Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail true

Home tracker 3. On The Charge resumes off a near six month break for only his second start behind a tidy trial. Has been working well, and is the clear one to beat.

Dangers: 5. Saratoga Power was well beaten on debut at Scone, but fitter now and the winner from that race has since bolted in again and is very smart. Improving 9. Bonny Dubai draws wide, but is on the next line coming through that same formline as the former. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: On The Charge to win and quinella 3 and 5

Progressive 2. Are You Joking has plenty of ability, and can make it two wins from his last three, returning to the track where he swept home to convincingly beat a handy BM 58 field two starts ago. Worked home okay through inferior ground without much luck in a race with more depth 17 days ago, and better served here where he can get to the outside from the top of the straight, and produce a superior final 300m.

Dangers: Keep safe 4. Borrowed Luck who is well into the campaign and has been in and around the money for a long time against similar opposition. Both 7. Magic Pharoah coming through the same formline as the top selection fourth-up; and at much bigger odds 3. Strelitzia; go through all exotic plays.

How to play it: Are You Joking to win

An inside draw, and a slowly drying out track combine to make progressive filly 12. Image Of The Sun the benchmark here second-up. Hit the line in a handy BM 58 when resuming, and bolted in at the same in his initial prep coming from well off the speed to win as a red-hot favourite at Muswellbrook. Can be saved up from this draw, and just needs a clear crack at them from the turn.

Dangers: 9. Rockbarton Icon is capable of reeling off a powerful closing burst, and if he finds any sort of cover from the tricky gate, will be in the finish. Flew home to land his maiden here two starts ago. 13. She's Got Teeth steps up from a third-up maiden win in heavy ground as a heavily backed favourite; while another impressive last start maiden winner 4. Need A Miracle is capable of running into the money despite drawing off the track. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Lord Finland.

How to play it: Image Of The Sun to win

Improving provincial filly 13. Rockbarton Angel finds a winnable race at her third start. Did her best work late into a place last start when reloading off a five week break, and fitter now over 100m further and with a bit more speed on up front, she can cut loose over the final 300m.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced local 6. Reflecting Fame who resumes off two quiet trials, with blinkers going on. So too 5. Rathoran at good odds fourth-up behind a late closing effort in that same maiden as the top selection; while 8. Ain't She Swell gets blinkers added, but was very poor as a short-priced favourite in heavy ground at the provincials last start.

How to play it: Rockbarton Angel to win

Resuming filly 5. Enterprise Dancer resumes in a weak maiden off two improving trials, and drawn to get a lovely economical run just behind the speed.

Dangers: Well over the odds is ultra consistent 9. He Is The Kiss who hasn't missed a place in his last five, three of those by well under a length. 1. Gigaton can run into the finish fourth-up; while 10. Read 'Em And Weep heads the rest having been in or around the money all prep.

How to play it: Enterprise Dancer to win

Talented 4. The Dramatist is drawn to get the right run returning to firmer ground, and dropping back from a much tougher metro race where he never got warm. That came off a four week break, and an outstanding win over the Scone carnival charging home to bolt in the Country Cup. Naturally up in weight, but there's enough p[ressure and speed up front to off-set the drop back in distance, and with a clear run, nothing will be finishing harder.

Dangers: Big watch on progressive home tracker 3. Broken Hill who drew the inside second-up. Watch the betting too on 10. Leave Me Some who is hard fit looking for the extra trip, and comes off two fast finishing efforts up to BM 88 feature level. Watch for 16. Cosenza, hitting the line second-up despite drawing wide; while 7. Geo off a six week freshen-up and can add plenty of value into exotic returns.

How to play it: The Dramatist to win

Underrated five-year-old 14. Foolish can upset this field at big odds third-up. Hasn't won for a long time, but has returned a much stronger finisher this prep, twice attacking the line late from well off the speed up to BM 64 provincial level. Naturally gets in with a light weight here, and over a bit further he can settle back and be given his head from the top of the straight.

Dangers: Capable home tracker 4. Satay Chicken reloads off a 10 week break via a handy trial. 5. Fiorsum Fred dug in hard to hold off all the challengers in a CL1 last start, but far more depth and quality in this; while lightly raced mare 12. Christa is a big market watch resuming behind two trials. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Foolish each way

Locally trained 2. Outta De Lady can resume with a bang, despite not publicly trialling. Was always in and around the money in stronger sprints last prep, and this shapes as the ideal return race.

Dangers: 4. In Spades resumes with a 3kg claim off-setting the big weight; and 1. Hiraishin is fourth-up and clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Outta De Lady to win

BEST BETS:
R2 2. ARE YOU JOKING
R8 2. OUTTA DE LADY

BEST VALUE:
R6 4. THE DRAMATIST

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