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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail True:

A middle distance maiden at set weights gets us rolling on a track that will likely slip back just into soft range, with some rain forecast. Only bad luck can seemingly halt emerging filly 10. Mischievous Molly from breaking through third-up in a field where most are battling. Has twice been beaten narrowly from wider gates this prep, and is yet to miss a place in four career runs.

Dangers: Another three-year-old facing the starter for only the fifth time, 7. Mr Media was placed in consecutive runs on the North Coast before outclassed a mile against much tougher metro opposition over the border. Draws to get a soft run back in this company, and can pump value into the quinella. Include 2. Crux Rebellion third-up; improving 3. Cuisenaire deep into his prep with a 3kg claim; and 9. Bonnie Vale over more ground; in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Mischievous Molly to win and quinella 7 and 10
Odds and Evens: Split

Out over a longer trip here suits provincial-based four-year-old 2. Better Not Bitter big time, and he threatens to corner the market from a soft draw. Swept home from well back for a dominant maiden win here two starts back before again finishing well in a deeper race at Taree. Draws to get plenty of cover, and the more rain arrives, the better bet he becomes.

Dangers: Progressive home tracker 3. Charmed Destiny comes back in distance 16 days between runs, but with some weight relief and a reasonable speed up front, he'll be hitting the line hard. Has placed in seven of 12 career runs. Keep watch too on 7. Your Temptation who should get an economical run from the draw fourth-up. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Better Not Bitter to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Hard not to ride home here with another Kris Lees-trained early favourite in ex-Kiwi filly 4. Diva Carolina who looks primed ahead of her first run in NSW since a one-off failure on debut in NZ last spring. Treated her rivals with contempt in the second of two trials, winning by nearly five lengths over 1000m, and she must be the one to beat.

Dangers: Expect support for provincial-based 6. Rockinfeller who improved sharply fourth-up in a handy Midway Maiden. Keep safe ex-Victorian three-year-old 7. Raised By Wolves who comes off a six week break for his first run in the region for the new Coffs stable. Be surprised if anything else even goes close.

How to play it: Diva Carolina to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Like the value here about underrated and progressive filly 6. Madam Rock who peaks fourth-up over a bit further. Has powered home late here to beat all the winners in her last two, and she rates over the odds, especially if the surface drops comfortably back into soft range.

Dangers: Expect sharp improvement second-up from lightly raced 2. Firemark back in an easier race. The market will tell a big story on another newcomer from Victoria, Lonhro filly 4. Equivocal who reloads off a 46-day break with blinkers on for her first outing for the Nathan Doyle stable at Newcastle. Kept very quiet in a recent provincial trial. Another provincial visitor 1. Silent Russian can figure at only his second start, but under the odds from a tricky draw; while 12. The Percentage is clear best of the rest fourth-up, and dropping back down to the limit weight.

How to play it: Madam Rock each way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Very tricky race over the sprint trip. Resuming provincial mare 7. A Tender Lady has enough tactical speed to shake the life out of this at big odds. Wasn't far away in a couple of deeper maidens last prep, and tuned up for this with a trial win in soft ground.

Dangers: Another one returning off a dominant provincial trial win, talented and lightly raced filly 15. Sylvia Belle rates a big chance from the draw if she gets a run, with form apprentice taking 2kg off. Big watch on gelded Charge Forward three-year-old 2. Our Pappy making his debut off a strong trial at his home track, but looks under the odds. Yet another ex-Victorian crossing the border in 5. Rommel's Wolf steps out for his first run since last spring for a new Coffs yard, and with blinkers going on. Provincial filly 9. Emphatic Bel with winkers replacing blinkers; and 11. Grand Horizon first-up for nine months; can both add big value to exotic returns.

How to play it: A Tender Lady each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

It doesn't get much easier here over 100m further, although a trio of runners are likely to put a market gap on the rest. As long as the inside ground holds up, improving four-year-old 1. Shikanic can land the prize second-up. Charged late to miss by a whisker when resuming, and again draws to get a soft run right behind the speed, with a stronger jockey taking over.

Dangers: Progressive 3. Outreach To Henry has been game from both on speed and well back in two Highway runs to start this prep. Will appreciate the sharp drop in grade, but now asked to carry a career high 61kg. Right on their hammer is improving three-year-old 4. October Revolution who steps up from consecutive wins in weaker class; while 7. Star Of Shalaa second-up with blinkers back on; is clear next best.

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

Another open affair over a middle distance, if as expected, the early favourite comes out after running at Tamworth on Monday. That augurs well for home track four-year-old 1. Gulf Of Tomini who can pounce third-up. Has worked home well in two slightly deeper races so far this prep, and while he will likely go right back from a wide draw, has the superior closing 400m burst.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by honest 10. Rise'n'shine who was placed in three of his last four in Qld, and now reloads for the new Gosford stable 23 days between runs. At likely bigger odds, keep safe local mare 11. Wannawinwin who has found the line okay from well back in three runs this prep, and looking for a longer trip. Both 2. Surf Sonic back down in grade; and 8. Sandpiper second-up from a soft draw; must go in exotic plays.

How to play it: Gulf Of Tomini to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Chances galore in this one, but no bigger value than provincial four-year-old 3. Foolish who can turn things around at huge odds with blinkers on for the first time. Has mixed his form through four runs this prep, but this is the thinnest grade he's tackled, and draws to get a handy trail just off the speed.

Dangers: With a tidy fresh record, provincial four-year-old 2. Oakfield Mahogany is an immediate threat from an ideal on-speed draw. Won the second of two provincial trials over 1000m, and blinkers have been added. Topweight 1. No Quarantine can run a race second-up getting up to his best distance. Must keep safe 4. Devil's Inn from a handy trailing draw, and stepping up from a dominant CL1 win at Dubbo; while 6. Hard To Dismiss is hard fit; and can figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Foolish each way
Odds and Evens: Split

We close the meeting with the restricted sprinters. Underrated provincial four-year-old 5. Trumpster can finally win a second race fourth-up with blinkers going on. Comes back from provincial level, and this is now a weakened affair.

Dangers: Honest and improving four-year-old 4. Telegraph hits peak fitness fifth-up; while expecting improvement second-up from 3. Cavente who comes through the same race as the former.

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

BEST BETS:
R2 2. BETTER NOT BITTER
R6 1. SHIKANIC

BEST VALUE:
R7 1. GULF OF TOMINI

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