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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m from 1000m to 350m into a cut/away and True the remainder:

We start with the maidens over the short course, and it's a tricky dash with a couple of locally trained debutants on show. One of them, three-year-old filly 10. Cool Shalaa is one of three Brett Dodson-prepared runners accepted, and looks terrific value from a low draw and behind a strong forward trial. The Shalaa breed nearly always react early in a prep.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by early favourite and home track filly 11. Scud who resumes without publicly trialling, but reportedly working well, and went down narrowly on debut back in autumn. Must keep safe provincial mare 2. Alegna also first-up off a trial, and draws to find a handy trail just off speed; while 1. Skates On second-up can finish in the minor money.

How to play it: Cool Shalaa to win

Drawn to get cover off speed and rising in distance fourth-up is the formula for local four-year-old 1. Powder Man to claim a second career win. Finished well from a long way back in much deeper metro company over the border before again hitting the line into a place in a deeper NSW country Cl1. Looks fairly treated under 60kg back in a thinner lineup, and suited back on the bigger and longer straight.

Dangers: Underrated 2. Clipper Ship has to work over from a tricky barrier, but she was good late here in deeper class a fortnight ago, and also searching for more ground. No doubting 5. Highland Raider can improve sharply back a furlong in trip fourth-up after a poor effort here last time. Include 4. Barcelona Express stepping up from a win in a weak maiden; and 8. Shades Of Frisco third-up; in exotic bets.

How to play it: Powder Man to win

A few chances in what shapes a fairly even sprint starting with progressive filly 7. One Kind who can build further on a nice record fourth-up, with blinkers being added. Finished best to win a CL2 three starts ago before an even effort in deeper BM 64 provincial company, and then failing to finish off in the Da Vinci at Wyong. This is a decent drop back in class, and she draws to get the soft run inside a few lengths off speed.

Dangers: Provincial-based last start country CL1 winner 6. He's Purring takes a decent step up, but is hard fit and gets in well at the weights after the jockey's claim. Both 1. Panuara Boy fifth-up; and consistent 5. Burdekin deep into his prep; are drawn wide, but are right up to winning this with any sort of early luck.

How to play it: One Kind to win

Improving mare 10. Lady Townson is primed to pounce third-up for the leading provincial stable a month between runs. Liked the way she found the line in a deeper provincial maiden last time, and is well treated here carrying only 2kg more in what is a significantly weaker race.

Dangers: Stablemate mare 8. Fast Lady is a threat resuming behind two quiet trials. Watch the betting on Gold Coast-based 11. On Hargrave with the addition of blinkers third-up; while 6. Shark Island with the blinkers coming off goes in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Lady Townson to win

There was plenty to like about the third-up win of progressive mare 4. Enterprise Lassie sweeping home from behind the speed. Goes up 3kg here, but this is no harder and she comes back a shade in distance to off-set the 27 days between runs.

Dangers: Lightly raced four-year-old 3. Gold Merchant is the immediate threat second-up. Made a little ground from the back resuming in a classier race at Scone from which the form is holding up strong. Senior jockey takes over as well. Gap to the rest headed by tough 1. Claptone who has been up for a long time, but continues to stick on well in his races; while 5. Daedalus; 7. I Shot The Sheriff and 8. Ultimate Man can all challenge for the minor money.

How to play it: Enterprise Lassie to win

All aboard the early value here around emerging home track three-year-old 7. Wolf Dancer by Bull Point who rises in distance, and maps to strike at just his second start. Stuck on well right behind the placegetters on debut in a deeper maiden here a fortnight back, and with that experience, he can improve sufficiently to break through in a similar quality race.

Dangers: Big watch on locally-trained 4. Dancing Tilda who was also good on debut at that same meeting, running home late into a place. Keep safe, well-bred and improving 1. Bjorn Ironside who finished on the heels of the former in that first-up maiden. Another one over the odds is 16. Khumbu from a softer draw also coming through that same formline; while 3. Honorable third-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Wolf Dancer to win

Tough race, but the journey stacks up nicely for honest Gold Coast mare 5. The Love Of Mary third-up. Covered too much ground fresh before working home from just off the speed in a CL2 on the polytrack. Better placed here back on turf, draws to get cover just off the speed, and the nine day back-up is a sure sign she's come on well. Only two career wins so far have been around this distance.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with 1. Lady Goodfellow who keeps improving, and dug in hard to lead all the way in a CL1 10 days ago. Honest 4. Lampkin Lane hasn't won for a while, but he's hit the line hard into a place in his last two over shorter trips, suggesting a second win isn't far off. Expect an improved showing from 7. Global Sensation who got completely lost and had a tough run at Armidale 10 days ago, and gets a big weight drop after the junior rider's claim. Include in exotic bets, 2. Manor Road who comes back from the tougher Tuncurry Cup; 8. Our Girl Eve who is also on a quick turnaround; and 11. Yehbut who gets a key gear change.

How to play it: The Love Of Mary each way

One of the more open sprints is saved for last. Like ultra consistent provincial mare 4. Never Sorry to score an overdue win fifth-up. Was a certainty beaten when held up and badly checked in a provincial CL1 three starts ago before beaten narrowly up to CL 2 grade in his last couple. This looks a shade weaker.

Dangers: Must keep safe improving 2. Shaquila who was heavily backed when missing by under a length second-up. Local 5. Monte Outlander charged home here when resuming to upset a smart sprinter, and weight rise has been well off-set with a 4kg claimer booked. Beaten a long way in a much tougher CL3 Highway, 1. Noble Missile from a handy draw can figure in the minor prize.

How to play it: Never Sorry to win

BEST BETS:
R2 1. POWDER MAN
R3 7. ONE KIND

BEST VALUE
R6 7. WOLF DANCER

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