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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True:

2. Magic Pharoah is a tough & still progressing mare who is overdue for a fourth career win returning home on a significant class drop. Didn't have much luck or the clearest of runs when hitting the line late in consecutive races up to CL3 Highway level before again flooding home to miss by a whisker in a strong BM 66 at Dubbo. Went back to a deeper Highway race last start and failed to run home. Naturally has to carry a big weight, but has oodles of quality against this lot, and draws to find a trail off speed. 3. Up And Comer is an improving mare who peaks second-up over more ground with blinkers back on. 4. Stylebender is very honest despite a poor strike rate, and hit the line impressively in this grade 23 days ago. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Crusheen Lass who won her maiden here two starts back; and 5. Yorkiri fourth-up.

How to play it: Magic Pharoah to win

5. Pelette is a lightly raced filly trained on the track, and well placed to strike third-up. Ran home nicely in a fillies and mares maiden at provincial level a fortnight ago, and the stable is a specialist sprinting camp. Stablemate 4. Withstand is also tracking to peak third-up, although drawn wide. Lightly raced 7. Zihuatanejo is drawn to be in the finish improving into her second start. Doubt the winner comes from anywhere else, but home tracker 6. Mylababy third-up; and 8. Fake who will relish a longer trip after running home well all prep; are both worthy players in wider exotics.

How to play it: Pelette to win

2. The Favorite Son is a locally trained and sparingly raced four-year-old resuming over this middle distance from an inside draw. Has been given two improving trials, and bred to run this trip right out fresh being by superstar The Autumn Sun out of a mare by UK staying sire Pivotal. 1. Hammoon Thunder is a big improver second-up over a furlong further. 4. Mellencamp cruised home to win a BM 58 two runs ago before dropping out in a much tougher CL3 Highway. 6. Smart Jazz is also suited coming back from that same Highway race as the former when running home okay at a huge price, and despite a poor strike rate, both career wins so far have come at this course. 8. Chestime up sharply in distance is the best of the rest.

How to play it: The Favorite Son to win

10. So Be Inspired, a filly by So You Think on debut for the Kris Lees stable, represents very good value. Comes through an easy trial, and is drawn to get a soft run. Metro filly 1. Miss Judas returns off a two month break and solid trial, with winkers added. Lightly raced 3. Cool Space resumes off a lengthy break and nice trial, but has to overcome a tough draw. 5. Bombinate is a stablemate of the top selection by Toronado, and a big market watch on debut; so too another Novacastrian 7. Extreme Courage who didn't fire on debut at home, but this is an easier assignment and draws to gain a more favourable run. Watch the betting on 8. Royal Defense who resumes as a gelding off a handy trial.

How to play it: So Be Inspired to win

2. Dale is a progressive three-year-old who can lap up the rise to this trip second-up, with blinkers going on. Ran home okay fresh at Scone, but he hadn't raced since late February, and that was a handy maiden field. 11. Bella Corazon is a promising metro filly who was heavily backed when running home late second-up at Nowra, but while she'll relish the longer trip here, looms under the early odds. 4. Navy Buoy can improve over significantly more ground at his second start. Well over the odds is 5. Sanika, resuming as a gelding for only his second start, with gear changes and drawn low.

How to play it: Dale to win

4. Torn is another progressive three-year-old who can go back-to-back in his second prep, nearly four weeks between runs. Loved the way he easily put maiden opposition to the sword at Mudgee last start; and while this is tougher, he has a tonne of scope, and is drawn to get an economical run on-speed. 6. Girrawheen is another improving Scone raider who ran home well last start behind the smart Sir Remlap who then charged home to win Saturday's CL3 Highway at Randwick. Big watch on city mare 2. Cheergal, returning for her first run since a dominant Super Maiden win at Kembla mid winter. Had always shown plenty in deeper metro fields through that initial campaign, and tuned up for her return with two trials up to 1030m. Only needs to get over from a wide barrier to be right in the finish. Keep safe 3. Puerto Banus coming off a fast-finishing maiden win third-up.

How to play it: Torn to win

1. Invasive Dreams is a capable provincial mare well placed to score first-up since last winter in a very moderate affair. Relaunches down in class having placed in three consecutive races up to CL3 Highway grade. Draws to get good cover just off speed, and the big weight is off-set by the booking of a 3kg claiming jockey. 5. De Luca is an improving mare drawn to get a soft run off a 52 day freshen-up. 11. Speck fourth-up is an each-way chance; while 3. Edge Of Midnight is fit, and the odds back down in grade.

How to play it: Invasive Dreams to win

BEST BETS:
R3 2 THE FAVORITE SON
R7 1 INVASIVE DREAMS

BEST VALUE:
R2 5 PELETTE

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