Race 1 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):

We start with the maiden boys on a surface that will continue to improve. Like progressive Nicconi three-year-old 6. Hurricane Coni to break through first-up in only his third start. Hit the line hard into a place last spring before spelling, and despite not publicly trialling, reportedly going well and bound to come to hand.

Dangers: Improving 8. Nutbush Ambush is the clear threat also at third start. Has beaten all bar the winner so far after twice tracking the speed, and winkers have been applied. Watch the betting on his four-year-old stablemate 1. Lennox View who resumes off a 12-month break and recent forward trial in open class. Included in exotics local three-year-old 10. Spirited King placed in his last two here, and reloading off a 10 week break; and 4. Schiller Salute third-up in his first full prep.

How to play it: Hurricane Coni to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Race 2 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):

Now the girls' edition, over the same flying trIp, and there's good potential on show. Shapes nicely for home track three-year-old 10. Danceenuff resuming off a handy 1000m trial for just her third start, and has ability.

Dangers: Keep safe another one first-up, 11. Mosgold who was only narrowly beaten in two country runs last spring. Improving four-year-old 4. Hollow Dollar can go close third-up dropping significantly in class and with blinkers added after two modest efforts in provincial company. Expect sharp improvement at second start from Deep Field three-year-old 13. Spirits Burn Deep ; while Bull Point three-year-old 14. Sunshine Reggae draws well, but a query coming back 300m in distance at her fourth start.

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

Race 3 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):

Still with the maiden girls at set weights over the sprint trip, and very keen on Canberra-based Bon Hoffa three-year-old 11. Forty Four Cubits who debuts behind a dominant recent trial win in soft ground.

Dangers: Progressive five-year-old 2. Falreine is bursting to break through after charging home to miss narrowly in two runs this prep. Placed seven times from 13 career starts, although will need to tuck in from a wide draw. Watch the market aboard debutant Canberra filly 10. Flying Shalaa off two quiet trials; while included in exotic bets 4. Kaphands deep into her prep; and Victorian raider 5. Killawarra Lass coming back to a slightly thinner race.

How to play it: Forty Four Cubits to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):

Sticking with capable three-year-old 2. Too Sharp who has placed in three of fours runs in his initial prep against handy opposition. Likes to settle well off the speed and hit the line, but a step up in distance on a drying and much bigger track here are big pointers to him breaking through.

Dangers: Must respect lightly raced and talented 1. Associate who has been freshened, and drops back from metro company after failing as a $2.80 favorite first-up. Include in wider exotics 3. Gobbo's Mate third-up; 4. Mouldy on debut as a gelding behind a quiet trial; and 8. Kockibitoo improving in to her second start from the inside gate.

How to play it: Too Sharp to win and quinella 1 and 2
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 5 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1800m):

Never much between the leading chances in these middle distance affairs. Lightly raced home track four-year-old 2. Snap Book is the one still progressing, and ready to peak here over a bit more ground from a handy trailing draw. Won two straight late last year before tackling much tougher company, including a handy finishing effort in a Country C'ship Qualifier two starts back, then hitting the line to miss narrowly in a CL2 three weeks back. More depth here, but returning home to the bigger track is key.

Dangers: Consistent Canberra mare 3. Les Goh is on the quick back-up, and hasn't finished further back than third in her last five. Was a smart CL2 win at home two starts ago on Black Opal day. Tough Victorian 1. Oceans Of Stanima was close up in the Tom Patton Cup here before doing his best work late when ridden quieter in a BM 64. Fit enough in this grade but has to give weight to some handy gallopers. Both 5. Lonhro Lily shooting for three straight wins in this tougher test; and Victorian mare 6. Miss Athena ; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Snap Book to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 BENCHMARK 80 HCP (1400m):

Back in distance, but up to a higher benchmark, and again looms as a competitive and fairly even betting affair. Like underrated seven-year-old 4. Ruban Bleu who is ready to win again deep into the prep. Was impressive hitting the line late in a BM 85 here before again finishing well in a good quality BM 75 at Canberra carrying a big weight.

Dangers: Home tracker 2. Gusonic will appreciate the drop in class fourth-up from consecutive Country C'ship Qualifiers where he held his own finishing midfield. Expect improvement too from 3. Halo Warrior dropping back in grade after doing it tough in the BM 94 City Hcp here. Keep safe 8. Participator who dropped out as a $4.60 favorite in the Country C'ship Qualifier at Albury five weeks ago when nothing went to plan; but can hit back strongly here; while both 5. Riddlero also back from the City Hcp third-up; and honest 6. Cyborg from a softer draw; can add value into trifecta and first four bets.

How to play it: Ruban Bleu each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):

It doesn't get a whole lot easier here, although from just over the border, Wodonga three-year-old 6. Ima Guru is primed to make it two from his last three off a five week freshen. Swept home to win his maiden before working home okay in better CL2 company.

Dangers: Victorian four-year-old 2. Oh No Mikki finds a winnable race dropping in grade second-up from the inside draw, although the handicapper hasn't missed allotting him 62kg. Improving local 5. Backwater Trader steps up from a dominant off-speed win in weaker company; while home tracker 7. Keith ; and Jerilderie-based pair 8. Magic Jack and 9. Mr Brown Fox; head the rest.

How to play it: Ima Guru to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m):

Same grade for the restricted sprinters to finish. Like progressive home track three-year-old 3. Mo Chara to make it three straight back in trip and six weeks between runs. Led all the way here to easily claim his maiden before showing versatility when powering home to win a similar race as this. The more the track dries out, the better he's placed.

Dangers: Watch the betting on talented 5. Magmetric reloading off a six week turnaround, and dominant maiden win. Gap to the rest headed by honest 6. Onya Lionel; 7. Bold Triumph fifth-up; and 9. Red Hair 'N' Freckles third-up; who all go into exotic plays.

How to play it: Mo Chara to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R3 11. FORTY FOUR CUBITS
R5 2. SNAP BOOK

BEST VALUE:
R6 4. RUBAN BLEU