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By Neil Evans

Track likely improving to Soft 6 and rail True:

Another improving surface greets the maidens in this short-course opener, and keen on lightly raced four-year-old 1. Shikanic who resumes for a shrewd fresh stable with winkers back on. Showed enough in his first prep, and has trialled well.

Dangers: Rival four-year-old 2. Pyramid Of Fire is also ready to roll first-up for a new Scone stable behind two winning trials. Gap to the rest over this distance headed by debutant Winning Rupert three-year-old 3. Bonjour Rupert who has trialled okay and recently gelded.

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

Good competitive battle for this grade. Provincial mare 2. Tequila Cabos didn't run home fourth-up at Hawkesbury in tougher grade, but back on rain-affected ground over further and dropping down in class are all factors to say she can power past them late here.

Dangers: Keep safe 3. Miss Santorini who did it tough from the wide barrier first-up in similar company, but improves sharply here from a much softer draw, and more aggressive rider going on. Underrated home track mare 5. Cupid's Kiss was good late in a handy CL1 here a fortnight ago, and sharp weight increase has been off-set by the booking of a 4kg claimer. Both 1. Mussenphere back in grade second-up; and 8. All In A Lady who draws to get an economical run; can figure in the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Tequila Cabos each way and quinella 2 and 3
Odds and Evens: Split

Another visitor from up the road at Scone, progressive mare 4. Tafika can go back-to-back in two states for the new yard. Has been given 24 days since a dominant maiden win in country Victoria having charged home to miss narrowly the start before. Top country hoop "Raging Bull" on board is a further fpointer.

Dangers: Naturally dropping back from deeper BM 64 provincial class, 1. Prize Draw is a threat fourth-up in his first real prep, with winkers replacing blinkers; while ultra honest mare 6. Bridges To Babylon who has been hitting the line from a long way back all prep is next best with blinkers coming off.

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

Tricky middle distance maiden, although from an ideal draw emerging metropolitan three-year-old 4. Sugoi Legend is well placed to break through at only his second start. Was unwanted in betting on debut in a stronger metro lineup, yet still worked home okay from a tough draw, and getting on to a much bigger track with a far longer run home is a major key.

Dangers: Improving 3. Leica Storm has shown enough in the last two runs to figure big time here, but will need to get across from a wide gate. Included in exotics, metro three-year-old 7. Gold Witness who is searching for more ground; and Real Impact filly 13. Starliner who has progressed nicely through the trials, and starts with important gear additions, including blinkers.

How to play it: Sugoi Legend to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The wide draw for the likely favourite means there's value elsewhere, and none bigger than provincial three-year-old 11. Sidenay resuming for only his second outing. Looks very progressive, and loved the second of two recent trials where he sat outside the leader on the synthetic at Newcastle, and breezed away effortlessly, running a comparable last 600m to the open class triallers that day. Bred to thrive on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: The big drop back from metro company second-up off a six week break augurs well for well bred filly 12. Miss Faberge, but wouldn't be diving into too short a price drawn off the track. Provincial mare 8. Topender can launch home second-up after making up a tonne of ground resuming in heavy going. If she can tuck in with cover from an awkward draw, will relish the long spacious run home here. Capable local 2. Hoku did his best work late resuming here, and normally improves into his next run, especially over further. Included in trifectas and first fours 3. Jumeirah Beach resuming behind two trials; and 6. Shubick, who has hit the line hard in two runs to start his career, and stays at the trip.

How to play it: Sidenay each way and box trifecta 2,8,11,12
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances here over the testing middle distance. Keen on progressive and lightly raced four-year-old 6. The Mystery Guy second-up. Steps up from just missing in weaker class a fortnight ago, but still improving, and senior country jockey takes over at the right time.

Dangers: Improving 3. Tidal Rush went to the front last start and hung on to beat a similar field through very heavy ground, but up 2kg in weight. Tough mare 4. Hard To Dismiss is a shade over the odds deep into her prep after powering home from last to win a CL1; while both 9. Shen Gui who rushed home late last time here; and last start BM 58 winner 10. Forever Jude sneaking further down in the weights; are each way knock-out chances.

How to play it: The Mystery Guy to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Strong race for this grade, with terrific depth and plenty of chances. Can be hard to catch, but this shapes ideally for provincial four-year-old 4. Pacheco second-up off a five week break. Worked home well resuming in a similar race, and on a somewhat firmer surface from a softer draw, he gets his chance to win again.

Dangers: Promising three-year-old 10. Burraneer Boy was a dominant maiden winner two starts back before close-up in a handy CL1 at Scone, although not overly well treated at the weights this time. Respect lightly raced four-year-old 2. Super Extreme who has narrowly missed in his last two at Tamworth driving home hard from just off the speed, although up sharply in weight and drawn wide. Similarly, a big weight and wide alley might also not stop 1. Pee Dee third-up dropping back significantly in grade. Keep safe 6. Royal Charge with blinkers back on fourth-up.

How to play it: Pacheco each way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Like speedy and progressive mare 7. Sussu from the inside draw. Led all the way to claim her maiden two runs back before only collared late in a similar race here by a promising sprinter.

Dangers: Improving 8. Movin' Denman wasn't far away in two similar graded races here before missing by a head at Bathurst three weeks ago. Included in exotics 4. Shreve who resumes without publicly trialling; and lightly raced 9. Susie Boog off a tough second-up maiden win.

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

BEST BETS:
R3 4. TAFIKA
R4 4. SUGOI LEGEND

BEST VALUE:
R6 6. THE MYSTERY GUY

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