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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail True:

Another very heavy surface in play as we start over a longer journey in a fairly wide affair. Settled on improving five-year-old 4. Turn Table who has been consistent enough over a long prep, and drops down significantly in grade. Boxed on okay last start after choosing to lead, and the drop back in trip is a tactical plus.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by home tracker 11. Global Sensation who looks the best treated runner down on the limit weight from the inside draw, and ready to peak fifth-up; while three-year-old 5. Await The Storm draws out, but capable in heavy going and will find this easier than a CL1 at Scone. Underrated three-year-old 6. Manor Road has only missed a place once in four starts this prep; while 10. Electric Daisy is best of the rest.

How to play it: Turn Table to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive three-year-old 1. Go Seeking is primed to strike up in distance at his fourth start. Stuck on well after leading in a deeper maiden 10 days ago, and will roll forward and take plenty of beating.

Dangers: Keep safe 11. Percontation who drew to get a soft run, and prior to failing at Taree had been in the money three straight runs. Another one drawing a good barrier, 12. Springstreet Blues can park just off the speed with cover, and gets in light after the rider's claim; while 2. He's Spoken third-up with winkers off; goes in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Go Seeking to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Yet another Tamworth visitor, talented three-year-old 11. Russian Standard has tactical speed and only needs to get over from the outside barrier without being gassed to put this lot to the sword. Has been sparingly raced against much tougher grades since debuting more than a year ago, and looked right up to the mark winning a recent soft track trial.

Dangers: Doubt there are any if the short-priced favourite gets an even share of luck, but stablemate two-year-old 13. Acotango is drawn to get a nice trail off-speed resuming for only his second start; while 2. All Beans and 8. Just a Tiff can fight out the minor end of the prize.

How to play it: Russian Standard to win; quinella 11 and 13; trifecta 11/13/2,8
Odds and Evens: Odds

Less depth in the girls' edition which augurs well for ex-Qld filly 11. Redeeming Spirit having her first run for the leading Tamworth yard. Hasn't started since some handy efforts over the border in deeper maidens last spring, and is well placed off a forward trial.

Dangers: Coffs mare 2. Amber Deluxe is versatile, although likely to roll forward here from a wider draw, and her best form is on rain-affected going. Big gap to the rest headed by 3. Broadbeach Dancer who can improve further fourth-up; while 6. Early Hours finished off okay resuming at big odds, and this is weaker.

How to play it: Redeeming Spirit to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Competitive contest for this grade, and very little between the leading chances. Trained on the track, four-year-old 1. Hasalake can bounce back after being given no hope at Inverell when left wide without cover and well off the speed. Only a week earlier had swept home to win her maiden by nearly five lengths, and she's ultimately destined for bigger targets.

Dangers: Improving 3. Rock The Dream worked home in a stronger race second-up on the same day at Inverell as the top selection, although up in weight. North Coast filly 4. Cassia Lane has also hit the line okay in three runs this prep, and suited stepping up a further 200m. Rises in weight also, but did win her maiden late last year on a Heavy 9 rating. Honest 6. Qukes can mix her form, and this is a bit tougher, but she draws to get cover right behind the speed and handles wet ground.

How to play it: Hasalake to win and trifecta: 1,3,4/1,3,4,6/1,3,4,6
Odds and Evens: Split

Now the boys' turn, same trip and grade. Tough five-year-old 3. Wine O'Clock is ready to win fifth-up this prep after missing narrowly at Moree in similar company. Not overly suited by the inside draw but has a superior closing 400m burst.

Dangers: With a 4kg weight claim, five-year-old 1. Scatman is well placed after charging home to win a similar graded race three weeks back; while 6. Flying Banjo heads the rest.

How to play it: Wine O'Clock to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Lightly raced four-year-old stallion 3. So Country is a smart enough sprinter around this level, and comes to hand quickly. Has never finished further back than second in five starts, including a dominant all-the-way maiden win late last year. Stable has followed the same path, having debuted at this track last spring when she was edged out by a neck as a hot favorite. Untried in heavy ground, but bred to handle it.

Dangers: Watch the betting on 7. Divi who can improve sharply second-up; while at longer odds 4. Another Sheila up in class with gear changes; and 8. Awesome Miss fourth-up; are capable of running into a place.

How to play it: So Country to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Like progressive three-year-old 4. Gobbled who is ready to pounce fourth-up over 100m further. Got home late here two starts back before again flooding home to beat all bar the winner in a similar race at Inverell, and like most of the Star Witness stock loves rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Capable three-year-old 3. Koondeeman is much better than a poor second-up effort when he dropped out from the turn, and trainer has rung the gear changes. Honest three-year-old 1. Fight On Shades has more than enough ability second-up for the new local stable, but is drawn off the track; while big watch on 8. Leaglese who swept home to win a weak maiden second-up, and draws to get plenty of cover.

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

BEST BETS:
R4 11. REDEEMING SPIRIT
R7 3. SO COUNTRY

BEST VALUE:
R8 4. GOBBLED

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