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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True:

We start with the maidens over the mile, and on the score of consistency and progression, four-year-old mare 5. Cherokee Cherry looms as the one to beat in a weak race. Worked home well when ridden quieter fourth-up, and looks well weighted carrying 1.5kg less here, with key gear adjustments.

Dangers: Home tracker 6. Curracabundi is still improving, and draws better here third-up; while 8. Gracious Gracie is on the quick back-up after not getting much room or luck finishing off here second-up; and 9. Crash'n'bash draws inside fifth-up with blinkers added.

How to play it: Cherokee Cherry to win and box trifecta 5,6,8,9
Odds and Evens: Split

This looks ripe for capable metro five-year-old 3. Buff In Disguise deep into the prep from a soft draw. Surged home from well back to win a country BM 58 10 days ago, and this is no harder.

Dangers: Consistent four-year-old 1. Gulf Of Tomini is the logical threat, hard fit and drawn the fence. Powered home to comfortably beat a similar graded field last time, just not convinced where he gets back in the field in a race with little speed on. Include 2. Hombre Grande who drops in grade; and 6. Port Jeddah who beat a similar field fourth-up two weeks back; in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Buff In Disguise to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Leaning here to provincial-based and well travelled mare 6. Vanilli, who resumes off a nice open class 1000m trial win. Draws to get an economical run just behind the speed in what is now a weakened race.

Dangers: Ex-Victorian mare 1. Elarski resumes for the leading provincial stable behind two trials, with key gear additions, and top country jockey board.

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

Very tricky sprint, with several chances. Expecting metro three-year-old 3. Radiant Knight to improve enough at his second start over a furlong further and break through. Was spotted in betting when finishing well back in a much smarter provincial maiden than this, with the winner going places and the second horse has since won.

Dangers: Keep safe improving 2. Osterberg fourth-up for a strong stable; while 5. Razzama second-up; and 9. The Hulkbuster third-up; can both run into the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Radiant Knight to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Now for the girls' edition, with less depth on offer. That augurs well for progressive provincial three-year-old 2. Lady Chartwell who peaks third-up over a bit more ground. Tracked the speed before being beaten narrowly last time, and again draws to get good cover in behind in what is a weaker maiden.

Dangers: Metro three-year-old 1. Covalent is the natural threat drawn inside with blinkers applied, and coming back from deeper provincial company. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Bush who gets winkers on, and will find this easier third-up; while honest four-year-old 10. Keys To Love fifth-up goes in exotic bets.

How to play it: Lady Chartwell to win and quinella 1 and 2
Odds and Evens: Split

Like the placement here fourth-up for improving five-year-old 3. Justadude who draws to win. Has been close-up in all three runs this prep from just off the speed in handy CL1 company, and gets his chance to win again here.

Dangers: Must respect 2. Wonder Brahma who has won two of his last three, although weighted to his best now. Keep safe 9. Ghost Hunter returning to a more suitable distance fifth-up; while tough 1. Four Egos is best of the rest.

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

We close the card with a competitive sprint, and keen on four-year-old 1. Buck Pharoah back to this shorter trip fourth-up. Will find this a bit easier than his last two, and a superior and stronger rider goes on from a better draw.

Dangers: Big watch on 4. Auzstar who has been given seven weeks since a dominant off-speed win in CL1 company. Kept ticking over at the trials and drawn to get a soft run. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Tobasco third-up.

How to play it: Buck Pharoah to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:

R2 3. BUFF IN DISGUISE
R7 1. BUCK PHAROAH

BEST VALUE:

R6 3. JUSTADUDE

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Taree meeting