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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail true

We start on a slowly improving but likely still heavy track with the stayers in a Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series, and there'll be no place for the faint-hearted in this going. From over the border, five-year-old 2. Vintage Diesel hasn't fired a shot in his last couple, but is at his best on heavy ground and well over the odds. Superior rider takes over, and he's won three from five at this track.

Dangers: At the weights and dropping back from a strong closing run into a place in tougher Highway grade, 4. Leather Jacket Lew is a clear threat, third-up from a six week spell. Keep safe Canberra six-year-old 8. Whiskey Jack who bolted in from the front here four weeks back in weaker grade; while 1. Alloway led all the way to win a BM 66 two runs back before failing to run on in much deeper Highway company six days ago, although it was near impossible to come from well back that day.

How to play it: Vintage Diesel each way and quinella 2 and 4
Odds and Evens: Evens

Starcraft four-year-old 1. Cliff House is a promising wet tracker trained here, and shapes nicely for this up in distance. Ploughed through the mud here nine days ago for a dominant win, and this isn't much harder.

Dangers: Canberra mare 8. Put To Shame is also reliable in the ground and can figure here third-up; while 5. Chaotic Beauty gets a cheap run from the inside gate. Include 4. Raffish back in class third-up; and 6. Jeddalet second-up; if you're playing wider in the exotics.

How to play it: Cliff House to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Weak yet open edition of the Bragger Cup augurs well at the value for lightly raced home track four-year-old 2. I Am Richenuff third-up behind a five week freshen up. Has attacked the line nicely in both runs since claiming his maiden in mid Sept, and gets right back into the contest at the weights after rookie rider's 4kg allowance.

Dangers: Honest six-year-old 1. My Rock Singa rarely runs a bad one, and generally saves his best for wet tracks. Included in trifectas and first fours, 7. Old Gregg peaking third-up; 8. Bubbler who has a better than 50 percent place record at the track; and 11. Irish Dancer fifth-up; who are all capable of running into the money at each way odds.

How to play it: I Am Richenuff each way
Odds and Evens: Split

The aptly named five furlong dash looks the ticket for Canberra mare 2. Delacour who drops back from doing it tough on-speed in deeper company at Canterbury. Isn't always easy to catch but she thrives over the 1000m trip, saves her best for rain-affected ground, and has won two from four here.

Dangers: Must respect consistent Albury six-year-old 3. Seventh Seal who hasn't missed a place in his last three. Comes back from 1200m, but draws to get a nice spot right behind the speed, and also thrives on wet tracks. Tough mare 1. Shores Of Avalon has plenty of class in this grade, and a fair record at the track. Will appreciate coming back from much tougher metro opposition. Lightly raced Victorian 7. Tsunami Sam heads the rest.

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

Same short course test here for the maidens. Like Wodonga-based Reward For Effort mare 4. Intense Effort who starts her career off an impressive trial win; and this has been severely weakened.

Dangers: Watch the betting on Albury five-year-old 1. Jack's All Magic who resumes without officially trialling, but in good hands and bred to handle the going.

How to play it: Intense Effort to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tough and testing maiden, but keen on resuming four-year-old 4. Lensman who hit the line regularly across his first prep, and the stable has chosen to go first-up without a public trial. Plenty of experience already on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Another one returning, local 1. Cellar Champ has also by-passed any official trials, but hit the line from well back on debut here in early winter. Watch the betting on 12. Zouzouli who was strong late here second-up over this distance, and is a stablemate to the on top selection; while 10. Overrun is an Albury-based Duporth mare on debut from a nice draw, and beat a handy trial field here in heavy going early last week.

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

Feature race of the day serves up a stack of chances headed by Albury seven-year-old 8. Swagger who can launch third-up and down significantly in weight. Chased hard in a BM 74 here last start, but gets his chance to be ridden quieter here on a track he boasts a sound record, and has never missed a place in heavy ground.

Dangers: Underrated 9. Tough James has placed in three of four runs this prep, and gets a big drop in weight stepping up from a good effort in BM 65 grade. Can't dismiss tough-as-teak old mudlark 1. A Magic Zariz who will appreciate the rise in trip third-up despite carrying a big weight; while 6. Galaxy Force is a three time winner from 11 starts on heavy tracks; and can run into the minor end of the money.

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

Talented home tracker 3. Lunar Shoes resumes for a second prep behind a nice forward trial, and rates way on top especially with the main rival coming out. Led all the way here at only previous start in heavy going.

Dangers: Gap to the rest headed by 1. Last War third-up from a low draw; while 6. Pretty Extreme is fourth-up and clear next best.

How to play it: Lunar Shoes to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R2 1. CLIFF HOUSE
R4 2. DELACOUR

BEST VALUE:
R3 2. I AM RICHENUFF

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