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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail True

We start Cup day with an open contest over the middle distance. There's a sense of timing here with tough filly 11. Avalicious on the quick back-up with a stronger rider climbing aboard. Was outclassed in a Country C'ship Heat two runs back before sticking on strong in a similar grade. Will roll across from a wider draw, and better suited with a bit of cut out of the ground.

Dangers: Keep safe staying four-year-old 1. Alloway resuming behind a very quiet synthetic trial; while both 6. Come On Harry up in distance; and 7. Shiny Rock who charged home from the back to win his maiden; can figure in the placings.

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

Improving filly 1. Penny Stocks faded late third-up on Albury Cup day, but the run was better than it looked, and the winner of that race is headed for much better races. Carries half kilo less after the claim, and dropping back to this shorter course is a big plus.

Dangers: Canberra filly 14. Carrington Falls is a big threat if she gets a run after closing off okay on debut in heavy ground when well backed. Kembla filly 6. Las Vegas Girl can improve third-up from a softer draw. Watch the betting on Palentino filly 4. You're All Talk who hasn't been publicly seen since trailing the field home in a metro trial late last year.

How to play it: Penny Stocks to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this one. Keen on Written Tycoon four-year-old 2. Think Rich who debuts from a nice draw off a steady trial with winkers on.

Dangers: Improving 4. Hey Michael will go forward and should be suited by the tighter turning track; while included in exotics 7. Al Murree who comes back 200m in distance second-up; and 9. Make A Right fourth-up with another jockey change.

How to play it: Think Rich to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Like the value here about improving provincial mare 5. Flying Grace second-up. Ran out of steam resuming, but much better placed over a bit more ground with a run under her belt, and this is weak in depth.

Dangers: Victorian three-year-old 1. Balzando is the natural threat dropping back significantly in class third-up, although still has a task carting 59kg around here from a wide barrier. Honest three-year-old 2. Rhythmboat took on metro and provincial company earlier in the prep, and should get his chance here in a thinner race from a better draw.

How to play it: Flying Grace each way and box exacta 1,2,5
Odds and Evens: Odds

Last start maiden winner 2. My Bold Boy continues to improve, although he took advantage of a hot leader's track at Albury. Has to get across from the wide gate around a much tighter track, but likes it dry and the race has been weakened with a couple of early fancies coming out.

Dangers: Keep safe 7. Over The World who won a weak maiden on debut at big odds; and 6. Sweet Home Alabama who draws to find a nice trail first-up.

How to play it: My Bold Boy to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Honest provincial mare 3. Yugosphere is primed to win again deep into this prep. Has been close-up after working home in consecutive races with a little more depth, and will again park just off the speed from a handy draw.

Dangers: Lightly raced filly 6. Patrika Mist flashed home to beat a handy maiden field at her second start, and while she has the ability stepping up to this level, not convinced the tight inside draw here does her any favours. Canberra filly 5. Anchorage struck a very handy CL1 field in heavy ground second-up after a narrow fresh win. Must respect 1. Super Helpful who has steadily improved this prep, and was beaten under two lengths in the stronger Albury Guineas nine days ago.

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

Now the feature race, and time for seven-year-old Canberra mare 1. Maid Of Ore to return to the winner's stall in a much needed class drop. Held her ground okay in metro BM 78 company before less than a length from the winner in BM 70 grade at The Valley; and then wasn't suited behind a dominant leader in the Listed Canberra Cup. Naturally back up sharply in weight, but she's hard fit and will be attacking the line.

Dangers: Lightly raced Victorian 3. Prince Of Helena is also much better placed third-up after a game effort in the Country Mile at Flemington two weeks ago. Tough provincial five-year-old 4. Momack has beaten all bar the winner in two runs since having a stable change; while tough mare 7. Girls Are Ready with blinkers removed; and 8. Roman dropping back from superior metro class fifth-up; are on the next line.

How to play it: Maid Of Ore to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Open and competitive sprint to close Cup day, and progressive four-year-old 5. Beauchamp can go back-to-back. Has only missed a place once in his last five, and showed dominant cruising speed in front bolting in a thinner grade at Coonamble. Meeting some better ones here, but carries 2kg less.

Dangers: Victorian five-year-old 1. Northernero is hard fit, and made up plenty of late ground against the bias on Albury Mile day, but has been whacked by the handicapper carrying 62kg even after the rider takes 3kg off. Keep safe consistent four-year-old 7. Smuggler's Run fourth-up; while 11. Sly Song is a knock-out chance first-up from a nice draw.

How to play it: Beauchamp to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

BEST BETS:
R2 1. PENNY STOCKS
R5 2. MY BOLD BOY

BEST VALUE:
R6 3. YUGOSPHERE

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Gundagai meeting