quinella 4-2-12-9
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 6 (4:15pm) ALLSOPP SIGNS COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m)
8. REALLY SERIOUS ($3.40 fav) was having her second run from a two-month break and held on solidly when runner-up at Scone last time. She won over 1000m here in September and gets a rider upgrade with heavyweight jockey Rory Hutchings taking over. The 4yo mare should get a nice run in transit.
Dangers: 3. PYRMONT ($5.50 into $4.80) has been well-supported on the back of a solid second at Inverell when only run down late and draws to get the favours from the inside marble. 7. INDIAN THUNDER ($5.50) ran his rivals ragged at Inverell and will again play a prominent role while topweight 1. KINSHIP ($6) drops sharply in grade from a strong Hawkesbury race and will be thereabouts in this company.
How to play it: Really Serious to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 (4:50pm) AON GIVINGTUESDAY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)
6. ARLIEBEL ($4.40) is a 4yo mare racing in great form with impressive wins at her past two appearances. She finished with gusto to win at Armidale before a similar victory at Quirindi. Grant Buckley takes over and there's no reason why she can't make it a winning hat-trick.
Dangers: 8. MOVIN' DENMAN ($4.80) continues to race well with placings at his past four starts and will again be rattling home late. 12. POWERFUL PEG ($4.20 fav) is a lightly-raced filly resuming after winning at Muswellbrook in July and went to the line under a tight hold for fourth in a recent Gosford barrier trial. 4. LEAVE ME BE ($6.50) is all the better for two runs from a spell but has drawn awkwardly in gate number 11.
How to play it: Arliebel to win & make it three straight
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 8 (5:30pm) ADVANCED INLAND SECURITY CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000m)
Promising 3yo 4. DEMITASSE ($2.80 fav) should justify his favouritsm by scoring here. The gelding has only raced on three occasions and his last start Muswellbrook win was full of merit. He was near last approaching the home bend but once presented into the open, he finished powerfully and it appears there's more to offer under the bonnet.
Dangers: Gilgandra galloper 12. RUPICASSO ($13) won successive races at Gilgandra and Coonabarabran in July and should perform well on the fresh side. 10. IRON HAT ($6.50) showed a return to form - and the market knew when $7 into $5.50 - when he held on strongly after leading at Scone and can again figure here. Topweight 1. LESSING ($10) is on the quick back-up after finishing 4th at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
How to play it: Demitasse to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
BEST BETS
R7 - 6. ARLIEBEL ($4.40) & R8 - 4. DEMITASSE ($2.80 fav)
BEST VALUE
R5 - 4. OUR BOY OLLIE ($13)
