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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True

A very strong Cup day program opens with the juvenile sprinters at set weights. Keen on emerging gelding 4. Iron Hat who has shown plenty of progression in three runs, and is well placed from the inside draw. Rushed home to win the Starmaker at Muswellbrook three weeks ago, and only needs to get clear air from the 400m to be charging into the finish again.

Dangers: Speedy colt 5. Last Bid Liam won two straight before being run down late in the Silver Apple at Orange under a big weight. Has good tactical speed, but a query over the last 100m in a race with more depth. Got plenty of time for 6. Lord Of The Hunter who can improve sharply second-up on a much drier track; while Lonhro filly 15. Miss Teak draws well on debut; and 2. Canny Prospect improves at second start.

How to play it: Iron Hat to win and box exacta 4,5,6
Odds and Evens: Split

Same trip again for the older maidens, and it shapes nicely for local three-year-old Sebring first starter 3. Go Seeking who has won both trials in commanding fashion. Starts career in blinkers and leading metro rider makes the trip north to ride.

Dangers: Promising ex-Victorian three-year-old 4. Lightfast hasn't started for more than six months, but was strong through the line in a recent trial for the new Scone stable. Must keep safe home track filly 14. Seminara who has been given seven weeks since hitting the line impressively on debut; while her stablemate 13. Jumping Power is a big market watch first-up for eight months with significant gear changes.

How to play it: Go Seeking to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive local mare 11. Jocat is placed to win third-up over more ground, and with a nice weight advantage after the 2kg claim. Has found the line well in both runs since switching from Victoria, and this is an ideal journey. The one to beat!

Dangers: Ultra consistent stablemate 6. Hombre is a natural threat from the inside barrier. Has been right behind the winner in four straight runs, often with little luck, and is bursting to break through. Gets a cosy trail up in distance, only concern is front bar plates being added. Big watch on provincial filly 12. Assertin Lady who will appreciate drier ground after working home okay on debut. Keep safe at bigger odds 2. Hector Saga first-up off a quiet trial; while 7. South is another one who can produce a big run fresh returning as a gelding and with blinkers added.

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

The first of the main support races over a longer trip stacks up well for tough Warwick Farm five-year-old 3. Dr Evil who shoots for three wins from his last four. Hooked out wide and made up a tonne of ground to win a provincial BM 64 in heavy going, but can be ridden much closer here from a softer draw and is one of the better weighted runners on the program.

Dangers: Another 'Farm visitor 1. Picaro hasn't won for a while, but generally been knocking on the door all prep. Was close-up in a handy BM 64 at Scone before coming from well back to fill a place in the Orange Cup on poor and shifty heaving going. Drawn to get a good trail and a superior rider takes over. Keep safe 2. Onemore Sapphire fourth-up from the inside gate, and jockey change is significant; while 5. Foodie King is clear best of the rest coming off a determined win in the Prelude here 10 days ago.

How to play it: Dr Evil to win and box exacta 1,2,3
Odds and Evens: Split

Strong race for this grade. Progressive four-year-old 5. The Dramatist has taken big steps in only his second prep. Swept home for a dominant maiden win at Scone second-up before just missing charging late as a heavily backed favourite 18 days ago. Still on the rise, and just needs to find cover from an awkward gate.

Dangers: Improving colt 7. Moorabinda Mick zoomed home to break his maiden in emphatic style third-up at the provincials, and draws even better here for this tougher test; while 1. Macleay comes back in grade second-up from a softer draw with winkers back on, but up 3kg even after the claim.

How to play it: The Dramatist to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Plenty of chances in what is a strong edition of this year's race. Improving home track six-year-old 2. Auntie Monnie finds a race to suit, and can make it two wins from her last three despite carrying a career-high weight. Was dominant all the way here in a CL2 before being run down late by an in-form galloper at Scone. Doesn't have to lead over her pet trip, and will take some beating. Scratched from Newcastle on Thursday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Rival local four-year-old 5. Majestic Wings chased home the top selection first-up, and has been given six weeks since via a steady trial. Normally holds that form into the next run, although tackling a deeper race. Watch the betting on unpredictable mare 4. Unearthed who is a first-up winner, and returns off two quiet trials. Promising provincial three-year-old 8. Prefer To Be Ready hasn't missed a place yet from three starts, sailing home to win her maiden at Wyong a fortnight back. Draws to get plenty of cover in the run. Liked the way four-year-old 6. Deep Mirror stretched out to round up a BM 58 field resuming, and while this is tougher, she's a proven weight carrier. Both 7. Lady Mofeed rising in class third-up; and 10. Miss Kingston drawn inside; are knockout chances.

How to play it: Auntie Monnie to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Outstanding edition of the feature race at Quality level, with naturally a stack of chances. No better value than high class eight-year-old 4. Wren's Day second-up for the leading home stable. Was good to the line resuming off an 11 month spell in the Country C'ship Wildcard at Scone, and drops 2kg from that. Kept ticking over nicely with a quiet trial, and his form around this distance 12 months ago was very good, sweeping home to win a CL3 at Eagle Farm before beaten narrowly in both a BM 90 at the same track, and in the Tamworth Cup. Over the odds, with Willie Pike jumping on board.

Dangers: Naturally plenty of them, headed by in-form four-year-old 7. Kinloch who has charged home to win a Provincial Midway qualifier at Gosford before repeating the dose at Randwick from well off the speed on a bog track. Concedes a little advantage back on firm ground but draws well on the limit weight, and has a high class last 400m. Despite lugging 62kg, tough metro five-year-old 1. Bandersnatch can figure second-up after working home from well back in a Group 3 at Newcastle; while no doubt lightly raced stablemate to the top selection 15. Edit can strike third-up getting back on his much preferred firm ground. Included in exotics, rejuvenated 5. Bobbing dropping a hefty 5kg second-up; and 3. Ashman who draws well fourth-up.

How to play it: Wren's Day each way and first four 1,4,7/1,3,4,5,7,15/1,3,4,5,7,15/1,3,4,5,7,15
Odds and Evens: Split

We finish over the sprint trip for a very open battle. Like progressive four-year-old and dominant last start maiden winner 16. Zoom Outcome who reloads after the abandonment of Tuesday's Coffs meeting. Still on the rise with serious tactical speed, and drops in weight for this deeper grade.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by another last start winner 14. Lady Rupert who finished best from midfield at her second start, and drew inside. Local four-year-old 4. Taketheshot bolted in a CL1 after tracking the speed two months ago before outclassed in Highway grade in unsuitably heavy ground at Randwick. Drawn wide and up sharply in weight, but back in his right grade. Keep safe 6. Warrah Flash resuming from a soft gate with key gear changes.

How to play it: Zoom Outcome each way
Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R2 3. GO SEEKING
R5 5. THE DRAMATIST

BEST VALUE:
R7 4. WREN'S DAY

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Tamworth Cup meeting