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By Neil Evans

Track improving to Soft 5 and rail true for Showcase meeting

We start a strong card with an open maiden over the sprint trip on an improving track. Progressive filly 11. Not Taking It has to overcome a tricky gate, but she's been very competitive in three runs so far. Hit the line hard at Port last start, and looks well treated at the weights after a 2kg claim with blinkers removed.

Dangers: Watch the betting on Per Incanto three-year-old 1. Ambridge who is well over the odds on debut off two sharpish trials. Nomadic three-year-old 2. Ronny Rock Art keeps putting in under big weights all over the state, and gets some much needed weight relief. Include in wider exotics local filly 10. Kiani fourth-up with blinkers back on; and another filly 5. Asserting second-up off an eight work break.

How to play it: Not Taking It to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen here on provincial three-year-old 6. McNair who finds a nice progressive race after working home hard from well back first-up at Port when well backed. Down 2kg for this.

Dangers: Gold Coast filly 2. Hembrow resumes off two steady trials, with the blinkers coming off. Was thrown in against much tougher metro Group company in autumn, and drawn the inside. Keep safe improving two-year-old filly 9. Dawnburst who held her ground in a deeper race on debut at Scone. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: McNair to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Still with the maidens over more ground, and this stacks up nicely for improving four-year-old 4. Hardedge third-up with winkers added. Covered a heap of ground here in the heavy four weeks back, but still found the line impressively, and from a much better draw on a drier track, can break through.

Dangers: Consistent four-year-old and ex-Victorian 2. Bladnoch was easy in betting but still attacked the line late first-up off a 10-month spell, and will appreciate even more ground. Provincial three-year-old 5. Hector Sagoa hasn't been far away in two deeper maidens so far, and gets a charmed run from the inside; while 1. Ausbred Cooee fresh; 7. Hooyah with blinkers back on third-up; and 9. Lookonchina fourth-up from a soft draw; all go in wider exotics.

How to play it: Hardedge to win and first four 2,4/1,2,4,5,7,9/1,2,4,5,7,9/1,2,4,5,7,9
Odds and Evens: Evens

Big field with plenty of chances. Keen on honest Gold Coast three-year-old 8. Hudoo Vudoo who had been knocking on the door for a while before breaking through from just off the speed at Ipswich. This isn't any harder carrying 1.5kg less.

Dangers: Scone filly 14. Newfangled Jill is a threat off a dominant maiden win at only her second start, and she's bred to run this out also down in weight. Improving 2. Grand Eagle can hit a peak deep into the prep after working home from well back in a CL1, although will likely be forced a long way back again from a tough draw. Include three-year-old filly 13. Desmos who missed by a whisker finishing hard at Armidale, and will relish getting on to a bigger track.

How to play it: Hudoo Vudoo to win and box trifecta 2,8,13,14. Odds and Evens: Evens

Very testing and open battle over the mile. Improving five-year-old 7. Prince Arli is bursting to win a second race fifth-up. Hit the line well here two runs back before close-up at Port, and faces less quality in this.

Dangers: Home track six-year-old 1. Tiomo finished okay at the Gold Coast in his first run since missing narrowly in a much stronger Highway last spring, and big weight has been significantly off-set with a 4kg claim. Included in exotics provincial mare 6. Nashian who draws to get a soft trail back on firmer ground; and lightly raced three-year-old 5. Luz Long who zoomed home to win his maiden at Taree.

How to play it: Prince Arli each way. Odds and Evens: Split

The feature race on the program is also a wide open affair. Liked the way progressive provincial four-year-old 6. Fantasy Eagle attacked the line to win a handy CL3, seemingly with something in reserve. Been given a month between runs for the drop back in trip, and draws to get an ideal trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by capable mare 7. Toomai who did her best work late in a deeper race at Ipswich third-up. Keep safe at bigger odds Eagle Farm-based mare 12. Buckle Up Baby who flooded home late resuming in a thinner race at the Sunshine Coast.

How to play it: Fantasy Eagle to win. Odds and Evens: Split

It doesn't get any easier coming back to the sprint trip, although four-year-old Gold Coast mare 4. Devine Factor looks supremely placed to strike first-up since spring. Won a trial comfortably enough, and comes to hand quickly for a smart stable.

Dangers: Lightly raced local mare 1. Supreme Diva relished the wet track to bolt in here third-up off a long break, and while this is a bigger challenge on firmer ground, gets back in at the weights after rider's 3kg allowance. Another one trained at the track, 2. Demykani Miss also finished best to win a similar race here in heavy ground. Draws to get a sweet run with a vital 4kg claim, but comes back to the field on a drier surface. Included in exotics Taree filly 6. Outreach Belle who rarely runs a bad one; and speedy filly 8. Golden Fantasy who draws the inside.

How to play it: Devine Factor to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Now the boys' edition to close the card, and the same combination as the previous race can win again with promising four-year-old 4. Defactor who showed smart cruising speed to bolt in first-up at the Gold Coast, and is headed for better races.

Dangers: Keep safe improving local six-year-old 3. Inwithachance who drops in grade third-up; while expecting a big run from lightly raced 9. Grated Coconut off a lengthy freshen up.

How to play it: Defactor to win. Odds and Evens: Split a special

BEST BETS:
R3 4. HARDEDGE
R7 4. DEVINE FACTOR

BEST VALUE:
R5 7. PRINCE ARLI

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Coffs Harbour meeting