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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Coffs Harbour on Sunday.

1. Blackwater Bronn went too bad to be true on debut back in June, tailing off last. He pulled up slow to recover. It’s worth noting that he was heavily backed. Local trainer Brett Dodson tipped him straight out and like the way he trialled recently.

Dangers: Matthew Dunn has a pair of debutants here in 7. Diana Rocks and 8. Spiritual Boom. Neither of them trialled particularly brilliantly but respect any market confidence.

How to play it: Blackwater Bronn WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

3. Head Up High has been building towards another win ever since being transferred to Matt Dunn back in September and the five-year-old gets his chance out to 2100m in set weights race. He’s very well in under that scale. Only has to hold his form.

Dangers: 4. Italian Tune raced a touch flat at Armidale last start as the $3 second favourite but we’ll forgive him that as his win prior to that was dominant. 1. Arlington Vallery has been thereabouts in his last two starts.

How to play it: Head Up High WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

5. Bugalugs could own this race from the front and the tough five-year-old is hard to peg back when he gets control. He resumed at Grafton with a brave win to suggest he has returned as well as ever. Has now won four of his past six.

Dangers: A change of scenery did wonders for 1. Upstart last preparation, with the eight-year-old winning all four starts for Peter Sinclair, culminating in the Moree Cup. Has trialled sweetly but the trainer has indicated there is still plenty of improvement left in him given the lengthy layoff.

How to play it: Bugalugs WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

5. Stella Reale had the blinkers go on last start which coincided with a step out to 1400m and being put into the race, having led. The result was an impressive victory and now that the filly has the maiden out of the way, expect her to go on with it.

Dangers: Neither 2. Predictable Miss or 7. Everjust have the upside of Stella Reale but they are two seasoned older mares coming off tough runs at 1700, where there was little between the pair.

How to play it: Stella Reale WIN ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Since the blinkers went on 5. Alt Eff Four she has placed on two occasions and a repeat of either of those efforts sees her finish top three again here. She was no match for Oakfield Cherokee last start but ran well while she ran third to Stella Reale (runs earlier) prior to that.

Dangers: 4. Fenerbache has a run of seconds to his name but finds a winnable race to go one better. Will sit on the speed and fight. 3. Atomic Feather was a good thing beaten last start but has a tricky draw here.

How to play it: Alt Eff Four WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

5. Mount Heidi only has to hold her recent form to go close here. The seven-year-old is racing as well as ever at the moment coming off a dominant win at Lismore two back before holding her own in a deeper BM66 than this.

Dangers: 7. Kiijito was only beaten 1.5L in a Class 5 at Doomben last start, having won at Grafton prior to that. 3. Hanna From Havana will improve off this but drawn soft, if she can settle close enough we know the finish she possesses.

How to play it: Mount Heidi EACH WAY ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Not thrilled with the drop back to 1000m for 7. Epic Player but the three-year-old won his first start for Alan Boyd three weeks ago beating subsequent winner Lord John Grey while Buckin’ Rippa has just missed since. Still has upside.

Dangers: 4. Great Marlow is more a 1400m horse than 1000m but liked the way he finished last campaign. The market will tell us if he’s ready first up or we should wait until next time.

How to play it: Epic Player WIN ($6 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Coffs Harbour meeting.