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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

We kick off the Showcase meeting with the youngsters in a Boot Prelude, and the majority are on debut. One of them, Press Statement gelding 6. Lord Of The Dance shapes over the odds from a soft draw, and with the top country jockey aboard. Begins his career behind two progressive trials.

Dangers: Naturally, Invader gelding 3. Devine Chops is a serious threat off a nice forward trial; while 1. Sparkingly dropping back from tougher metro opposition at his third start; and 10. Sweet Breeze resuming from the inside draw; can both run into the money.

How to play it: Lord Of The Dance to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky and even battle here over the mile with a few chances. Sticking strong with tough five-year-old 3. How's It Kev who should have nearly won a fortnight ago, and while this is a shade tougher, he draws to park right behind the speed, and a far superior rider takes over.

Dangers: Keep safe honest five-year-old 1. Too Good To Be Tru who hasn't won for a long time, but couldn't be fitter, and has been in and around the money all prep against better opposition. Also in the mix is CL1 winner 5. Norman who flashed home at big odds last start, and ready for a rise in grade; while 7. Sapphires Son drawn inside; and 6. Not Too Bad with a key jockey change; both go in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: How's It Kev to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

The outside draw for the early favorite puts this race right back in the melting pot. At the value, like consistent four-year-old 1. Heavenly Spirit who can finally break through deep into the prep and at 17th start. Surged late to miss by a long neck two starts back before being ridden even closer when chasing home a handy winner. Gets an even more economical run from this draw, and is well placed after the 3kg claim.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with four-year-old 2. Sulmaher who is still yet to run a place in eight starts, but has held his own around midfield in much tougher metro and provincial races, and jockey change is crucial. Provincial three-year-old 5. Olivia's Spirit has only been fair in four runs back, but this is also the weakest race he's tackled this prep. Must include 6. Red Cobra third-up in a thinner race from the inside gate, with blinkers being added. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Heavenly Spirit each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Now that's he drawn a better barrier in what is a very average field, progressive four-year-old 4. Satay Chicken can return to winning ways fourth-up. Did a terrific job landing his maiden first-up before not far away in two runs against better opposition after doing plenty of work from wider draws.

Dangers: Improving 6. Cranky Creed is hard fit, and can fill the quinella from a soft draw; while 2. Girraguland back in class fourth-up; and 7. First Secret fifth-up; battle out the minor end of the prize.

How to play it: Satay Chicken to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Back to the sprint trip, and this shapes nicely for progressive mare 8. Anaro fourth-up with winkers being added. Has attacked the line hard in his last two against handy maiden opposition, and from a lower draw where he can park a bit closer, only needs clear air from the 400m to put this lot to the sword.

Dangers: Drawn the fence right alongside, 5. Climate Control looms as the main threat after finishing off well in his last couple. Include 4. Under Le Temps back a little in trip second-up; 7. Wolf Bay resuming with the blinkers off; and 11. Candid also minus the blinkers third-up; in exotic plays.

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

One of the toughest races to dissect on the program, but keen on still improving five-year-old 6. Order Of Merit who swept home from midfield to convincingly win a deeper BM 58 three weeks ago well into the prep.

Dangers: Must respect 9. Avalicious who has been close-up in three competitive efforts this prep, and wants a little more distance now, with blinkers back on. Tough mare 5. Boho Chick has won two of her last four, the latest knuckling down late to claim a handy provincial BM 58. Last start BM 58 winner and ex-Qlder 2. River Rocket tackles a field with a little more depth, and the big weight has been off-set by a 3kg claim. Include 10. Behind The Storm; in wider exotics.

How to play it: Order Of Merit to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Now for the feature non-claiming Qualifier run at Class 5 level, with a spot in the final at Randwick for the first two home. Naturally it's wide open, and made even more confusing with leading Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm accepting with a staggering nine runners in a field of 14, as well as the second reserve. In fact, that city will own the entire field if there are no scratchings, with rival stable Brett Robb putting up three candidates. There's a sense of timing third-up here with 2. Boom Boom Basil who looks ready to win again. Improved sharply off a first-up Highway run, chasing home a smart sprinter in a CL4 Preview carrying 2kg more, and this looks an ideal journey.

Dangers: The one he couldn't catch that day, lightly raced eight-year-old 3. Listen To The Band shoots for a fifth win in six starts this prep. Drawn wide this time in a deeper race, but has been sent back for an easy trial a month between runs. Keep safe 6. Sizzle Minizzle who won two straight up to country CL3 grade before fair to the line in Highway company. Capable mare 12. Watch Me Rumble is also right in the eachway mix from a good draw and reloading five weeks after a first-up CL4 Preview win via a nice easy trial. Include 4. Amulet Street down in weight fourth-up with blinkers back on; and 7. Raging Rush 23 days after completing back-to-back wins; in all trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Boom Boom Basil to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in the closer as well headed by progressive filly 3. D'arpano who can peak second-up with blinkers coming off. Did his best work late resuming in a deeper CL3, and the 2kg weight claim here is vital.

Dangers: Keep very safe 6. Cumboogle fifth-up from the inside draw, with a stack of gear changes including the addition of blinkers. Similarly 11. Hiraishin has a task under a big weight from a wide gate, but has been close-up in his last three against generally better opposition at Tamworth; while 8. Snowdrop fifth-up heads the rest.

How to play it: D'arpano to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R4 4. SATAY CHICKEN
R5 8. ANARO

BEST VALUE:
R3 1. HEAVENLY SPIRIT

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Coonamble