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By Neil Evans

Track improving to near Good 4 and rail True:

We start with the maiden sprinters at set weights, with most of the action coming from the inside gates. Local Denman filly 9. Wonderwhen held her ground on debut here, and carrying 1kg less from a softer draw in a thin race, won't need to improve much to break through.

Dangers: Watch the betting on Exosphere colt 7. Takahiro who returns to the North Coast for his debut off two quiet metro trials; while Spirit Of Boom filly 8. Freya's Falcon is clear best of the rest third-up from a good draw.

How to play it: Wonderwhen to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Over the same sprint journey from the inside barrier makes Charm Spirit four-year-old 1. King Charming a near good thing. Has won both lead-up metro trials, and should take care of this lot.

Dangers: Resuming Coffs six-year-old 10. The Raptor's Talon has trialled nicely at home, and looks the weighted quinella runner considering the rest haven't one placing between them in 19 starts.

How to play it: King Charming to win and quinella 1 and 10. Odds and Evens: Split

Another likely hot favourite in local four-year-old 7. Ultimate Man who surely breaks through after running a string of placings in better fields than this. Drawn to land a lovely trail right behind the speed.

Dangers: Through the same formline, five-year-old mare 9. Miss Pierpoint worked home into a place behind the top selection three weeks back, and draws to follow the hotpot wherever he goes. Big gap to the rest headed by 4. Kawuneeche who emerges from that same race.

How to play it: Ultimate Man to win and quinella 7 and 9. Odds and Evens: Odds

A few chances here headed by lightly raced and freshened-up mare 4. Flora who can make it three wins from her last four stepping up in grade. Has shown good tactical speed to claim her maiden and a CL1 here, and reloads five weeks between runs.

Dangers: Tough mare 2. Whatyoulookingat drops in grade after a brave all-the-way win but faces a task from the outside barrier. Keep safe provincial mare 7. Miss Kojiki who has beaten all but the winner in three runs this prep across stronger fields, and blinkers have been added; while six-year-old and last start winner 1. Invincible Faith is hard fit and draws a nice gate.

How to play it: Flora to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Same grade for the restricted stayers, and a few of these are going around just to admire the view. Not so provincial five-year-old 3. Noble Cause who worked early from the gate last start before dropping out, but previous form in better races is strong for a race like this. Will roll forward with a superior and stronger rider aboard.

Dangers: Tough seven-year-old 1. Holbrook rarely puts in a bad one, and found the line well in tougher company last time, but rises back up sharply in weight. Included in exotics 4. Oh No Bro who scored an upset win this grade two runs ago before failing to run on in a CL1; and honest mare 6. Yarrinup Flyer who has finished off okay in her last couple.

How to play it: Noble Cause to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Open battle over the mile. Don't be concerned by the poor strike rate of six-year-old 5. Hubble who comes through better formlines than the rest of these. Was fair to the line in a much tougher Highway two runs back before struggling late in a deeper CL3. Up in weight, but this is the weakest race he's contested in a while, and is clear over the odds.

Dangers: After being well outclassed in a country cup two starts back, six-year-old 2. Storm Attack stuck on well in a similar race here three weeks back, although draws a tricky gate; while 9. Bladnoch is best of the rest

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

Open race to finish, but keen on lightly raced seven-year-old mare 7. Lebanna fourth-up from a handy trailing draw. Charged home to beat a useful maiden field at Coffs two runs back, and is destined to salute in better races than this.

Dangers: Improving five-year-old 1. Wine O'Clock was good late in a handy CL2 third-up after landing his maiden at this track, but must overcome a horror draw. Include four-year-old mare 10. Above The Lot second-up and down in weight; while keeping safe 4. Admiral Ash from the inside barrier after hitting the line in a similar affair two weeks ago.

How to play it: Lebanna to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

BEST BETS:
R4 4. FLORA
R7 7. LEBANNA

BEST VALUE:
R5 3. NOBLE CAUSE

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