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By Neil Evans

Track likely Good 4 and rail out 4m from 1400m to WP:

The youngsters get us underway on a drying track. Capitalist gelding 4. Berry Berry Good is fifth-up in his first and spaced prep and still to run a place, but he comes through some more than handy formlines. Was just off the placegetters in the tougher Starmarker at Muswellbrook behind a smart one who should have won again at Tamworth on Friday before a fair effort in the Silver Apple at Orange. Will appreciate more ground and getting back on firmer going.

Dangers: Pride Of Dubai gelding 3. Pride Of Penraf is the clear market threat on debut behind two progressive trials, and draws well enough. Keep safe 1. Diamond Flyer, by Press Statement, who debuts behind two improving trials; while 10. What Will Be can run into a place from the inside draw at her second start.

How to play it: Berry Berry Good to win and quinella 3 and 4
Odds and Evens: Split

Open sprint with plenty of chances. Leaning to consistent provincial four-year-old 1. Galbalan who is banging on the door fifth-up. Has hit the line hard into a place in his last two in slightly better races, and on the bigger track here can be tucked away and saved up for a decisive final 400m finish.

Dangers: Improving three-year-old 6. Avvertimento resumes behind two quiet trials for an underrated country stable, and was scratched from Kembla on Saturday to run here. Watch the betting on Zoustar three-year-old 12. Zouped Up who starts his career off two quiet trials, and stable has a good record when they're new. Albury four-year-old 2. Kharchin is a market watch resuming from a good draw for a new stable.

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

Still with the maiden sprinters in what shapes as another even and competitive contest. Liked the two closing efforts in provincial company from Hawkesbury mare 13. Pitivago who can peak third-up in a race with less depth. Has to overcome a tricky draw, but being by Helmet will relish firmer ground.

Dangers: Resuming three-year-old and ex Chris Waller-trained 1. Greaves is potentially the best horse, but draws off the track in his first run for four months. Will need to slot in under the big weight, but has trialled well and blinkers have been removed by the new South Coast stable. Provincial three-year-old 3. Globerunner who draws the fence, home track Cluster filly 14. Smokin' Cod on debut, and 15. Orreza first-up for six weeks; are all worthy exotic inclusions.

How to play it: Pitivago each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Plenty with strong claims in this as well. Talented Canberra three-year-old 4. Manderboss zoomed home from last for a dominant CL2 win two runs back, and the second horse then won easily at Canberra on Friday. Was close-up next start over the Albury carnival, and as long as he doesn't drift too far back from the inside gate, is the one to beat.

Dangers: Victorian 1. Volcanic Rock will appreciate the drop back from midweek metro class, but still needs to find a length or two under 63kg from a wide gate. Honest 6. Accrue who was disappointing first-up at Albury; and 8. Sherwood's One who shoots for three straight wins taking on better opposition; are on the next line.

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

Another big field and open battle tailor made for exotic punters. Local mare 7. Mathrin will go around at a big price, but she can improve sharply second-up from a softer draw over more ground. Was slow to begin resuming before making up late ground, and much more at home over this distance.

Dangers: Tough mare 1. Pruscino has won both second-up starts, and bolted in a CL2 on Boxing Day by more than nine lengths, but like most will need some luck from a wide barrier. Canberra filly 10. My Girona found the front and dug in hard when challenged third-up here, although an even tougher test drawn further out and carrying 2kg more. Both 3. Evanora with a 3kg claim; and 8. Aftershock resuming from the outside draw; can go in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Mathrin and Pruscino both each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Speaking of open, it doesn't get much wider than this entree to the feature sprint on Cup day. Home track five-year-old 5. Blitzar will likely drift a long way back from the wide gate, but he'll get enough speed up front to launch a big finish. Sat closer when beating a handy BM 74 field two starts back before charging home late in the feature sprint on Orange Cup day. Will relish getting back home on the bigger track, and this is the lightest weight he's carried since winning here on Australia Day.

Dangers: Any number headed by Wangaratta five-year-old 13. Northernero who continues to hit the line, and looks the best-weighted runner in the race. Will also get back from the wide draw, but with the speed on can launch a dominant final 400m sprint. Big watch on 15. Kattegat who resumes off a dominant heavy track trial win, and generally comes to hand quickly. Watch the betting on Albury six-year-old 1. Matowi resuming on the back of an impressive trial win. Both capable mare 3. Calescent who shoots for a third win from her last five; and 8. Kurocaine who has been in and around the money all prep; can be kept safe at big odds; while 12. Major Time is ultra consistent and continues to sneak down in the weights.

How to play it: Blitzar each way and trifecta 5,13,15/1,3,5,13,15/1,3,5,8,13,15
Odds and Evens: Odds

Very competitive Heat of the Stayers Series stacks up nicely for talented and lightly raced Albury four-year-old 7. Tap 'N' Run stretched out to this distance for the first time. Unsuited in the Country Ch'ship Final in heavy ground last start, but three previous runs in deeper grades were very good from off the speed, and he'll relish being back on top of the ground.

Dangers: Watch the betting on 5. Gunga Din who produced his best run for a while surging home late in the Albury Mile, and suited over more ground. Include 6. Island Bay Boy deep into the prep, 10. This Skilled Cat coming back from metro class, and 14. Dolphina who has won her last two; in wider exotics.

How to play it: Tap 'N' Run to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Keen here on progressive provincial filly 14. Patrika Mist eyeing off a second win at her fourth start. Swept home to beat a handy maiden field here five weeks back before again finishing hard in CL2 grade. Even better suited this trip and track, and boasts more scope than the rest.

Dangers: No fitter runner than local four-year-old 3. Lumber Dream who carried 59kg to win his maiden here two starts ago before chasing all the way on a leader-biased track at Albury. Been given a month between runs, but has to slot in from a wide gate. Honest three-year-old 12. Soloist is well placed fourth-up, although a little query running out a strong mile. Don't dismiss capable filly 15. Ella Amelia despite being drawn in the carpark. Has charged home to beat all bar the winner in her last two, and wants every bit of the mile journey. Lightly raced five-year-old 5. Royal Deel is the best of the rest rising in class third-up.

How to play it: Patrika Mist to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R7 7. TAP 'N' RUN
R8 14. PATRIKA MIST

BEST VALUE:
R2 1. GALBALAN

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