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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 7 and rail out 5m from 1100m to 350m, 3.5m the remainder; cut/away:

Improving filly 1. Miss Belgium can claim an intriguing opener second-up in what should prove to be a strong betting race. Dropped out a long way when resuming on a heavy 9 after drifting in betting, but much better suited here on the bigger track, especially if the surface improves comfortably into soft range.

Dangers: Last start maiden winner here 4. Impending Love draws the fence and drops in weight, but a small query coming back a little in distance, only a fortnight between runs. Lightly raced 3. Spirit Lake resumes with no official trials, but her only win so far came fresh. 2. Just Google Me second-up; and 5. Marantelli Miss; both go in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Miss Belgium to win

Back to the short course is the ticket to break through for lightly raced Victorian 1. Black Panther second-up. Was only fair to the line after settling on speed when resuming over the border; but was $4.60 into $3.60 that day, and fitter now, he can dictate from the inside draw here over a shorter journey.

Dangers: Big market watch on ex-Waterhouse & Bott trained 2. Ditterrich who returns off an 18 week break as a gelding with a key gear change for the new country stable. Improving filly 10. Limb Runner second-up; and 7. Bernay thirtd-up; are the best of the rest in a race that lacks depth.

How to play it: Black Panther to win

Debutant two-year-old filly 11. O'hellyeah has been working well, and rates on top in a race with several chances. Starts off in blinkers behind a solid trial on Soft 7 ground from which the winner bolted in on debut last Friday. Bred to handle all going being by Hellbent out of a Snitzel mare.

Dangers: Big watch on local filly and rival first starter 10. Light Foot who has been kept ticking over quietly since a strong trial at Wagga back in late January. The market will be a big guide for 5. Liquor Talk debuting as a gelding after a quiet trial six months ago. 2. Bonnyville is fit and reloads after dropping out at Goulburn last start, but form prior was rock solid, beating all but the winner twice in very heavy ground; while 4. Jedinak is a knock-out chance second-up at good odds.

How to play it: O'hellyeah to win

Despite edging up to 60kg, Victorian 1. Via Vegas is well placed to break through fourth-up on a seven day turnaround. Missed narrowly at Corowa last start after tracking the speed, and will relish getting on to a bigger track.

Dangers: Local mare 12. Sweet Paree has to get across from a wide draw, but is primed to strike third-up after hitting the line late in a handy maiden over the border nine days ago. 6. Stage Master went close last start after a change of tactics saw him lead for a long way at this track fourth-up. Has the option to either roll forward again, or take a trail off speed, and gets in light after the junior rider's 3kg claim. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Angel Of Spring third-up.

How to play it: Via Vegas to win

Home track three-year-old 6. Rising Water can make it two wins from his last three a month between runs. Swept home from midfield to win his maiden over the border two starts ago before again hitting the line from further back in a similar race when an easing favourite. Parks a bit closer this time from a low draw, and with a clear passage from the turn, he has the superior closing sectionals.

Dangers: Victorian 7. Slate Ripper was well fancied in betting when claiming his maiden here second-up, and again draws to find a handy trail. Be surprised if anything else wins, but naturally keep safe another border hopper in 3. Star Blazer who draws wide, but tracking to peak third-up; while included in wider exotic plays, both 1. Mount Hotham and 4. The Woke Waiter.

How to play it: Rising Water to win

Lightly raced and progressive local five-year-old 1. Cooee can stretch his unbeaten record to three. Finished best to beat a handy maiden field here on debut when not having the easiest of runs before saluting again at Cl1 level despite doing some work early to get across from a wide gate. Better draw here can see him park right behind the speed, and the more the track dries out the better served he is. The one to beat.

Dangers: Rival home tracker 2. Tizso Fab has beaten all bar the winner in three of his last four, and if he can tuck in from a tricky middle draw, has more than enough closing ability to win. Must include 3. Nats Enough who draws to get plenty of cover just off the speed, and is hard fit deep into the prep. Watch for 4. Bonvalante hitting the line late third-up; while last start maiden winner 6. Oimbari and 8. Wagunda can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Cooee to win

One of the most open races on the program can again land with the Victorian visitors via improving mare 11. Release The Brakes who is tracking to peak fourth-up coming back in distance. Did his best work late in two runs over the border before a fair effort here without much luck in transit behind a smart CL1 winner

Dangers: Keep safe 6. Little Miss Grace who hit the line impressively into a place in a CL3 here when resuming, and a 3kg claimer off-sets the big weight hike. Victorian filly 1. Dreamwoman comes off a moderate closing effort on the synthetic first-up. Include 2. Toronto Rain third-up; and at big odds 7. Big Impact second-up; in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Release The Brakes to win

The boys edition closes the meeting and while it's just as open, tough local 6. He's My Warrior can finally snap a run of four straight placings following the same pattern as the previous on top selection whom he beat home into second here a fortnight ago. Prior to that had twice finished strongly into a place up to much tougher BM 64 provincial level. Despite dropping back in trip, should get enough speed up front to allow him to tuck in around midfield before producing a sustained finish from the 350m.

Dangers: Watch the market on 9. Zipitalist who was stiff not to win fresh at Hawkesbury, and drawn to get a lovely spot right behind the speed. 10. Philadelphia Storm reloads off a nine week break with blinkers coming off; 14. Tycoon Artie drops in trip fourth-up; while 3. Gundaroo on an 11 day back-up with a gear change; and 7. Hurricane Thunder third-up with blinkers removed; can both run into the placings.

How to play it: He's My Warrior to win

BEST BETS:
R5 6. RISING WATER
R6 1. COOEE

BEST VALUE:
R8 6. HE'S MY WARRIOR

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Mudgee meeting