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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5/6 and rail True

We start Cup day on a track that looks set to slip back into Soft range, with rain forecast. Smart Tamworth four-year-old 3. Without Shame only needs a clear run from the 300m to finish best. Closed off well in a much stronger Highway before charging home late in a deeper CL1 than this, and out to the mile journey is a key plus. The one to beat!

Dangers: Tough five-year-old 1. Barry's Lane has beaten all bar the winner in his last two, and again draws to roll forward. Superior rider takes over. Emerging mare 9. Fusiachi Family is also banging on the door having attacked the line hard from well back in four runs this prep, and is the best weighted runner in the race after the claim, although the inside draw around this circuit does her no favours. The rest are making up the numbers.

How to play it: Without Shame to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Not much between several of these over the mile. Underrated five-year-old 2. Chewie Two has had little or no luck at vital stages in three runs this prep, and drops back significantly in class from consecutive Highway runs. Was scratched from the opening race to run in this.

Dangers: Tough mare 3. Holy Empress is hard fit, and ready to win again on a seven day back-up. Closed from a long way back in the Spring Cup at Armidale before working home in a better BM 58 than this. Stronger rider takes over. Rising in class is six-year-old 5. Hardyo who dropped back sharply to bolt in a weak BM 50 at Inverell, and the more rain the better. Included in exotics honest five-year-old 6. Scatman.

How to play it: Chewie Two to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Like the placement in a thin race of local four-year-old 3. California Vanture first-up off a nine week break. Worked home okay in handy maidens over the border, and this is easier.

Dangers: Denman three-year-old 11. Den Moss makes his long-awaited debut. Was put away after trialling twice earlier in the year, and steps out behind two smart recent trials. Draws to get a lovely run, and well tuned to cope with this distance. Improving five-year-old 7. Smooth Esprit can peak third-up; while watching the betting on nicely bred filly 12. Miss Chapeau who rises in trip at only her second start.

How to play it: California Vanture to win and trifecta 3,7,11/3,7,11,12/3,7,11,12. Odds and Evens: Odds

Any number of chances in this one. Home track six-year-old 2. Kiss And Tell dropped in class for an easy kill two weeks ago, and can measure up here from the inside barrier, especially if the rain sets in. Has won here, and well in at the weights after a 3kg claim.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old 1. Celestial Doll raced against stronger resuming off a lengthy break, and won easily at her only previous second-up run. Capable five-year-old 3. Crimson Rose is fourth-up, and also boasts rock solid form in and around this class. Include 6. She's Spicy through the exotics.

How to play it: Kiss And Tell to win and box trifecta 1,2,3,6. Odds and Evens: Split

A little less depth in the boys' edition augurs well for four-year-old 2. Red Beryl who finds a suitable race at peak fitness, and down 2kg in weight. Has been strong through the line from midfield last two runs in deeper affairs at Tamworth, and should get the soft track he relishes.

Dangers: Punters left it in the bag aboard four-year-old 1. Pyrmont second-up in a similar race 19 days ago, but the leading local stable has made a key gear change. Keep safe progressive stallion 5. Golden Point who resumed with a dominant maiden win in heavy ground; while honest five-year-old 8. Hey Wayne is a knock-out chance at odds.

How to play it: Red Beryl each way and box exacta 1,2,5. Odds and Evens: Split

They'll light the fuse all the way here over this dash, and it stacks up nicely for Your Song three-year-old 9. Sungblue who debuts from a low draw behind two trials, bolting in the most recent. Bred to churn through soft ground.

Dangers: Improving three-year-old 2. The Big Seal will likely go through and lead from the fence draw, and prove hard to run down back to this distance 19 days between runs. Gap to the rest.

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

Still over the shorter course for the older restricted sprinters, and lightly raced one time Hong Kong six-year-old 4. Flashing Boy can sneak under the market guard here first-up for a year with blinkers on. Showed enough in his first Australian prep in the spring of last year, winning smartly second-up, and has been given a steady trial.

Dangers: Speedy mare 6. Persian Queen hasn't publicly trialled, or been seen since a fair effort in similar grade late autumn, but trainer has taken her back to where she bolted in her maiden on debut leading all the way. Improving five-year-old 3. Pocket Pistol drew to get a lovely trail just off the speed second-up, and did enough resuming in a stronger race; while 5. Nicola is fifth-up with gear changes.

How to play it: Flashing Boy each way and box exacta 3,4,6. Odds and Evens: Split

We save the feature race for last, and in a likely wide open market, any pattern will have a big say. Progressive five-year-old mare 6. La Tigresa was only fair, resuming in a good CL3 at Tamworth, but she's a renowned second-up performer, and gets a luxury 6.5kg weight drop over a more suitable trip.

Dangers: Tough five-year-old 1. Rich And Shameless is on the quick back-up after sticking on okay in the Coonabarabran Cup last Sunday when forced to sit in the breeze all the way. Provincial five-year-old 7. Camp Rifle has made a habit of finding one better this prep, although he hit the line nicely last start, and gets a big drop in weight for this tougher test. Keep safe local six-year-old 2. Maslow who is also over the odds second-up, with a significant jockey change.

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

BEST BETS:
R1 3. WITHOUT SHAME
R2 2. CHEWIE TWO

BEST VALUE:
R8 6. LA TIGRESA

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Moree meeting