Weather fine, track good and rail true, so should be a fairly even pattern with a slight trend towards the middle and off-speed late in the meeting.
Race 1 – 2YO PLATE (1000m)
First-starters in a 2YO sprint at set weights will naturally go fast. Loved the late work of 2. Depth That Varies (Unencumbered x Zellindi) close-up in a recent Muswellbrook trial after blowing the start. Was never let go, but made up good ground and looks way over the odds.
Dangers: 3. Forever Jude (Albrecht x Songs) will be well prepared having won a recent Wyong trial by nearly four lengths; 1. Chargement (Charge Forward x Accomplishment) trialled fairly at Newcastle; while 4. Artie's Rose (Zoffany x Raneen) looked good cruising home in a recent Gosford trial.
How to play it: Back Depth That Varies each-way and box 1-2-3-4 in trifecta.
There are seven races at Tamworth in the state's north-west today.Credit:Jenny Evans
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Race 2 – MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Open affair, but 3YO Scone-trained 5. Nick The Skip can break his maiden at fifth career start. Has found the line nicely in two runs back from a spell, both times in better company and the extra trip suits.
Dangers: Wyong-based 8. Set To Sizzle hit the line hard at Cessnock last start and has leading country rider jumping on, but has drawn a wide gate; while the first up run of 6. Litt Up closing from well off the speed at Port Macquarie was sound and he gets a nice midfield trail here from the right gate.
How to play it: Back Nick The Skip to win.
Race 3 – MAIDEN PLATE (1400m)
Another tricky race, with plenty of these already piling up the convictions, but 4YO and locally-trained 2. Autumn Ridge looks the one to beat from the inside draw. Has had two runs back in his second prep and both times found the line nicely, and this looks the break-through race.
Dangers: Scone-trained 11. Knievel had really solid form before flopping at Kembla last start, but should be in the finish; while keep a big watch on debutant 10. Continuation from a top Newcastle stable, but the rest have very thin claims.
How to play it: Back Autumn Ridge to win and quinella with Knievel.
Race 4 – OPEN HCP (1000m)
Competitive sprint with more than half the field resuming, and one of those looks very well placed. Wyong visitor 2. Niccobelle trialled nicely at Gosford, and having competed in better company over longer trips back in the autumn, he only needs to stay in touch from a good barrier to finish over the top.
Dangers: Locally-trained 4. Iwatani is another one resuming with form in much stronger races last time in. Will sit midfield and finish hard; while 5. Gadfly is a consistent sprinter in better races, but not convinced the inside draw will suit his pattern. Another local 1. Helarocity resumes with a very good fresh record, but looks weighted out of it under 63.5kg.
How to play it: Back Niccobelle to win and box 1-2-4-5 in first 4.
Race 5 – BM 58 HCP (1600m)
Locally-trained mare 5. Emily's Song hasn't won since February, but last few runs have been strong through the line and now reaches the ideal mile trip. Gets a lovely smother run back in the field and will be produced late to finish off.
Dangers: If 4YO Scone-trained 2. Revere gets any sort of luck from the widest gate, he's a huge chance. Still on the rise after seven starts, he only just missed in a decent Class 1 at Dubbo last start and before that flew home on this track over the same trip. Another local 3. Cricklewood will also be getting home nicely over his pet trip; while Scone-trained mare 4. Dreamnomore should be included in wider exotics.
How to play it: Back Emmy's Song to win and quinella with Revere.
Race 6 – CL3 HCP (1200m)
Looks a nice race for Wyong visitor 1. Imperial Eagle. Mixes form, but finished off nicely last start in a stronger BM 66 at Taree and drawn to sit right behind the speed here.
Dangers: 7. Argie Bargie resumes off a six-month break but comes to hand quickly and performed consistently well in stronger company earlier in the year. Has leading country rider to help off-set a wide gate, and with any luck will be in the finish. Last start local winner 5. Schappose is going well and drawn to get a nice economical run behind the speed.
How to play it: Back Imperial Eagle to win.
Race 7 – CL1 HCP (1400m)
All aboard the value train here with rising Scone filly 10. In Good Health who steps up in trip off an even effort in a good quality Cl 1 on her home track. Won two starts back over a much shorter trip at Muswellbrook, but stable will be eying off better races up to the mile. Drawn wide but has senior hoop aboard and will be strong on the line.
Dangers: 5. Herzegovina disappointed at Scone in that same race, but won at this track and trip two starts back and drawn to get a cosy on-speed run; while 1. Shangato has solid form in longer races, and despite the big weight and wide gate will be closing hard with an even share of luck.
How to play it: Back In Good Health each-way.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
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