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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail True:

On a track likely to remain in soft range, plenty of chances in the opener headed by consistent and hard fit filly 8. Scud who gets a handy weight drop and map advantage. Was dominant leading all the way to break her maiden at Taree before being ridden quieter and finding the line when up to BM 58 level. Has enough tactical speed to park closer here, and only needs clear air from the 350m.

Dangers: Expecting good improvement second-up from 3. Where's The Fire despite rising in weight and being drawn off the track. From a much lower gate, 4. Blue Sky Moon must be kept safe behind a first-up win in this grade; while both 2. Lady Tulessa dropping in class; and 12. Peregrination from the inside draw; can also figure in the money and add plenty of value into exotic returns.

How to play it: Scud to win

Staying at the distance for the maidens, and it shapes ideally for honest mare 9. Rox'n'rol resuming for her second prep. Was never out of the placings in four winter runs over further against much better opposition, and will come to hand despite not publicly trialling. Drawn to park right behind the speed and go home best.

Dangers: Naturally watch the betting on three-year-old 8. The Statement also first-up from the inside barrier. Took on better opposition in two winter runs both sides of the border, and tuned up for his return with an easy soft track trial. Be surprised if one of these two doesn't win, but 3. Hayaku hit the line hard resuming at this track, and is clear next best from a soft trailing draw with blinkers back on. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Volarchi peaking fifth-up.

How to play it: Rox'n'rol to win

Capable four-year-old 2. Goomeri is primed to peak third-up. Comes back from a tougher metro race over the border when over-racing and dropping right out after leading, and finds a weak race for this level. Stable has reacted by removing blinkers.

Dangers: Over the odds is 5. Burdekin from a low draw, and a more senior rider back on; while 3. Mishani Fraudster back in class from the inside gate and a month between runs; can run into the money.

How to play it: Goomeri to win

Tricky maiden here, with a few of the better fancies drawn wide. Settled on Japanese-bred four-year-old 7. Daimyo who peaks third-up dropping in weight. Has charged home from well off the speed in two runs back at Grafton, but parks a little closer in the run here from better draw and importantly over more ground. Can go on to win much better races once he gets out near the mile.

Dangers: No question 4. Rosen Dreamer has more than enough clout to win this second-up with winkers being added, but has to get over fairly early from a wide draw. Similar debate around Shamus Award three-year-old 2. Irish Gift who drew wide for his debut behind an easy trial over the border. Include 6. Inlanda at his third start from a softer draw in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Daimyo to win

Very even and open affair. The drop back 150m in distance from a softer draw, and off a nine-week freshen-up, are all factors why improving QLD four-year-old 1. Neoclassicism can finally claim a second career win. Stuck on fairly against much deeper opposition over the border, and this is the type of track where he can roll forward and dictate to advantage. Fairly treated just 3kg over the limit weight.

Dangers: Improving and lightly raced mare 5. One 'N' Only led for a long way here, second-up in BM 58 grade despite being unwanted in betting. Consistent 3. Star Of Robiglen has been in the placings across four consecutive starts since a dominant breakthrough win on the Gold Coast polytrack mid September. Lacks a furnishing burst, but blinkers come off, and this looks a shade weaker. Improving 6. Transceltic third-up; and 7. Steal The Field reloading off a nine week break; head the rest.

How to play it: Neoclassicism to win

Open and thin middle distance affair at set weights, where early positioning and a fair slice of luck will have a big say. Like the value around Gold Coast-based 7. Wonforwazza dropping down a level deep into the prep. Charged clear to win his maiden here by a big space before a few mixed runs in better company over the border. Not always reliable, but had more than enough on-speed ability in a moderate line-up, and the more the track dries out the better placed he is.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with 2. Enviable who can improve sharply second-up over more ground from the inside draw, and was scratched from the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. Ex-Victorian 3. Fisch Tank has a much tougher gate to overcome, but has progressed well enough through two runs at the Gold Coast, and blinkers are back on. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Wonforwazza to win

Another potentially wide and tough one to finish. Assuming Tectonic Plate doesn't go around being the third and final reserve, tough home tracker 4. Hardley Grey can make it three wins from his last four starts at good odds. Cruised home to win two weaker races before charging home from the back here in a similar-graded race. That reads well for this given he can settle a little closer in the run over 150m further, and be given his head from the 400m.

Dangers: Big watch on rival local 10. Vetoed who peaks fourth-up back a shade in distance. Improving 1. The Maxinator finished impressively here when resuming, but drew right off the track this time; while 15. Master Red down in weight can run into the money.

How to play it: Hardley Grey each way

BEST BETS:
R1 8. SCUD
R6 7. WONFORWAZZA

BEST VALUE:
R2 9. ROX'N'ROL

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