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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True:

We start the feature Cup day Showcase meeting over the longer trip, and there's not much separating the first few. Like Dubbo mare 6. Eva's Deel who can cash in on a significant rise back up in distance. While she's mixed her form this prep, showed three runs back when ridden quieter at home, she has a big final 400m when saved up. Draws to get cover, and comes through stronger NSW formlines.

Dangers: Victorian mare 3. Forest Diamond has been plain in three runs this prep, although comes off a six week freshen-up here, with blinkers being added. Stablemate of the top selection, 2. Foodie King is hard fit, and emerges via that same BM 66 at home. Another border-hopper 1. Classy Joe arrives behind a third-up win in weaker grade. Draws to get a soft run inside, but likely needs it wetter under a big weight.

How to play it: Eva's Deel to win

Back to the maidens, and it's a wide open sprint. Victorian filly and the only two-year-old in the field, 13. Malabar Queen wouldn't need to improve much at her second start to break through. Went to the front and fought on for a long way at Wagga, and back to a smaller circuit from a better draw with blinkers going on is an enticing change-up. Was scratched from Saturday's Wagga meeting to be saved for this.

Dangers: Keep safe Wodonga filly 12. Whitehart second-up after hitting the line hard here three weeks back. Victorian 6. Schiller Salute has been up for a long time, although produced his best run for a while at this track three weeks back when beaten just over a length, and blinkers come off; while both 1. Blount Country drawn wide third-up; and 3. Kool Kat resuming behind a dominant trial win; go in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Malabar Queen to win

It seemingly doesn't get more open than this maiden battle, but that ensures terrific value for underrated Dubbo mare 7. Kirameki who can finally break through deep into the current prep at big odds. Has closed off strongly from midfield to be beaten under a length in her last two, and looms as the best weighted runner in the race after the claim. Suspect she can settle a few lengths off the speed with cover, and produce a superior final 400m burst with a clear run.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by three-year-old 6. Chicane who has hit the line well in his last two, and also gets significant weight relief. Concede lightly raced filly 4. Pretty Eyed is the most talented horse in the race, but will likely be forced back to the tail from the outside barrier third-up in her first full prep. Topweight and lightly raced 1. Open Sky is also capable of producing a big finish second-up from well off the speed, but like many will need plenty of pressure up front. Both improving stablemate 2. Apollo Mission fifth-up with blinkers back on; and 9. Seminara peaking third-up over a furlong further; are capable of running into the minor money.

How to pay it: Kirameki each way and box exacta 4,6,7

Victorian mare 6. Add Milk is building a handy record ahead of her 11th start. Swept home to win a similar graded race over the border when resuming before flooding home into a place from well back last start. Has a dominant finishing burst, and while the inside draw may serve up some traffic problems into the straight, she only needs clear air from the 300m to produce a superior finish.

Dangers: Fellow Victorian 1. Gateaux is right in the hunt drawn to get a soft run on-speed and coming off a narrow win in similar company, although a junior 4kg claiming rider has been booked to off-set the big weight. Capable mare 2. Mathrin doesn't often produce her best as a poor winning strike rate shows, but she is capable of peeling off a big final burst in and around this grade. Include 4. Howling Victory third-up; and lightly raced filly 8. Duped By Spin also third-up; in all exotic plays.

How to play it: Add Milk to win

Keen on Albury three-year-old 1. Black Tahitian second-up over a furlong further. Took over on the turn here and was only run down late carrying 2kg more, and fitter now in a race with very moderate, he can win again.

Dangers: Resuming 2. Just Go Bang is the clear and logical threat from the inside draw with blinkers on. Has trialled up nicely, and roared home to win fresh on debut this time last year. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Diamond Carat from a soft draw and finding a weaker race.

How to play it: Black Tahitian to win

The boys' edition is stronger than the earlier girls' battle at this grade, and capable 11. Your Not The Boss can strike from around midfield via the fence draw fourth-up. Was impressive sweeping home to win his maiden here last time and drops 1.5kg for this. Also preferred here to the Wagga meeting.

Dangers: Keep safe 2. Choice Harvest fifth-up off a last-start win in weaker BM 58 company, and is a stablemate of the top selection; while 6. Nic's Hero and 7. Loafing, both well into their preps, are capable of pumping plenty of value into exotic returns.

How to play it: Your Not The Boss to win

Now the feature Cup with Big Dance eligibility on the line. Naturally a stack of chances, but keen to back tough six-year-old 2. Invincible Dash fourth-up at big odds. Loved the way he's attacked the line late in two provincial outings off a month-long freshen-up, and should be right at his peak for this, settling midfield before powering home.

Dangers: Expecting a big run third-up from talented Victorian four-year-old 10. Bullet Wing down 2.5kg in weight. Another one from over the border, 11. Riddlero has been mixing his form in handy benchmark races back over the border, but looks very well treated at the weights dropping 5.5kg from a BM 70 at Swan Hill. Improving 3. The Doctor's Son did his best work late in a BM 83 here off a four-week break, and did win the Gundagai Cup on a bog track four starts ago. From a nice map draw and carrying a light weight after the claim, 13. Victory At Omaha is in the each-way mix off that last start BM 83 win here if he gets a run; while 9. Scarlet Prince is the best of the rest first-up off a forward trial.

How to play it: Invincible Dash each way

We finish the card with a competitive sprint battle. Like lightly raced mare 8. Kappy's Angel when she's on the fresh side. Hasn't raced for 10 weeks since being swamped in the much tougher Queen Of The South at Wagga over 400m further, but comes to hand quickly, and gets in well at the weights after the rookie rider's 3kg allowance. Will likely sit behind the speed over this trip, and only needs to get into clear air from the turn.

Dangers: First-up CL3 winner at this track 10. King Of The Bounty will again settle well back, but is capable of producing a telling final 300m sprint. Watch for resuming 1. Northernero also hitting the line hard; while 2. Seventh Seal staying at the trip; and big finishing 3. Chairman's Choice second-up off a four week freshen-up; can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Kappy's Angel to win

BEST BETS:
R4 6. ADD MILK
R8 8. KAPPY'S ANGEL

BEST VALUE:
R2 13. MALABAR QUEEN

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