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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail True

We kick off Showcase Gold Cup day on a surface that will likely improve to a Good 4. Some lightly raced and promising ones on show here headed by home track four-year-old 4. Not In Doubt who shoots for back to back wins since a month-long break. Hit the line powerfully to win a Class 2 here 18 days ago, and with good speed in the race, she can settle back before letting down over the final 400m.

Dangers: Naturally, progressive 1. Hellcibell will be hard to stop, despite rising sharply to 62kg, and five weeks between runs. Finished best to claim a similar class race last time, and kept ticking over with a rock solid 1000m trial. Not far behind is the filly 3. Figment who is unbeaten from two starts this prep, but has a tougher draw here, and takes on some smarter ones. Clear gap to the rest headed by 5. Rubi Air who jumps in grade third-up, but suited back in distance with handy weight relief.

How to play it: Not In Doubt to win

Resuming off a lengthy break over the short course, and crucially with blinkers being added is the right recipe for lightly raced stallion 2. Dreambender to strike fresh. Has been close-up in two of only three career runs against provincial opposition, always on the fresher side, and he was strong through the line in a Scone trial nine days ago.

Dangers: Nicely bred three-year-old 5. Rock 'N' Reign is a big market watch on debut as a gelding behind some spaced and solid trials. Respect too for consistent mare 7. Isadami who has only been run down late in two runs so far this prep, and draws inside coming back crucially a furlong in trip. Both 1. Alertado staying at the distance second-up; and honest 3. Great Southernland resuming behind a steady trial; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Dreambender to win

The youngsters go over the same sprint trip here. Locally-trained 3. Zampano, a gelded son of 2018 Golden Gift winner Tassort, is the one to beat after bolting in a soft track trial earlier this month by nearly nine lengths. Drawn the outside barrier, but important gear additions have been made since that trial, and likely to jump favourite, especially with one of the main rivals coming out.

Dangers: Expecting sharp improvement at second start from provincial filly 5. Incantress coming back to country level, and drawn to get a soft run. Watch the market too on 11. Smashing Rosie who debuts off two solid provincial trials; while not dismissing debutant Star Turn colt 1. Signatories despite the big price. Starts in blinkers behind a fair trial.

How to play it: Zampano to win

Plenty of chances here, but there's terrific value around locally trained and lightly raced three-year-old 5. Cossack Warrior getting back on firmer footing. Only held his ground debuting on a heavy rating, but has trialled since, and gets a superior jockey taking over from a softer draw.

Dangers: Improving mare 11. Sunset Panorama finished off okay in a deeper provincial maiden second-up, but still looks under the odds in early markets considering he's placed only twice from 11 starts. Watch the money closely aboard US-bred first-starter 4. Bolt Away Now who is trained on the track, and trialled okay in open company. Starts as a gelding with key gear additions. Despite still hunting a breakthrough win at his 36th start, 2. Prince Carlos is in the mix after being collared in the last stride at Armidale when resuming off a four week break; while including home track mare 10. Never Or Now resuming off a long break in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Cossack Warrior each way

Progressive Armidale visitor 1. Extreme Merger can strike here third-up at good odds. Has hit the line impressively from midfield in two runs back against slightly thinner CL1 opposition, the latest when backed from $3.00 into $2.60, and the extra furlong is right up his alley. Hits peak fitness now, and the jockey sticks like glue.

Dangers: Naturally, home tracker and early favourite 2. Arctic Legend will be hard to hold out if he gets any decent cover in the first half of the race. Mixed his form in tougher fields up to the mile last prep before resuming with a dominant maiden win at this track 18 days ago. Talented filly 10. Lonhro's Queen reloads 16 days after claiming her maiden as a short-priced favourite at Mudgee. Has trialled well since, but wouldn't want to drift too far back along the inside in what is a competitive field. Keep safe sparingly raced 5. Major Makeover third-up; while Star Turn filly 9. Autofocus comes off a strong second start maiden win at Moree.

How to play it: Extreme Merger to win

Moderate depth in this year's field can play right into the strike zone for big-finishing local 4. Zoffany's Gaze who is supremely placed fourth-up behind a five week turnaround. Finished hard right behind the placegetters in a BM 58 before twice hitting the line to beat all bar the winner, including the Mornington Prelude here 18 days ago. Draws to do no work back on the inside under the limit weight, and just needs to get clear of traffic and out rolling past the 500m before steaming over the top. Has only missed a place twice from 10 starts here, with a 30 percent winning strike rate.

Dangers: Tough as teak 2. Gulf Of Tomini has been in and around the money all prep, and comes off a dominant Midway BM 64 win at Gosford on heavy ground. Just as effective in firmer going, and also well treated only 1kg over the rest of the field parked on the limit. Progressive 3. Aimpoint is also building a nice record, and led for a long way in provincial BM 64 company last start, but does have to get across from the outside gate. Doubt the winner comes outside those three, but included in all exotics underrated mare 5. Fine Example fourth-up; and 8. Norman who rises in class, but drops in weight sharply after having a torrid run at Armidale 11 days ago.

How to play it: Zoffany's Gaze to win

**BIG DANCE ELIGIBILE RACE**

Now for the feature Cup, and a shot at the Big Dance in the Sydney spring. On the minimum weight, ultra talented four-year-old 8. Gringotts can claim a sixth career win at just his 12th outing for the Ciaron Maher stable. Virtually demands favouritism after powering home late to win a BM 88 at Rosehill four weeks back when first-up since mid November, and traditionally holds form into the next run. The one to beat.

Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced 2. Coin Toss who took advantage of a clear on speed bias at Canberra to claim the Listed National Sprint over this distance two starts back before finding the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude too rich. Much better placed here back 100m in trip, and on a smaller and more suitable course. Talented 3. Kinloch is bursting to win for a seventh time at his 33rd start, and fourth-up this prep. Made up terrific ground in that same Canberra race as the former before again rattling home late in the Muswellbrook Cup run at Newcastle. Will likely be forced back from the wide draw again, and more depth here. Smart mare 5. Overriding is also well in the mix after bolting in the Muswellbrook Cup, and again draws to roll forward and park right behind the speed. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Gringotts to win

We finish over the short course, and in one of the tougher races on the program, it shapes nicely for lightly raced three-year-old 8. Harbour Gold resuming for a second prep. Led all the way to win easily on debut last spring before close-up in consecutive Class 1s. Given an easy time in a recent trial, the jockey has options late in the day from a middle barrier, and he can return with a bang racing on or just behind the speed.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with smart local filly 11. She's Exotic who returns for only her second start after a dominant debut win from well off speed last December. Keep safe 2. Sacca who resumed with an impressive Toowoomba win at BM 60 level, and draws to get a soft run midfield. Both 3. Sacred Delago who won here first-up at double figure odds; and 10. Lavish Lady who was close-up in that same race when resuming; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Harbour Gold to win

BEST BETS:
R2 2. DREAMBENDER
R8 8. HARBOUR GOLD

BEST VALUE:
R6 4. ZOFFANY'S GAZE

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