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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail true

We start the showcase Gold Cup meeting with the maiden sprinters on a track drying out all the time. Talented & still learning local three-year-old 6. Check Side can strike third-up. Was very good late when resuming after a checkered run in transit before being ridden quieter in similar company at Wagga & charging home to be beaten just over 3 lengths. Ideally would want further, but he's been given a 24 day freshen-up between runs, and in a smaller field, only has to be a few lengths off them at the 350m before unleashing a superior finish.

Dangers: Naturally, early short-priced favourite 1. Final Crack is a big threat from the inside draw after hitting the line hard first-up at Wagga; while 3. Rich Dispute up in class second-up heads the rest.

How to play it: Check Side to win

Promising 2. Vaguer looks to have a mortgage here after making a mess of weaker Class 1 opposition at Canberra 12 days ago, winning by seven lengths with still plenty in hand. While aided by a clear on-speed bias that day, it was only his second run off a 32-week break, and previously had run the smart Reet Petite to a length. Carries the same weight here after the claim, and looks destined to win far deeper races than this

Dangers: Tough 4. Foxtrot Bravo keeps putting in deep into the prep, and comes off a dominant provincial win over this trip when finishing hard from midfield. Keep safe 1. Easy Road who draws to get a cover back in the field, and powered home from well back to beat a handy BM 64 field three weeks back. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Heromania stepping up from winning in a weaker company.

How to play it: Vaguer to win

Smart local mare 4. Rumours Abound resumes off a lengthy spell with a gear change. Put two dominant wins together either side of a six month break last year before dropping out after leading in a tougher Class 2 Highway at Randwick in late winter run on a Soft 7. Suffered setbacks and was immediately turned out again, but signalled she could do anything this prep with a dominant trial win at Wagga 17 days ago. The more the track dries out, the better placed she is.

Dangers: Tough filly 3. Outback Angel is the immediate threat after a strong first-up win in a weaker field as a hot favourite, and should run the quinella from this draw. Big market watch on 1. Luna Rocks having his first run off a six month break for the new home track stable, and trialled well last month; while 5. Tickleberry third-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Rumours Abound to win

Plenty of chances in this sprint, but no better value than improving 1. Ledecky's Dream getting out in distance third-up off a six week freshening. Stalked the speed before going home best in a Class 3 at Wagga; then failed to finish off against similar opposition to this when parked just off the speed. Was $2.60 into $2.40 that day, and the quick turnaround suggests she's come on well enough from that outing.

Dangers: Another Victorian raider, 4. Shooting For Stars is very fit, and over the odds deep into her prep after claiming a BM 66 here two starts back. Include in exotics, 3. Rich Result resuming with a gear change; 9. O'Reg from a softer draw; and 11. Prophet's Daughter who draws the fence third-up.

How to play it: Ledecky's Dream each way

Locally-trained 7. Snap Book is very well placed, especially with the main rival coming out. Did his best work late from the back when resuming in the Country C'ship qualifier here, and draws to get a more economical run this time.

Dangers: Another home tracker 6. Indian Soldier drops back from a deeper metro race at The Valley, and did win at this track four starts back; while 3. Just Like Liam is hard fit and can run into the money. Last start Class 2 winner 4. Destructive Diva is the clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Snap Book to win

The first of the features for the three-year-olds shapes well for progressive 5. Deadly Press second-up since three runs in deeper black type metropolitan company last spring. Settled at the back resuming in a smaller Saturday BM 64 field at the Valley when making fair late ground, but much fitter & better suited here back against his own age, and dropping 3.5kg in weight. Can settle around midfield here off the fence, and be given his head at the 400m.

Dangers: Emerging metro colt 2. Piercing Arrow was heavily backed at Warwick Farm first-up before being swamped in front, and dropping right out. Reloads again with a change of rider and a handy weight drop, and the stable earmarked this race over several other potential targets. Keep safe local 3. Canny Hell who boxed on okay from the front in the Canberra Guineas 12 days ago; while two last-start winners 4. Aichi Icon and 8. Direct Fire; head the rest.

How to play it: Deadly Press to win and quinella 2 and 5

The Listed feature gives runners a chance to qualify for the Big Dance later in the year, and confident 3. Fawkner Park can find his best third-up getting out over this trip. Resumed with a strong-finishing effort from well back in a deep BM 100 Hcp at Rosehill before may have found the surface too firm at Flemington when only grinding home in the Australian Cup Prelude over 1800m. Down in grade here carrying only a half kilo more, and he boasts a superior career record once getting to this distance and beyond. Drawn to find a trail around midfield, and the "sting" being out of the surface is the big key to him running over them.

Dangers: Down on the limit weight, tough 6. Miracle Spin is the main threat after running home hard in a strong BM 88 at Randwick, and the form from that race has already held up. Provincial mare 7. Blackcomb drops back from Group 3 company, and can figure in the placings. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Fawkner Park to win

The open class flyers round out the meeting, and tough home tracker 1. Sparring is unbeaten at the track, and the one to beat in a weakened race. Comes back from a deeper night sprint at The Valley where he was beaten under two lengths.

Dangers: Both 6. Lipstick Swing and 10. Projeto are back from metropolitan company well into their preps, and drawn to get sound runs with cover. Watch the betting on stablemate to the top selection 2. Boss Lady Rocks who draws wide, but has a smart record here at home.

How to play it: Sparring to win

BETS BETS:
R1 6. CHECK SIDE
R3 4. RUMOURS ABOUND

BEST VALUE:
R5 7. SNAP BOOK

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Albury Cup meeting