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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail out 3.5m from 500m to 300m into a cut/away:

We open with the maiden sprinters on a somewhat sight-unseen track that hasn't been in use for several months, and with rain forecast on the day, the Good 4 may quickly drop back to around Soft 6 range, and the surface pressure will be on. Keen on emerging mare 3. Dupenny here second-up after she was scratched from Friday's Dubbo meeting to be saved for this. Tracked the speed before missing by a whisker frist-up at Narromine, and with that extra fitness, the further 200m is ideal for one of the best strike-rate stables in country NSW.

Dangers: No question well-bred four-year-old 1. Xtra Intent is the clear threat resuming for only his second start off a 11 month break and dominant trial win. Gap to the rest headed by a stablemate to the top selection 10.Toongi Bound who is second-up with a 4kg weight drop.

How to play it: Dupenny to win and quinella 1 and 3
Odds and Evens: Odds

Again over the flying five furlongs augurs well for another lightly-raced Brett Thompson-trained runner 4. Ithicus who maps to make it two wins from his last three in the first prep. Cruised home from the front at Narromine a month back before sitting behind the speed & failing to run down the winner at Mudgee. Suspect he'll take quick control back to this trip, and prove very hard to catch.

Dangers: Keep safe consistent five-year-old 5. Foxstorm who has been given four weeks since sweeping home from the back to win a CL1, and hasn't been out of a place in his last four; while both 1. Castlebar Road resuming from the inside barrier; and 3. Hiraishin who resumes with a 3kg weight claim; both go in exotics plays.

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

Tougher affair, although mapping to get cover just off the speed is the right recipe for lightly raced metropolitan filly 12. Little Baia who peaks third-up over more ground. Has worked home fairly in two runs to start her career, but she can settle closer here over this distance, with a leading country jockey back aboard.

Dangers: Improving filly 11. Edith's Joy is over the odds after working home well enough into a place in her last two; while 4. Dezi Emperor fourth-up; stablemate to the top selection 5. Radiant Knight who draws the fence; and 6. Rise To It, drawn out second-up and also preferred here to Sunday's Canberra meeting; are all capable of running into the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Little Baia to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Very keen here on Winning Rupert filly 7. Semana who draws to get a soft run in what is a weak race. Ploughed through heavy ground late to win on debut before finishing strongly from midfield in a much deeper provincial CL1. Draws to get a charmed run over a furlong further for a leading city stable, and almost has this at her mercy, with a couple of others running at Canberra on Sunday instead.

Dangers: Honest five-year-old 3. Shubick is fit, continues building a tidy record, and draws to be in the finish. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Semana to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

A modest battle of tactics here over the longer journey, and there are plenty of chances. No better value than tough six-year-old 7. For Da Boys who never shirks the task, and has been placed in four of his last five. Worked home fairly through heavy going in a deeper race at Scone two back before chasing hard behind the winner in weaker grade 16 days ago. Drops significantly in weight, with a much stronger rider back on, and he can settle off the speed before charging over the top late.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 2. Adelaide's Diamond who has consistently found the line okay this prep in marginally better races. Including metro four-year-old 4. Sandastan who has been up for a long time, but finds his easiest race in a while; while both 3. Thieve who won a deeper provincial BM 58 three starts back, but draws wide; and honest seven-year-old 5. Yak who likes to roll forward; are both worthy exotic runners.

How to play it: For Da Boys each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Same grade now for the sprinters in a Heat of the Rising Star, and confident still improving five-year-old 1. Vital Verse can go-back-to-back in a similar race. Had been working towards a win before a dominant display from barrier-to-box at Narromine, and the hike in weight has been off-set with the booking of a 3kg junior rider. May look for a spot behind the speed this time from a wider draw.

Dangers: Naturally, consistent metro-based filly 6. Covalent will be hard to stop from a low draw and 2kg claim; while wider in the market, keep safe 4. Down To Earth dropping in class from a six week freshen-up; and 5. Money Not My God deep into the prep, also with a 2kg weight allowance.

How to play it: Vital Verse to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Deepest and best race of the program is saved for last, and all aboard tough seven-year-old 11. Joey's Chance at the value. Hasn't won for a while, but strong closing efforts in his last two at the provincials leaves him over the odds in this company. Can settle a bit closer to the speed from a nice draw, and a senior country rider being booked is a big plus.

Dangers: Canberra five-year-old 4. Propose a Toast is the big threat, dropping back from superior form lines. Perennial frontrunner who should be suited around this tighter circuit, and the rise in weight more than off-set by the inside barrier. Underrated seven-year-old 5. Lockdown Gamble is another one who will relish a clear drop in quality fourth-up after dropping out in a Sat Highway at Kembla; while 3. Larynx can mix his runs, but is capable of working into the finish.

How to play it: Joey's Chance to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 4. ITHICUS
R4 7. SEMANA

BEST VALUE:
R7 11. JOEY'S CHANCE

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