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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

This shapes ideally for lightly raced and progressive four-year-old 2. Rebellion Style second-up ahead of just his fifth start, although has also been accepted for Coffs on Friday. Kept chasing all the way here when fresh in a deeper race, and the third horse was then a good thing beaten at Armidale on Monday. Fitter now, stays at the distance and the top jockey takes over.

Dangers: Lightly raced 5. Viganotto can bounce back from an ordinary second-up effort as a heavily backed favourite, with key gear changes in play. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Starry Jack back in class second-up; and improving 6. Magic Shot behind a fair closing debut; who can fight for the minor money.

How to play it: Rebellion Style to win and quinella 2 and 5

Underrated local five-year-old 3. Backlash is ready to break through third-up, despite drawing wide. Has hit the line okay in two runs at Armidale from both the second half of the field and when sitting loser, and the switch to a bigger and less-turning track is a big plus, with a senior jockey taking over.

Dangers: No doubting 5. Eighty Eighty Stars is a serious threat fourth-up after coming from further back to miss narrowly and finish just in front of the top selection 26 days ago. Equally better suited back here, with a very significant jockey change. Provincial mare 12. Stella Simone can peak after three handy closing runs back from a spell, and gets in light after the junior rider's claim. Include 10. Halle Bee with blinkers on for the first time; and lightly raced 13. Corpsman second-up; in trifecta and first four bets.

How to play it: Backlash to win

Plenty of chances in this sprint starting with provincial filly 14. La Pelago who resumes for only her third outing behind a smart trial win at Wyong where she ran the fastest final 600m of several 845m contests. Didn't fire in two runs back in autumn, but has been given plenty of time, and the StarTurn stock are going great guns at the moment. Has also been accepted for Coffs.

Dangers: Expecting big second-up improvement from lightly raced 13. Fuld's Doubt who travelled well when fresh at Scone before her condition gave out late. Locally-trained 2. Dressed To Kill resumes with a claim behind two progressive trials; while keeping safe another home tracker 6. Rembroy who went close at Armidale when resuming, and top jockey sticks solid. Both 3. Exsensible second-up off a seven week break; and Flying Artie colt 11. High And Marty on debut behind a solid provincial trial; can figure in the placings.

How to play it: La Pelago to win

Never much between the open class country sprinters over this trip, although it looms as bounce-back time for talented mare 5. I'm Not Slew fourth-up, and crucially a month between runs. Won two straight up to CL3 showing high class tactical speed before just peaked late under a big weight in a deeper BM 66 at Muswellbrook. Generally saves her best for fresher assignments, and gets a big drop in weight here after the claim. The one to beat.

Dangers: Must keep safe 6. Super Extreme second-up from the inside barrier after making up late ground behind form sprinter and Kosciuszko candidate Derry Grove in a Highway. Ultra honest 3. Just In Reach third-up and back in distance; and first-up specialist 10. Limited Reality resuming behind two improving trials; both go in all exotic plays.

How to play it: I'm Not Slew to win

Good depth in this for the grade. Hard to knock progressive mare 7. Imperioness staying at the distance third-up from the inside draw. Missed out narrowly in a blanket finish in a deeper BM 58 at Muswellbrook before tracking the speed and going home best with plenty in hand here 18 days ago. Up in weight but afforded a gun run right behind the speed, and only needs clear air from the 350m.

Dangers: Improving 5. Avalicious went down by a neck second-up at Dubbo after doing all the work in front, but still shapes under the odds here in a handy field from a wide draw. A shade over the odds from a soft draw is ex-Victorian five-year-old 6. Man Of Heart who resumes off a 32 week break for the new local stable. Progressive mare 2. Lady Percival's second-up with a stronger and senior jockey taking over; and 4. Uncaged also second-up and drawn out; can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Imperioness to win

Tough and still improving four-year-old 6. Piccapeppa is well placed to claim a second career win deep into the prep. Was dominant leading all the way to claim his maiden at Quirindi before wilting late when stepping up to the mile three weeks between runs. Then ridden a little quieter and hit the line well in a deeper affair at Dubbo a fortnight ago, and from a softer draw in a weaker race here, he can strike.

Dangers: Lightly raced 8. Supertrail was too quick for his maiden opposition first-up as a short-priced favourite. This is no harder, but a tougher task here drawn wide around a smaller track. Keep safe 12. Night Patra who has been in and around the money all prep, and gets weight relief; while at bigger odds, 4. Joshua who rolls forward; and underrated mare 10. Love Rules are both worthy trifecta and first four players.

How to play it: Piccapeppa to win

Progressive and talented mare 3. Sumptuary can make it two straight wins this prep, and take her winning strike rate to 50 percent from six starts. Tracked the speed and got the job done resuming as an easing short-priced favourite, and the stablemate coming out is a further pointer.

Dangers: Watch the betting at good odds on resuming 2. Dirty Merchant behind two progressive trials. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Pyramid Of Fire who has speed and won two of his last three, but taking on some better ones here.

How to play it: Sumptuary to win

The most open race of the day is saved for last, with a stack of chances. Progressive local 4. Cyclone Rupert has to overcome a tricky draw, but is nice and fit well into the prep, and possesses a superior final 400m sectional. Came off a short break to lead all the way and win his maiden here, before twice being beaten under a length when ridden in front and from much further back. Suspect they'll ride him quiet again from this barrier, and with the leading rider back aboard, he can run over them late.

Dangers: Lightly raced 3. Star On Fire improves sharply second-up on a smaller circuit after fading late in better company at Dubbo. Speedy and progressive filly 6. Gold Lover is capable of making it two wins from three this prep, but has to get across from the outside barrier; while similarly on-speed filly 11. Not Written Off also has to off-set a tough gate at only her fourth start. Include home tracker 2. Island Legend third-up with gear changes; and another local 12. Cool Ruler; in wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Cyclone Rupert to win

BEST BETS:
R5 7. IMPERIONESS
R6 6. PICCAPEPPA

BEST VALUE:
R4 5. I'M NOT SLEW

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