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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 4m:

We start the transferred Coffs Harbour meeting over the middle distance on a surface that should remain just into a soft range. Talented and well bred provincial filly 5. Akauwheo can hit back hard here second-up. Was soft in betting when a little weak late resuming, but she's better suited on a bigger track from the inside draw and won comfortably at this stage in her ony previous prep. Superior jockey takes over.

Dangers: Down from Qld at his third start, improving 3. Tavijewel looms as the immediate threat; while an impressive debut winner and stablemate to the top selection 4. Snapoutofit is clearly the next best. Huge gap to the rest in a small field.

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

Another race where a small band of runners threaten to put a big gap in the market. One of them, tough provincial three-year-old 1. Vardon is the one to beat deep into the prep, and back in class. Was very good hitting the line late in a Midway maiden at Newcastle before failing to run home in even deeper company at Kembla when solid in the market. Less pressure here, and he can settle closer to the speed and prove too strong over the final 400m. was scratched from the opening race to run in this.

Dangers: Big watch on 3. I Say Boom who dropped out last start at Ipswich when soft in betting, but previous form on both sides of the border was solid for a race like this. At bigger odds, keep safe 8. Enterprise Fuse who gets blinkers on third-up.

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

Good depth in this distance battle headed by tough four-year-old 2. Introvert who has a slight edge in quality and fitness over the trip. Won two straight at CL1 level in dominant enough fashion from on speed before dropping out under a big weight last start when unwanted in betting. Gets a significant 5.5kg weight drop here, and again will look to roll forward from the jump.

Dangers: Still progressing four-year-old 3. Strobing steps up in grade, but primed for this test over further. Led all the way in much weaker class two starts before again led for a long way in a BM 58 11 days ago. Honest 1. Honour Me is hard fit, and has been fair in handy BM 66 staying events the last two outings. Draws to get a nice trail just off the speed.

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

Tricky race this one. Settled on improving 3. Fire Up Bruce at the value third-up. Has hit the line okay in two runs back at this level, and can peak here over 100m further.

Dangers: Gold Coast-based 1. No Love Lost draws to get a soft trail, but up in weight and would still need to find a length off two average CL1 runs over the border. Include improving 5. Eastowin fourth-up; and 7. Spring Wellness off a fast-finishing maiden win third-up when heavily backed; in exotic plays, with a gap to the rest.

How to play it: Fire Up Bruce to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

A few chances here, but with well-touted Vancouver three-year-old 2. Goomeri who debuts as a gelding for a strong stable six weeks after his only trial.

Dangers: Lightly raced filly 9. Regina's Girl was game in defeat on debut in a handy maiden at Coffs, despite being unwanted in betting. Keep safe too stablemate 1. Cardsharp who roared home to be narrowly beaten on debut despite also being friendless in the market; while 3. La Cache A Vin heads the rest second-up again with a 3kg claim.

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

Very keen here on progressive three-year-old provincial filly 5. Better Judgement who can hit the ground running first-up behind two quiet trials. Has shown more than enough in her career so far, and draws to get a handy trail with the leading country jockey sticking like glue.

Dangers: From the same stable as the previous on top selection, promising 2. Where's The Fire reloads second-up off a smart maiden win 19 days ago. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Mother Joy who comes off a barrier-to-box CL1 win when resuming; while 3. October Revolution won two straight in weaker company before a fair closing run in BM 58 grade, although doubtful if he backs up in three days.

How to play it: Better Judgement to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Sticking with the Kris Lee stable aboard talented filly 5. Boomsita who starts a new prep behind a tidy provincial trial win. Was twice just behind the placegetters in much tougher metro company over the border earlier this year, and as long as she can find some cover from the wide draw, is the one to beat.

Dangers:Keep safe at good odds 4. Twin Seas who has tactical speed and has been placed in three of his last four. Resuming filly 7. Chilling Me Softly from a nice trailing draw can run into the minor money; while 1. Crown Reach also first-up heads the rest.

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

We close the meeting where we started over the same middle distance, and it stacks up nicely for improving three-year-old 2. Narnia second-up. Liked the way he attacked the line from well back in a handy CL1 when resuming, and has a key gear change for this next assignment.

Dangers: Must keep safe 3. Kermantic third-up after finding the line okay in tougher company a month back; while stablemate 5. Daedalus is an each way chance fifth-up from the inside draw. At longer odds, include 1. Moyassar also back in grade; and 8. Princess Zeddy fourth-up off a tough CL1 win; in trifecta and first fours.

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

BEST BETS:
R6 5. BETTER JUDGEMENT
R7 5. BOOMSITA

BEST VALUE:
R4 3. FIRE UP BRUCE

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Port Macquarie meeting