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By Neil Evans

The track is rated a Soft 7 with the rail out 4m from the 1200m to the 400m; True the remainder.

A tricky battle over the short course gets us under way. Ex-Victorian filly 10. Tectonic Shift ($4.20 on TAB) resumes off a lengthy break for a new local stable. Didn't measure up last year but won a recent trial over the border convincingly enough. Trainer has made gear changes and booked the leading country rider for a thin race.

Dangers: Local four-year-old 3. Gallant Run ($1.85 favourite) resumes without any official trials. Has placed eight times from 14 starts, most of them over the 1000m trip but draws off the track. Wangaratta mare 6. Cliffs Of Bounty ($16) can improve second-up after being run off her feet resuming behind a handy winner; while 9. Something Fancy ($5) returns off an 11-month spell.

How to play it: Tectonic Shift to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Lightly raced Wangaratta filly 5. Kokomo Bliss ($7.50) resumes in a suitable sprint for only her third start. Was hard in the market when winning at home on debut before doing it tough in a much deeper metro grade. Drawn to park off the speed and get to the outside.

Dangers: Improving filly 3. Redneck Princess ($7.50) produced a tough and brave effort to be beaten only a half length here last time behind an impressive winner after covering plenty of ground. Similar assignment here on an improving track for an under-rated Victorian country stable. Canberra three-year-old 1. Smuggler's Bay ($1.80 fav) made a mess of them on debut from the front at Wagga and the second horse has run okay since. Tougher draw here with good speed on, but can win again. Keep safe honest mare 6. Miss Elsie May ($6.50) who has only won once from 15 but placed a further nine times. Hard fit and finished well last time in a deeper maiden, just a query coming back in distance.

How to play it: Kokomo Bliss to win and box trifecta 1,3,5,6
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good testing race with plenty of chances. Progressive three-year-old 6. Sizzling Cat ($2.10 fav) has been finding the line well enough since charging home to win a CL2 three runs back. Drops significantly in grade from a fair closing effort in the Wagga Guineas and blinkers are back on. Won only previous start in soft going.

Dangers: Goulburn three-year-old 5. Electric Storm ($10) made a mockery of an even bigger starting price at second start here zooming home to bolt in his maiden. On the 10 day back-up and must be included from a useful trailing draw. Local three-year-old 8. Kentucky Dream ($4.80) finished strongly to land his maiden fourth-up at Werribee and gets weight relief for this tougher test; while keeping safe 7. Elope to Vegas ($4) who worked home late under a big weight in a handy BM 58 here.

How to play it: Sizzling Cat to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Another tricky maiden. The first-up effort of improving Canberra filly 8. Cross Creek ($3.10) for a new stable was very good, beaten under two lengths after covering plenty of ground. Likely to settle even better with blinkers coming off and superior jockey goes on.

Dangers: Capable four-year-old 1. Bonvalante ($19) is better placed second-up with a 3kg claim. Big watch on local two-year-old 13. Bianco Vilano ($2.50 fav) who fought on well after leading here on debut and has drawn the inside. Include three-year-old 10. Faithless ($15) in wider exotics.

How to play it: Cross Creek to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Competitive again, although promising three-year-old 2. Albert The Cat ($2.80) gets his chance at his fourth career start. Was terrific at Wagga charging home into a place after blowing the start, and the winner then bolted in a CL1 at Canberra on Friday. Draws to get plenty of cover back in the field and even better suited over more ground.

Dangers: Canberra three-year-old 4. Toretto ($2.30 fav) comes out of that same race as the top selection when also making up plenty of late ground. Draws to sit closer in the run this time and also bursting for more ground. Victorian three-year-old 1. Burton Street ($8.50) has more than enough ability after four runs so far, but this is the biggest weight and toughest gate he's faced yet. Local filly 11. Allez Brew ($15) is also suited by the step up in trip after working home late in a handy maiden here 10 days ago, but again will likely be forced a long way back from another very wide draw.

How to play it: Albert The Cat to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Back to the dash for the restricted sprinters. Smart home track filly 9. Spirit Of Freedom ($4.20 fav) resumes off an impressive trial win in soft ground and was a dominant debut winner here last spring. Only needs to tuck in from a wide and testing draw to be the one to beat.

Dangers: Home track mare 4. Dissedge ($6) didn't finish off in a much tougher CL3 at Wagga, but previous form was sound for a race like this and she draws to get a good trail. Watch the betting on ex-Victorian Exosphere filly 12. Ex Lady ($9) having her first run for new Albury yard. Don't under-sell Victorian nine-year-old 1. Tycoon Tony ($12) who carries 62.5kg and hasn't started for six months, but most of his best form is fresh. With similar figures, seven-year-old 2. Revolver ($4.80) is honest and comes in beaten under three lengths in a deeper BM 58 at Parkes.

How to play it: Spirit Of Freedom to win and first four 4,9/3,4,9,12/1,2,4,9,12/1,2,4,9,12
Odds and Evens: Split

Open tussle to finish but progressive filly 2. Come Get Me ($6) can make it three wins from her last four despite climbing to 61kg. Has swept home from well off the speed to win her last two at this track and draws to get a soft run back in the pack.

Dangers: Trained on the track, lightly-raced 3. Gusonic ($3.20 fav) gave nothing else a chance from the front second-up at Wodonga and will press forward again. Improving local filly 11. Snowbella ($6) led for a long way second-up before overhauled by the top selection. Keep safe Victorian 5. Tabloid Star ($9.50) who finished okay late behind Come Get Me after consecutive wins in weaker grades.

How to play it: Come Get Me to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R4 8. - CROSS CREEK ($3.10)
R5 2. - ALBERT THE CAT ($2.80)

BEST VALUE
R7 - 2. COME GET ME ($6)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here