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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 7 and rail True

We start the Showcase meeting with a wide open maiden at set weights, with some of the better fancies drawn wide. Home track three-year-old 9. Hombre will need to slot in from a wide barrier, but he's ready to peak third-up after flashing home last start.

Dangers: Keep safe 6. Simpkin who is trained on the track, and comes off a seven week freshen-up; while both 1. All Too Holy third-up.

How to play it: Hombre to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Emerging Dundeel filly 6. Classic Deel is the one to beat going up in distance at only her second star, and bred to get through heavy ground.

Dangers: Must respect improving four-year-old 1. Tyrol second-up staying over the distance; while lightly raced 5. Willinga Tyson is on the next line

How to play it: Classic Deel to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Real battle of tactics and tempo here over the mile. Lightly raced three-year-old 8. Ting Tong drops back from much tougher metro BM 64 grade third-up, and looks well treated at the weights carrying 1kg less. Charged home to beat a handy provincial maiden field when fresh.

Dangers: Tough and improving 2. Cantrell steps up from a dominant maiden win here two weeks ago, and draws to get a nice run right behind the speed. Capable mare 10. Haven will also find this more to her liking fifth-up after making up a little ground in a deeper Highway at Randwick.

How to play it: Ting Tong to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Progressive four-year-old 4. French Marine was flat first-up at Taree when well in the market, but can improve sharply here. Has won both starts second-up and draws to get the right trail, although won't want it too wet.

Dangers: Talented 6. Previso was huge odds when hitting the line first-up in a stronger metro race in Brisbane. Comes back to his rightful grade where he campaigned strongly last spring, and also drawn to get plenty of cover back in the field. Big watch on home track mare 5. Lashoni who flashed home in the Quirindi Lightning when ridden quieter, and winkers are back on. Honest mares 7. Very Sharp and locally-trained 12. Majestic Wings with blinkers coming off are both fourth-up and on the next line.

How to play it: French Marine to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Not much between a few of these in a competitive sprint. Resuming three-year-old 11. Arkus can come to hand quickly on his home track. Given an easy trial ahead of his third start, and rushed home late on debut in spring before being ridden closer and bolting in at his next run.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old 8. Humanitarian love to settle back and hit the line late, and will appreciate getting back out to this journey. Talented filly 12. She's Contrary will have a task getting in from the wide barrier, but she has some ability and likes soft ground.

How to play it: Arkus to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Open race. Smart five-year-old 1. Surf Sonic was good late in a stronger Highway two weeks back after finishing best to claim a CL2 at Dubbo. Has more than enough finishing ability back at this level. Has to carry 60.5kg even after the claim, but is advantaged on the heavy ground.

Dangers: Last start CL2 winner 4. Pee Dee is also up sharply in weight, but if he can get across okay, loves to roll along on speed. Keep safe 2. Sagrado after an impressive fresh win in this grade; while local 3. Danza In The Dark is much better placed here fifth-up dropping back from Highway company. Include lightly raced local five-year-old 6. Zoffany's Gaze in wider exotics.

How to play it: Surf Sonic to win and quinella 1 and 4. Odds and Evens: Split

Feature race of the day at Class 5 level, and naturally there are a stack of chances. Smart four-year-old 11. Street Power hasn't started since a dominant Highway win in mid-November, but he can fire first-up from a good trailing draw. Has a very good 300m finishing burst, and loves rain-affected ground being by Street Boss.

Dangers: In the best form of his career, five-year-old 2. Banju has been given a six week freshen-up since dominant back-to-back Highway wins, and is very well treated at the weights in a non-claiming race. Keep safe local five-year-old 7. Anethole who has been given five weeks via an easy trial since charging home late in a Highway, although the inside draw doesn't help his preferred pattern. Resuming six-year-old 10. Mr Hussill and three-year-old 15. Ezekeil shooting for three straight wins; both are knock-out chances at bigger odds.

How to play it: Street Power each way and first four 2,11/2,7,10,11,15/2,3,7,10,11,15/2,7,10,11,15. Odds and Evens: Split

Another open battle to finish, and among several runners representing good value, home track filly 14. Takanakuy heads the charge. Powered home to beat a handy CL1 field here first-up five weeks ago, and draws to take up a similar midfield position here with cover.

Dangers: Promising four-year-old 10. Talbragar resumes off a nice trial after a smart debut win last spring when he led all the way. Home track mare 4. Lady Mofeed can strike fresh, with the big weight off-set by a 3kg claim. Include in exotics local mare 11. Jillonni first-up for more than six months.

How to play it: Takanakuy each way. Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R3 8. TING TONG
R5 11. ARKUS

BEST VALUE:
R8 14. TAKANAKUY

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Tamworth