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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True

Speed should be okay here. Keen on consistent and improving mare 7. Brecourt who is ready to break through fifth-up. Has been charging home into the minor money of late, and staying at the mile with a much stronger rider going on, is the big key. Was scratched from Narriomine on Sunday to run here.

Dangers: Tough 3. Jousting led for a long way second-up, and drew to give a big sight again around an even more suitable circuit; while 2. Few Are has been regularly hitting the line from well off the speed, and gets back out to his best distance.

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

The long wait should be over for provincial six-year-old 6. Mister Ripley who's been banging on the door for a while, and beaten all but the winner in his last three. Only went under a head after leading in a deeper provincial maiden last start, and dropping back in trip is a plus.

Dangers: Promising filly 15. Haveyou did her best work late on debut over a much shorter trip, and can progress nicely over this trip. Scone mare 12. Spice Star found the line well at her third start, and this looks easier. Local four-year-old 5. Jazzee Up has been finishing his races well enough, although has to overcome a wide draw. Include improving filly 14. Hard To Dismiss at fourth start; while 1. Belbaroo resumes without publicly trialling.

How to play it: Mr Ripley to win and first four 6,12,15/1,5,6,12,15/1,5,6,12,15/1,5,6,12,15. Odds and Evens: Split

Lightly raced provincial six-year-old 1. Jaytees hasn't raced since last spring, but looked very forward in a recent trial win, and can find the right spot from a low draw.

Dangers: Improving 3. Eureka stuck on okay three weeks back behind a smart one who has since charged home to win again; while 2. Twin Seas can improve at his second start; and 12. Mighty Minnie hasn't missed a place in her last five.

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

Tough front-running four-year-old 2. Superior Witness can strike fourth-up from a handy draw. Has been run down late in his last two, but even harder to beat here on a tighter track.

Dangers: Progressive six-year-old 3. Deploys Alone can peak fifth-up getting back down in the weights; while lightly-raced mare 8. Jillonni is going well and nicely weighted third-up.

How to play it: Superior Witness to win and quinella 2 and 3. Odds and Evens: Split

Another big yet very moderate field. You wouldn't want your last riding on five-year-old 5. Scatman, but this shapes up as the right race despite drawing the extreme outside barrier. Fought on well to be beaten narrowly over a mile last start, and the drop in weight and superior and stronger rider aboard are big pluses.

Dangers: Progressive mare 6. Hammoon Jig is the clear threat from a soft draw. Ridden quieter before sweeping home to claim his maiden third-up, and this is no harder. Keep safe 2. The Fossil who can improve sharply in a weaker race; while 3. All The Shops was a strong maiden winner two starts back in heavy ground but no match for a dominant performer at BM 58 level a fortnight ago.

How to play it: Scatman each way and quinella 5 and 6. Odds and Evens: Split

Should be truly run over the longer trip, and typically any number of chances. Provincial five-year-old 8. Mexican Standoff looks well placed to go back-to-back after powering home to win a CL1 at Scone third-up. Has been given three weeks between runs for the little drop in distance, and a high strike-rate jockey takes over.

Dangers: Tough four-year-old 2. Reach Beyond shoots up to 61kg, but has been gallant in consecutive Highways without having much luck, and this is a big drop in class. Provincial five-year-old 9. Noble Cause was good late fourth-up behind a promising stayer; and freshened-up 11. Cthonia put two wins together before failing to fire on an ordinary surface in a stronger grade.

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

We save the most competitive for last. Progressive five-year-old 7. Famous draws well, and is the one to beat off a dominant CL3 win.

Dangers: Honest eight-year-old 1. Ecker Road is second-up for the new stable; while 8. Liberty Head is over the odds with a 3kg claim.

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

BEST BETS:
R4 1. OSLO
R7 7. FAMOUS

BEST VALUE:
R6 8. MEXICAN STANDOFF

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