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By Tony Megahey

The multitudes of Greg Ryan supporters are anticipating field days with his full books at Saturday’s Coonabarabran TAB meeting, followed by Sunday’s booming Tamworth Gold Cup TAB program.

However, the champion country rider, having recently surpassed the 3600 winner mark over three marvellous decades, is taking nothing for granted in capacity fields involving stables from far and wide.

Greg Ryan - should have a successful weekend. Image by Bradley Photographers

“It’s really difficult to assess when they come from so many different areas and form lines, especially in big fields,” Ryan offered from his ultra-busy Dubbo base where his wife Pauline is his agent.

“All you can do is go in positive, give them your best ride and hope some luck comes your way.

“Saturday, it’s maidens and low graders; it’s a matter of wait and see if they can progress and trust the trainers finding their right races,” Ryan said.

Ryan has rides in all six races at Coonabarabran where he maintains his links with the leading regional stables of Clint Lundholm and Cameron Crockett.

Ryan considers Clint’s last start last start Wellington maiden winner Mum’s The Word the most progressive of his rides, but an extreme wide barrier is a major problem.

“It was a big win at Wellington, on-pace and closed off strong but from out there at the 900m, in a big field and up in grade, we’ll need everything possible to go our way.”

Lundholm and Crockett are likely to fight out the opening maiden with Ryan to ride Lundholm’s Bold Lady who has trialled for a return as has Crim for Crockett. Crim won the recent Dubbo trial where Bold Lady finished third, and both are well drawn.

Ryan has an inkling, without any degree of confidence riding Solicitation in the third event: “It’s a Gosford horse for Tony Newling, race fit, shown something with recent placings and four wins overall has it in the right race,” Ryan added.

In the fourth, Ryan rides Divinius for astute Brett Cavanough: “It looks as though it goes okay off a trial and a decent Scone run in maybe a harder maiden and we’ve got a good draw. “

On Sunday in the $150,000 Mercure Tamworth Cup (1400m), Ryan rides Cavanough’s recent Canterbury Park winner Miami Dade: “As always, really strong, quality field, the weights are compressed so we’re really well in, maybe a few kilos better off.  Ideal draw and he’s coming off strong Canterbury mid-week form.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Coonabarabran here

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Tamworth here