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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Dubbo.

The first starters look to hold the key to this race and 6. Ga Ga Gus looked the pick of them off his two trials. Hardly beat a runner home in his two starts in Melbourne but Scone life looks to be agreeing with the lightly-raced three-year-old.

Dangers: Unraced Press Statement gelding 3. Latest News also looks to possess good ability. It’ll be important to monitor any confident betting moves. Wouldn’t be surprised to see 2. Squeeak improve sharply.

How to play it: Ga Ga Gus WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

6. Chart Topper was very new on debut, missing the kick and cornering a touch awkwardly. He was warming to his task well late before running out of room up along the fence. Second and sixth from that race subsequently ran the quinella at Warren last Sunday.

Dangers: 7. Boongarra Girl was only beaten 2.5L by Kiss Sum in one of her runs last preparation. Love the way she won a recent trial at Narromine ahead of her return. Speedy filly that’ll give them all something to catch.

How to play it: Chart Topper WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

6. Smooth Esprit had no luck first up at Dubbo before doing his best work late at Coonamble over 1100m behind Akaka Falls. Shapes to relish the extra journey now third up and there’s every chance they are coming down the middle of the track.

Dangers: 11. Miss Milton gave Vicky’s One a race at Taree four weeks ago out to 1250m with that filly winning again since. Gets her chance and is a deserved race favourite. 8. Krissy Krystyna’s maiden win isn’t far away.

How to play it: Smooth Esprit EACH WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

7. Into The Fire was run down late by stablemate 4. Primal Scream first up at Muswellbrook but with their respective barriers means that Into The Fire will be settling a lot further in front of him this time.

Dangers: Primal Scream has also accepted for Monday at Scone. If there’s a blowout in this wide open race it’s 13. Sons Of Bourke. He flies fresh (10:2-2-4) anfd loves this sprint trip (13:3-4-1). The knock is he’ll want the track to dry out.

How to play it: Into The Fire WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

3. Optimo flopped out of the barriers at Newcastle last start over 900m and it was race over. His work through the line suggested that he wants further now third up and he gets that here out to 1100m. Knuckled down to win first up after trialling well this time back.

Dangers: 5. Spirit Of Pluto was a work in progress last preparation. If he has improved into his second campaign he’ll be a gelding worth following. The best of 1. Vital Verse would gap these but he’ll need to improve sharply.

How to play it: Optimo EACH WAY ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

3. Our Cousin Al knocked off odds on pop Mobstar at Muswellbrook last start. He’d been knocking on the door prior in provincial company. Only has to hold that form now, and get a back to follow into the race again, to go back-to-back.

Dangers: 7. Too Spicy was a dominant winner over this track and trip two weeks ago in Class 2 company. A repeat of that sees him in the finish here too. 1. La Tigresa has struck two heavy tracks this preparation.

How to play it: Our Cousin Al WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Happy to gamble that 8. Riders In the Stand to turn the tables on 7. Polished Penny from a fortnight ago. How? The likelihood of a wet track. Riders In the Stand has shown a real liking to soft and heavy tracks in the past.

Dangers: 1. The Scotsman has returned in terrific order. He reusmed with a boxing third before going right on with it at Mudgee. The seven-year-old will roll forward from the wide draw to sit on the speed.

How to play it: Riders In the Stand WIN ($7 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

All the fields, form and replays for Dubbo on Sunday