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By Neil Evans

Track likely improving to Good 4 and rail True:

The maiden sprinters kick off the popular country cup meeting, and we can hit the ground running aboard resuming Press Statement filly 2. Ida's Rules who draws to break though. Found one better in all three runs across her first prep against better opposition than this, and she's the clear one to beat.

Dangers: Improving filly 7. Venatic is over the odds fourth-up with a light weight, and can put plenty of value into the quinella. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Ida's Rules to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Out to the mile we go, and coming back from both a longer and tougher race, capable mare 4. Avalicious is the one to roll. Came off two handy second-placed runs to box on okay after leading in a feature BM 82 at Mornington, and she should be able to find the front easy enough here in a race lacking early speed.

Dangers: Improving six-year-old 1. Speedzone can peak third-up over a furlong further, and draws to get a nice trail around midfield with cover. Honest 8. Order Of Merit has been mixing his form all prep, but finally getting some weight relief can run home hard. Watch the betting on provincial four-year-old 6. Bandolero behind a fast-finishing CL1 country win, although was advantaged by severe track bias that day, and this is harder; while 2. Charlotting heads the rest.

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

Typically, not much separates a few of these seasoned sprinters who have been around plenty of times. Like six-year-old 6. Patrick May first-up for nine months charging home. Draws to get a soft run with a light weight after the claim, and normally comes to hand quickly.

Dangers: Consistent 7. Lady Shenanigans draws to be right in the finish, but shapes under the odds given he's not as effective on firmer ground; while 1. Morgenstern has to carry a big weight third-up, but much better placed here dropping down from BM 78 provincial grade.

How to play it: Patrick May to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Over the five furlong burn, keen on three-year-old 4. East Harlem first-up for the same country stable as the top selection in the opener. Has more than enough speed to off-set the wider draw, and won his maiden fresh back in early December.

Dangers: Speedy mare and early short-priced fancy 9. Loving Angel is an obvious threat third-up after a five length demolition of her rivals at Wellington, but back on firm ground from a wide draw against better opposition leaves her under the odds. Keep safe 1. Choice Deel who is hard fit, and was a dominant BM 58 winner at that same meeting as the former. Out of that same Wellington race when disappointing as favorite, include 3. Titan Star in exotic bets.

How to play it: East Harlem to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Rival Dubbo stables can fight this out, headed by improving one-time Victorian mare 11. Lumin, who is set to peak third-up for the new yard from the inside barrier in a race lacking quality. Was beaten under a length in a handy maiden first outing in NSW before not having much luck on a poor surface at Mudgee. Winkers off for the first time is a key gear change.

Dangers: Big watch on Rebel Raider filly 14. Raiding having her first run in NSW since transferring up from Victoria, and draws to get a nice trail. Honest mare 9. Fashionista is hard fit, and an each-way chance with blinkers back on; while 1. Battalion back from four runs at provincial level; and another ex-Victorian 5. Strategic Charge with blinkers coming off five weeks between runs; can both run into the minor money.

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

One of the tougher races on the program with plenty of chances. Like underrated mare 13. Mystic Flame at the value deep into the prep stepping up in class. Showed sharp improvement dropping down to a weaker race last start, but that can flick the switch having raced against tougher previous. Key gear change has been made, and drops 3.5kg for this with an in-form jockey booked to ride.

Dangers: Underrated mare 4. Sea Princess is well capable of winning this third-up with blinkers back on despite drawing off the track. Placed in two runs back this prep, and this looks a shade weaker. Keep safe 7. Starlink back up in class, but is hard fit; and improving 10. My Mirka third-up off an easy maiden win.

How to play it: Mystic Flame each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Now for the feature over a mile, and it shapes nicely fifth-up for six-year-old 2. Kiptanui dropping in class, and coming back in distance three weeks between runs. Found the line okay in BM 70 metro grade in Melbourne before returning to again finish off okay in deeper BM 78 metro grade in Sydney. That reads well for this, and his best former is on drier ground.

Dangers: Expecting four-year-old 7. Osman to hit back hard after dropping right out in the Gooree Cup at Mudgee when racing way too fierce in front, and was left a sitting duck a long way from home in the worst part of the track. Had previously been impressive in consecutive wins, but wouldn't be diving into too short a price jumping from an outside gate in a handy field. Watch for any money around 5. Athena's Lad who resumes off a long break without publicly trialling, but has a smart fresh record; while stablemates 4. Sea Of Flames up in weight after a fair run in the Wellington Cup; and improving mare 6. Deel Street who also comes through the Gooree Cup; can both run into the minor money.

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

Handy battle at set weights to finish, but very keen on four-year-old 3. Hello Jack who can make it two straight wins deep into the prep after a dominant front-running display in Canberra. This is a shade tougher, but he draws to control the race.

Dangers: Improving 2. Johnny Dash comes through two fair closing efforts in a similar company, and strikes peak fitness third-up; while 12. Barcoo River who hasn't missed a place in his last three.

How to play it: Hello Jack to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 4. AVALICIOUS
R8 3. HELLO JACK

BEST VALUE:
R7 2. KIPTANUI

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