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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m:

We start the Cessnock Cup meeting on an improving and firmer surface, with a clear weather forecast. Going with well bred mare 2. Sacred Mistress by dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls who debuts for the Luke Pepper yard at Scone off a tidy forward trial.

Dangers: Plenty of respect for three-year-old 5. Magic Shot who peaks over this trip at his third start after twice working home well from back in the field. Drawn much softer fourth-up, 6. Backlash is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Sacred Mistress to win

Progressive metropolitan mare 3. Deceive can put two wins together in just her second prep. Came off two progressive trials to settle back in a handy Super Maiden at Hawkesbury before finishing over the top, running her last 600m in smart time. Again drawn to settle back with cover, and produce a superior final 350m charge.

Dangers: Watch the betting big time around 4. World Alliance who returns for his second start off two handy trials for the Matthew Smith stable. Came from midfield to win on debut at Muswellbrook in early winter as a hot favourite. Keep safe 2. Calamity Fox who draws inside, and drops back from two mixed showings in tougher provincial BM 64 grade, especially with the stablemate being preferred at Taree on Sunday. Both 5. Kiribati second-up; and 6. Hellfire Express who has ability resuming for the Annabel Neasham yard behind two quieter trials; can run into the money.

How to lay it: Deceive each way and quinella 3 and 4

Home based three-year-old 11. Solutionist returns off a seven month spell for just her second start behind two progressive trials, and crucially with blinkers going on. Liked the way she quicked in the latest one at this track over 1000m when slipping through underneath runners to win comfortably, and four lengths back in that trial was Lunartie who then beat a handy maiden field first-up. Will need to get across from a wide draw, but she looks set for a nice prep.

Dangers: The blinkers going on can also sharpen up Warwick Farm-based 1. Better Than Anyone after failing to hit the line in two runs back. Keep safe 13. Exceed The Sky if she gets a run improving into her second start; while including improving 2. Dotti On Time at her fourth start with gear changes; and metro filly 6. Exilado who resumes off three trials; in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Solutionist to win

Take Two for the girls, and it shapes as an ideal starting point for debutant four-year-old 3. Lady Devine by Divine Prophet from the David Pfeiffer stable. Has been strong through the line in two trials, especially the latest a fortnight ago when she missed the start, but worked through the field and ran home nicely between runners. That topped her off for this, and she's drawn to settle back and get to the middle of the track.

Dangers: Naturally plenty of them starting with talented home tracker 5. Bangetta who took on a much tougher company earlier in the year, and resumes here behind two progressive trials. Keep safe 4. Melissa who disappointed first-up at Hawkesbury, but improves sharply with a stronger rider going on. Yet another city filly nice and fresh is 7. Figment resuming for the Snowden stable from the inside draw behind two handy trials; while debutant 1. Calling Calle by Foxwedge goes in exotics for the Maher-Eustace yard.

How to play it: Lady Devine to win

It doesn't get any easier here in the boys' edition, with a couple of key first starters, and several either resuming or early in the prep. Settled on one of the debutants, Super One gelding 4. Portmanteau from the Greg Hickman stable at Warwick Farm. Starting after two nice trials, especially the latest when she trucked along right on the winner's flanks, but could have easily won the trial in a smart time, given the final 600m was clocked in 33.19 secs, and nothing from behind made any ground. The booking of gun jockey Aaron Bullock is a further pointer.

Dangers: Big watch on Sooboog colt 7. Lone Force who drew wide, but loomed to win big time on debut at Nowra before being edged out by a neck. Rosehill-based 6. Contrive was no match for the winner on debut at Orange despite being well backed, and would need to find a length or two here; while the betting will be an indicator with 8. Ramius resuming as gelding for a second prep behind two trials, and wearing blinkers.

How to play it: Portmanteau to win

Now for the feature and very keen on provincial mare 6. Silvakia fifth-up. Has been in and around the money in four runs back through generally BM 68 grade, including a nice finishing placing at Gosford two starts back. Carries the minimum weight, her lightest in a long time, and drawn to get a soft run just off the speed in what is a very plain edition.

Dangers: Expect sharp improvement from 7. Velvet Lady second-up off a six week break. Honest mare 2. Apache Belle is hard fit deep into the prep dropping significantly back from Saturday Group company, and won a BM 64 on the course proper here over further four starts ago; while 1. Roller Coaster third-up; and 9. Den Moss hard fit; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Silvakia to win

Tricky and modest race. Ultra honest metro six-year-old 1. Legal Challenge has been up for a long time, but hit the line okay last start against similar opposition. Draws the fence, and jockey change is very significant.

Dangers: Stablemate 2. Appetite For Risk drops down from deeper provincial BM 64 grade where he was only fair to the line. Include in exotics, 3. Emerald's Son who won a weaker race two starts ago; and 6. Bakerloo who swept home to win a provincial maiden here third-up.

How to play it: Legal Challenge to win

Bit more depth in this same-graded field, starting clearly with progressive five-year old 4. Leopardi who can put this lot to the sword second-up. Settled last when fresh at Scone in similar company before making up a stack of ground behind the smart Custo, and with a key gear change and an extra 300m, he can finish best and go on to tackle bigger targets.

Dangers: Another one who shapes to peak second-up is 5. Seeni who gets a soft run off speed. Watch the betting on 3. Due Diligence first-up behind two handy country trials; while 6. Shemakesastatement second-up with a claim is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Leopardi to win

BEST BETS:
R6 6. SILVAKIA
R8 4. LEOPARDI

BEST VALUE:
R5 4. PORTMANTEAU

All the entries, form and replays for Monday's Newcastle meeting