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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and Rail True::

The maiden sprinters at set weights get the card rolling, and content to be aboard home track Magnus five-year-old 3. Magmetric who finally gets to the races as a gelding behind two pairs of trials six months apart. Stretched out nicely to win the latest only eight days ago, and this is a relatively easy starting point. Blinkers go on.

Dangers: Big watch too on rival local first starter, Invader three-year-old 8. Nutbush Ambush who won a trial 24 days ago. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Magmetric to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances here at this level headed by progressive and lightly raced Victorian three-year-old 9. Fox Appeal who swept home for a dominant win third-up in a weaker maiden as a hot favourite. Naturally taking on some better ones here, but is still on the rise, and drops significantly in weight for a tougher test.

Dangers: Honest local 7. Greek Tycoon can challenge big here fifth-up from a better draw after working home nicely in a more than handy CL2. Tough 4. Brothers Of Antrim drops in grade and gets back on his much preferred firm ground. Include in exotic bets, Victorian raider 1. Crimosa deep into his prep; 3. My Bold Boy third-up and trained on the track; and stablemate of the top selection 8. Toronto Rain who hasn't finished further back than second in five runs.

How to play it: Fox Appeal to win and quinella 7 and 9
Odds and Evens: Odds

Canberra two-year-old 4. Love Shuck by Mikki isle was scratched from Friday's Black Opal Preview at home to be saved fort this. Has won all three lead-up trials with something in hand, and has been gelded. Rates too sharp for what is a moderate field.

Dangers: After three mixed runs either side of the border, Victorian 3. Gulf Of Finland will find this easier; so too rival border-hopper 5. Smuggler's Mate who can improve fifth start from a soft draw. Keep safe too Von Costa three-year-old 2. Surreal Watson on debut as a gelding off a solid trial.

How to play it: Love Shuck to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Most of these have been around the block plenty of times, but ultra honest 1. Buzz 'N' Joe hasn't been out of a place since leading all the way in this class four starts ago, and worked home fairly in the higher graded Tumut Cup a fortnight back.

Dangers: Local 5. Tough James held his ground okay in the Tumut Cup, and also draws to find a useful trail, but up a hefty 6.5kg in weight. Include stablemates 6. Rent A Rock and 10. My Blue Jeans in wider exotics.

How to play it: Buzz 'N' Joe to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Same graded galloper now over a longer trip, and nothing is better placed than capable home track four-year-old 3. Old Gregg on a an eight day back-up. Worked home okay in a deeper race last time, and looks ready to get back to the form that won him a BM 66 before Xmas. Drawn to find the right trail, one off the fence and a few lengths back.

Dangers: Victorian mare 7. Bring A Dame is a serious threat after just missing in higher grade 16 days ago, and draws to get a soft run. Keep safe dominant last-start maiden winner 8. Overrun who is primed for the step up; while 6. Mr Magsman made up plenty of ground at good odds in that same race as the top selection. Victorian mare 2. Set Us Free with a 4kg weight claim; and stablemate mare to the top pick 5. Kween Kanali fourth-up; are on the next line.

How to play it: Old Gregg to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Home track filly 8. Shalook is very genuine and building a tidy record so far from just nine starts. Has been given four weeks since attacking the line best to claim a handy BM 58, and can repeat the dose here carrying only a half kilo more.

Dangers: Progressive filly 5. Altrove bounced to the front and gave nothing else a chance in a CL1 here three weeks ago, although better form is on softer ground, and this time draws the outside barrier. Watch the betting on Victorian 2. Anthemic who resumes behind a tidy trial, with solid fresh form. Tough 1. Gulf Of Aden is a reliable enough weight carrier in this company; while local mare 6. Rapid Ruby resumes from the inside draw; and 7. Ima Guru comes off a nice third start win in maiden company over the border.

How to play it: Shalook to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Now the feature race where the top two book their sports for the Country C'shp Final at Randwick. Naturally any number of chances, but no better value than locally-trained five-year-old 3. Tap 'N' Run who can launch second-up. Failed to run on when resuming under a big weight in a BM 70 at The Valley, but much better placed on the bigger home circuit where he can settle back from a wide gate carrying 5kg less, and power into he finish from the top of the straight.

Dangers: Lightly raced 4. Our Last Cash has tactical speed, and careered away from the front to win a CL4 Preview by nearly seven lengths. Drops 2kg for this with leading regional jockey taking over. Progressive four-year-old 10. Participator draws to get the right forward run, and has been kept ticking over at the trials since a dominant BM 66 win seven weeks ago. Emerging four-year-old 12. Burrandana has been given four weeks and an easy trial since claiming a CL2 on Australia Day to make it three straight wins, although drawn off the track. Talented local six-year-old 1. Gusonic can challenge second-up from a soft cover draw. Smart home tracker 2. Scarlet Prince resumes off a strong trial win over 1200m, but would prefer it wetter. Include in exotics, 6. Jack's All Magic who shoots for three straight wins after finishing best to claim the BM 77 Tumut Cup; and stablemate of the top selection 7. Baledon who finished hard to win the Preview here 3 weeks ago, and given a quiet trial since.

How to play it: Tap 'N' Run each way
Odds and Evens: Split

We wrap it up over the sprint trip, and keen on home track four-year-old 4. Hardware lane bouncing back to his best third-up, and crucially dropping back to the five furlongs. Stuck on okay in a deeper Country C'ship Preview over a bit further, and looks very well in at the weights carrying 4kg less here.

Dangers: Tough on-speeder 1. Magnetic beat a very handy sprint field resuming, and normally holds that form into the next run. Watch the betting on Canberra mare 3. Delacour resuming; while 5. Chairman's Choice can run home hard fresh; and 7. Mojo Music draws the fence, and has a very handy record over this distance.

How to play it: Hardware Lane to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 4. LOVE SHUCK
R8 4. HARDWARE LANE

BEST VALUE:
R6 8. SHALOOK

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Country Championships meeting at Albury