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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in Sunday's $150,000 Evergreen Turf Hunter & North West Country Championships (1400m) at Tamworth.

1. Rematch (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, Scone): Reliable galloper who has measured up to city company since his graduation out of the Highways. Kept fresh since chasing home the in-form Sweysive at Canterbury a month ago and he’s unbeaten in two starts at Tamworth. Aside from his honesty he’s drawn to land right in the first few and he’s adept if the rain arrives. Hard to punch any holes in him and he’s hard to beat.

2. Giving Delight (Rodney Northam, Scone): Backmarker who has been hit or miss with five wins and no placings from his 14 starts. He’s hit at his past two, though, with nice wins at Newcastle and Scone in the Preview where he made his run late to arrive in time over shorter trips. Just hasn’t ticked that 1400m box as yet but with his get back style he will have the chance to run it out. Is a heavy track winner too so track condition isn’t an issue.

Dances With Hooves (Pic: Steve Hart)

3. Who Ever Thought (Jeremy Gask, Scone): On pacer who hasn’t raced since leading all the way in a 1500m Highway at Rosehill back in October. Just the one public trial leading in but that’s probably no negative as his best efforts have been in this sort of distance range. Will roll forward you’d imagine to be on the speed, probably wouldn’t want a heavy track but otherwise he could give a sight.

4. Power Beau (Wayne Brown, Tamworth): In-form local who has come through the grades in lesser company than a lot of his rivals. Came off a seven week break when a solid third at Hawkesbury a couple of weeks ago, just weakening late after bursting through early in the straight. Likely to take improvement from that run and has no issues with the trip. Mid-range soft shouldn’t trouble him but untried on anything worse.

5. Dances With Hooves (Cameron Crockett, Scone): Over the odds given her performances away from country grade and she’s fresh into this after a fast-finishing second at Randwick over the mile in early January. Won a Class 1 at this meeting last year and has had a tickover trial since then. While 1400m is at the bottom end of her powers she’d be advantaged a little with some sting out of the ground making the trip more testing. Wouldn’t shock if she’s somewhere in the finish.

6. Cambourne (Wayne Brown, Tamworth): Only had the two starts in just under three years and just the one since this time last year. Led them up and weakened when resuming over 1250m at Newcastle a month ago and to be fair to him he’s up against it in this field.

7. Know Thyself (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, Scone): Talented four-year-old who has been aimed at this race first-up since his game third in the Group 3 Winx Guineas back in the late winter. He’s a Highway winner on a heavy track but has been just as effective on top of the ground. Stretched out okay in his latest trial and gets the blinkers on first time. He’s generally raced in the first half of the field so how this race is approached from the wide gate will be interesting but he has to be a leading chance.

8. Lisztomania (Todd Payne, Inverell): Always been a handy type and he has some excellent Highway form around him since joining the stable. Finally broke through for one when he ran down Exit Fee, who has won since, under a big weight at Randwick a month ago. The outside gate doesn’t trouble him as he will go back anyway and he’d love some sort of rain affected track. If they’re charging down the middle that’s where he’ll be hitting the line and he’s hard to overlook.

9. Smart Shot (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Tackles this fresh since running third in the Coonabarabran Cup in October. Has a consistent record and has won at this track and distance, on a heavy 10, earlier in the season off a wide gate. Fitter for two trials leading in, has always performed well on his home track and on wet ground so he’ll certainly get his chance to measure up.

10. Clear Thinking (SCRATCHED).

11. Hellcibell (Brett Cavanough, Scone): Promising mare yet to miss a placing in seven starts with four wins on the board. Fair to say she had her chance when resuming in the Preview, tracking the speed and pouncing before being cut down late. However, she was first-up since last April so there’d be a good degree of improvement in her. She hasn’t raced beyond 1200m as yet but she has won at this track and down to a soft 7. If she can run it out she’s one of the chances.

12. Tornado Express (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Sat outside the leader and seemed to lose concentration in the Preview at Scone when resuming before she rallied a bit late in fourth. Fitter for that, unbeaten in three starts at this track and a senior rider goes on. Barrier hurts her chances a bit but imagine she has to push forward and try her luck getting into a spot.

Intervarsity (Pic: Steve Hart).

13. Intervarsity (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, Scone): Lightly raced mare with three wins from six starts and she resumes after being beaten as favourite in a Highway at Rosehill back in September. She does appear to be trialling quite nicely. For the most part she’s been a front-runner or on pacer so that draw likely means she goes forward and puts herself up there. Have to consider her a chance as she likely still has upside.

14. Gentileschi (SCRATCHED).

15E. Point Basse (Brett Cavanough, Scone): Showed a heap of promise winning three of his first four for the stable but has obviously had issues since given he’s been sparingly raced with only three runs in the past 16 months. One of those was his handy first-up effort in the Highway won by Exit Fee at Rosehill two weeks ago where he had a bit of ducking and weaving to do and wound up close to the fence beaten a couple of lengths. Fitter and drawn well and if the track stays reasonable he’s in the mix.

16E. Silver Halo (SCRATCHED).

17E. Awaygoesthebunny (Brett Cavanough, Scone): Disappointed when failing to beat one home as favourite in an 1100m sprint at Mudgee a couple of weeks ago. Form last preparation was handy including a Highway win at Rosehill where he got back and swept home down the middle to score at 1400m. In his favour is that he’s never really performed fresh but has lifted sharply second-up which is what he did last prep. So he’s not without an upset chance.

SPEED MAP: Who Ever Thought likely finds the fence in front first and could bring the likes of Intervarsity and Tornado Express over with him. Smart Shot, Point Basse and Rematch can all land in forward spots from inside gates. Know Thyself generally goes forward to a degree and probably looks for cover midfield or better. Potential for at least an even tempo, could be a bit quicker if the inside horses kick up early.

SELECTIONS:
7 KNOW THYSELF
8 Lisztomania
1 Rematch
5 Dances With Hooves

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Tamworth