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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

2. Our Bambino is a talented galloper on his day, and he comes into this on the back of a last start win at this track over Tajawal. He’s a nine-time winner from 56 starts and only needs to run up to the latest effort in order to be a winning chance again. 3. Tajawal has been racing consistently with a win at Taree three starts ago before a second behind Our Bambino here and then finishing third in the Orange Cup when last produced. He has the talent to bounce back to winning form here. 4. Ring Ahoy failed at Scone at his latest start but had been racing well before that including a third behind Our Bambino and Tajawal. 7. Tainui is lightly raced but has two wins and three seconds from just five starts and looms as a major player again despite being a three-year-old taking on more seasoned gallopers.

How to play it: Our Bambino WIN.

1. Steel Claws has a strong of placings to his name and went down narrowly when second at this track at his latest start. He is ready to win and gets his chance here. 4. Cheeky Dancer ran well when placed at Hawkesbury at his second start, while 3. Dub wasn’t far away when a last start second at Scone. 7. Pappiana has been racing well of late and has solid place claims.

How to play it: Steel Claws WIN.

11. Sukeban has only had two starts and has performed well enough in both of them to be rated a chance here. He ran fourth at Goulburn last time out and was only beaten two lengths in that event. 9. Puffin ran fourth on debut at Quirindi and has won a trial leading into this. 5. Bullant is a last start Wellington placegetter that shouldn’t be underestimated, while 4. Aylberdini ran third in a trial at Scone behind Puffin and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

How to play it: Sukeban WIN.

1. Yanabah has been placed in two of five starts including a last start second at Gunnedah. He has the advantage of gate one here and an apprentice allowance. 4. Musumeci ran third in a trial at this track in preparation for this race debut and is worth plenty of thought. 11. This One Time resumed with a solid fourth at Scone and should have taken benefit from that hitout, while 3. Maxandus wasn’t beaten far on debut at this track and Aaron Bullock takes the ride here.

How to play it: Yanabah WIN.

4. Mount Bona did the job well to score on a heavy track at Scone at his second start and since then he was close-up when fourth at Newcastle. His form looks solid for a race like this, and he can go on with the job. 1. Bolt Away Now was midfield at Scone last time out and that was the first time he’s been unplaced from four starts. 3. Antilocapra has a solid record and wasn’t disgraced when sixth at Gosford at her latest start, while 7. Off The Scale shows talent and only needs to overcome a wide gate to be a leading contender here.

How to play it: Mount Bona WIN.

8. Stratified won at Mudgee three stars back and has since been in the placings at Dubbo and Wellington. He’s drawn the rails here and gets his chance to hit winning form again. 10. Arctic Legend is a last start winner at this track and bears close watching again, while 12. King Larry has a good record and won at Port Macquarie when last produced. 6. Super Extreme is a recent trial winner, and a forward showing wouldn’t surprise.

How to play it: Stratified WIN.

***BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY***

6. Green Shadows is resuming from a spell here and is on target to make it into a second Big Dance in succession should he run well here. He won the Goulburn Cup last year and finished 13th in the Big Dance behind Gringotts. He’s had two trials leading into this return to racing and was close-up in the latest of them. 1. West Of Africa won the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast in January and has been racing well this campaign with a third in the Ajax Stakes before a third in the Muswellbrook Cup at his latest start. He’s had a recent trial to be kept up to the mark for this. 2. Vivy Air ran second in last year’s Big Dance and strips fitter for a resuming run in the Star Kingdom, while 4. Ka Bling is talented and ran well in the Bert Lillye at Kembla Grange last time out.

How to play it: Green Shadows EACH WAY.

12. Quick Sharp is lightly raced with a win and two placings from four starts. He was close-up when third at Dubbo last time out and can bounce back with a win here. 7. Super Sioux is a last start winner at this track that has the ability to make an impact again, while 1. Dize won well at Wellington when last produced. 3. Water Lad has talent, and a bold showing wouldn’t surprise.

How to play it: Quick Sharp WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 2 (1) Steel Claws.
Race 6 (8) Stratified.

Best Value:
Race 7 (6) Green Shadows.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Tamnworth Cup meeting meeting