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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail True:

On a track rating that will likely get closer to a Good 4 by the start, sparingly-raced and strong finishing mare 9. So Rosie can strike third-up five weeks between runs. Made up plenty of ground in a handy maiden here 10 weeks back before freshened and charging home into a place against deeper opposition. Well placed at the weights after the 2kg claim, and draws to get good cover back in the field.

Dangers: Big watch on handy mare 7. Electric Evie who resumes for her first run in a new stable. Improving 1. Devoted Deputy ran home well first-up, and is suited by the extra 150m. Big market watch on 3. My Mate Laney, a four-year-old by Snitzel, who debuts as a gelding for a renowned fresh stable behind two improving trials. Both 4. Northern Boogie from a wide barrier; and honest closer 5. Vinlago deep into the prep; can run home into the minor money.

How to play it: So Rosie to win

Very testing maiden over further here, but it shapes well for handy local filly 9. Lady Of The Hunter who has been mixing her form all year, but finds a suitable race to finally break through. Hit the line nicely here two starts back before being ridden too close next start and weakened late. Blinkers crucially go on, so too a stronger and more seasoned jockey, and this is a thinner race.

Dangers: Improving 1. Daytona Demon is knocking on the door after two even runs to start his career, although has to get across from a wide draw. Keep safe 11. Rethink It who is hard fit, and worked home well into a place at big odds last start. Included in trifecta and first fours, home tracker 10. Prince Carlos and 12. Reward's Daughter.

How to play it: Lady Of The Hunter to win

A rise in distance from the mile, and a drying track, are the keys for six-year-old 1. Norman to score a long overdue fourth career win. Missed out narrowly in a weaker BM 58 two runs ago before being ridden from the back in a tactical change at Moree and flashing home late into a place. Under the same weight and over a further 300m, that run reads well for this.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 3. Our Girl Eve who roared home from last to win a similar graded race second-up. Honest 5. Bill Peyto has been up for a long time, but suited getting out over this distance. Coffs-based stablemate mares 4. Mindspace and 7. Jacinda Belle are both third-up and value knockout chances.

How to play it: Norman to win

Progressive mare 2. Agnodice is the one to beat after charging home for a dominant BM 58 win second-up in what is now a weakened race.

Dangers: Topweight 1. Retrieval will relish a big drop in class and a 4kg claim to off-set the weight after finishing at the back in the Northern Country C'ship Wildcard qualifier. Both lightly raced filly 6. Charge By The Hour, third-up and a stablemate of the top selection; and improving 4. Dyecast Missile can run into the money; while home tracker 10. Global Sensation second-up heads the rest.

How to play it: Agnodice to win

A stack of chances in this one headed by local mare 6. Quick As A Flash who is well placed to strike third-up off a month-long freshen. Hit the line late here a month ago in a race with more form depth before again settling back and working home late behind Agnodice who looms as a serious chance in the previous race. Draws to get cover around midfield. Was scratched from Grafton on Sunday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Capable 3. Bold Hoi Ho is right in the race fourth-up with some weight relief after working home fairly in heavy ground. Watch for any money around 4. Taketheshot who resumes off a 10 month spell via a quiet trial. Both 8. Kalahari Heart who likes to settle well back and run home hard; and underrated 9. Stormy Pluck down in grade second-up; are worthy exotic players; while 1. China Grove is trained on the track, and resumes with a significant class drop.

How to play it: Quick As A Flash to win

Confident promising filly 7. Fools Play can go back-to-back at this track, fifth-up and four weeks between runs. Ran three straight placings in handy maiden company, including a nose defeat from a wide gate, before tracking the speed and sweeping home for a dominant win here as a heavily supported favourite. Draws to get the same sort of run, and this isn't much harder.

Dangers: Another emerging three-year-old 1. Tryanza reloads a fortnight after leading until late in a handy CL1. Boosting tactical speed, 3. Pocket Picker can run a race four weeks after missing narrowly here against similar opposition. Last start off-speed maiden winner 4. Solar Power and improving 8. Gunmetal third-up; both go into exotic bets.

How to play it: Fools Play to win

In a closing race with many chances, all aboard tough four-year-old 1. Iobject crucially coming back 100m in distance deep into the prep. Finished best to claim a similar race at Grafton three starts ago before struggling in heavy ground. Back to his best on firmer footing when beaten narrowly from the front in a better quality BM 66, and from the inside barrier, he either leads comfortably or sits right behind.

Dangers: Improving 6. Milingimbi returns for her first run since early last spring with a gear change, loves dry ground and is a first-up winner. Big watch on resuming 4. Island Legend who trialled well at this track, and has a handy fresh record. Keep safe 9. Vertical fourth-up; while veteran 2. Indian Thunder continues to race well through a long prep, bolting in a BM 58 at this track two starts back, but is drawn wide.

How to play it: Iobject to win

BETS BETS:
R3 1. NORMAN
R5 6. QUICK AS A FLASH

BEST VALUE:
R6 7. FOOLS PLAY

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Armidale meeting