Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2100m):
Improving home tracker 2. Ideel Hero is primed to break a long wait for a second career win fourth-up. Was ridden from well back last time in tougher grade and zoomed home late to be beaten under a length. Up in weight, but the more the track dries out, the better placed he is.
Dangers: Progressive metro three-year-old 7. Revelaide has caught the eye in his last two, charging home from well back. Will again likely slide back from the wide draw, but blinkers go on, and he is capable of running over them. Must keep safe progressive country-based 6. Shadow Shot who is hard fit and draws well, and carried 59kg to win a weaker race last start; while lightly raced 9. Farriage is knocking on the door at his fourth start.
How to play it: Ideel Hero to win
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1150m):
Smart and versatile filly 1. One Beat No Beat resumes off a handy trial. Won two straight in dominant fashion to cap his first prep, and a 3kg claimer booked to off-set the big weight is a strong pointer. Untried in heavy, but roared home in soft going when on debut last spring.
Dangers: Keep safe 7. Parties Galore who hasn't won for a while, but gets a 2kg claim and has a handy record in heavy going. Both 2. Hard To Dismiss back in grade; and improving mare 3. Bold Storm second-up; can run into the money.
How to play it: One Beat No Beat to win
Race 3 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m):
Tricky race, with a few first starters and fresh ones on show. Randwick-based Pierro three-year-old 5. Miss Amore debuts for the Waterhouse-Bott stable off three recent trials, winning two and then close-up again 18 days ago, and is bred to handle rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Big watch on progressive 9. Reine Of Nine who flew home to miss narrowly in the country when resuming. Improving mare 2. Miss Adamas has placed six times from 13 runs, and is ready to break through off a lengthy break after missing narrowly third-up. Watch the market on 3. Russian Rose who resumes behind a very quiet trial; while 8. Queen Of Shadows by Written By is on debut for the Kris Lees yard behind two trials.
How to play it: Miss Amore to win
Race 4 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1150m):
Hard fit five-year-old 6. Sennaprost hasn't found the one formula for a second career win for a while, but gets his chance here, coming back in trip five weeks between runs, and with blinkers back on. Has hit the line late coming from last at the provincials in his last two, and less depth in this.
Dangers: Watch for any money around 2. Legal Challenge despite drawing wide, resuming behind two quiet city trials. Include in exotics, 4. Cropduster fourth-up from the inside draw; and 5. Just One Look who improves sharply second-up in preferred heavy going.
How to play it: Sennaprost each way
Race 5 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1150m):
Plenty of new ones here in what may prove to be a strong form maiden. Emerging metro three-year-old 2. Bottler can strike at only his second start for the Joe Pride yard. Lived up to his name on debut, charging home at big odds to finish less than a length from a smart one at Wyong, and bred to handle heavy ground. Over the odds
Dangers: Improving 7. Peaceful Prince has had two solid runs to start his career, but first time on rain-affected ground. Big market watch on 1. Absolute Power resuming as a gelding off a 40-week break for the Waterhouse-Bott stable. Has been given two progressive trials, and blinkers go on. Bred to handle rain-affected ground. Keep very safe 3. Jovial Kid on debut as a gelding in blinkers for the home Lees stable. By prolific wet track sire Zoustar, and given two improving trials; while 4. Luskaire is also on debut.
How to play it: Bottler to win
Race 6 MAIDEN HCP (1350m):
Honest five-year-old 3. Smart Jazz is yet to place from five starts, but won't get a better chance to break through than here fourth-up off a long break. Held his ground okay in a much better race at Muswellbrook just seven days ago run on a Heavy 9, and this is weak after a key runner was preferred at Mudgee on Sunday.
Dangers: Expecting sharp second-up improvement from lightly raced filly 8. Moonbling . Include debutant colt 1. Tanglewood Jimmy behind a soft track trial; and 5. Cat's Quarters fourth-up; in all exotic bets.
How to play it: Smart Jazz to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1350m):
Tough and still improving 2. Devil's Inn can claim the closer deep into his current prep. Carried a similar weight when finishing close-up in a better race two starts ago before just missing at Dubbo in similar grade after doing early work from the draw. Won his only previous start in heavy going. Scratched from Mudgee on Sunday to be saved for this.
Dangers: Exciting three-year-old 3. Know Thyself created a big impression when bolting in as the hottest of favourites on debut here on the course proper. Again draws to get an ideal trail, and is naturally the one to beat. Old timer 1. Dynastic was kept safe in a quiet trial, but has a 40 percent winning record from 10 starts when on the fresher side; while 5. Hot Bandit and 7. Tough Case; are the best of the rest.
How to play it: Devil's Inn to win and quinella 2 and 3
BEST BETS:
R2 1. ONE BEAT NO BEAT
R5 2. BOTTLER
BEST VALUE:
R1 2. IDEEL HERO
