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By Neil Evans

Wagga's Riverside Track is rated a Good 4 with the rail in the True position. The weather is partly cloudy and the medium chance of a shower with a maximum of 26c.

Competitive opener for this grade to start the meeting on the Riverside track. Sticking with Albury three-year-old 8. Flying Sultan ($3.90 favourite on TAB) despite a disappointing first-up run here. The rise in distance is a plus and similarly to last prep won his maiden comfortably at second start after an ordinary debut run.

Dangers: Home track eight-year-old 3. Landmine ($6.50) swept home from well back to win a similar graded race here to break a long run of outs, although has to carry 3.5kg more. Local five-year-old 2. Gironde ($7.50) has been up for a while and overdue for a win, but he's hard fit and looks well placed from a soft trailing draw. Capable four-year-old 1. Albert The Cat ($7) has been finding the line late in stronger company, but he's back up sharply to 61.5kg and a query coming back in distance 17 days between runs. Watch the betting on provincial-based 4. Alqaab ($7) resuming behind a steady trial, while 6. Zarsnip ($12) can run into a place fourth-up at bigger odds.

How to play it: Flying Sultan to win and first four 1,2,3,8/1,2,3,4,6,8/1,2,3,4,6,8/1,2,3,4,6,8
Odds and Evens: Split

Canberra mare 1. Evanora ($3.20 fav) draws well and is suited coming back a little in trip fourth-up. Ran on fairly in both stronger Highway and Class 4 company after an impressive fresh win at home and she looks fairly treated only 3kg above the limit weight.

Dangers: Kembla mare 5. Yugosphere ($10) is a serious threat fourth-up with blinkers added coming back from a deeper provincial race. Rival four-year-old 2. Smuggler's Run ($3.80) has built a handy 33% winning strike rate from just nine starts and did his best work late here in a similar race second-up. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Evanora to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Forgiving of home track mare 5. Fifty Carats ($6.50) who found it tough back through traffic in a much stronger Country Championships heat when stepping up sharply in distance. Previously had run on okay in a Highway before ridden quieter and rattling home here in a similar race. Back to the short course and will be the one charging home.

Dangers: Talented three-year-old 1. Hardware Lane ($1.45 fav) has had to bide his time returning because of abandoned meetings but finds a nice first-up assignment. Hasn't finished further back than second in three fresh runs. Victorian 2. O'Reg ($7) lines up for his first start at this track after hitting the line hard at big odds. Include 4. Stone Cold ($18), 6. Halliday Road ($15) and 8. Openhimup ($11) in exotic plays.

How to play it: Fifty Carats each-way and quinella 1 and 5
Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen on Canberra three-year-old 6. Deepmind ($2.60 fav) who can salute at only his second start. Was a rock solid favourite when working home okay here 17 days ago and less depth in this.

Dangers: South Coast three-year-old 11. Rhythmboat ($3.50) will also appreciate a drop in depth and quality fourth-up. Rich Enuff three-year-old 9. I Am Richenuff ($9.50) debuts off a handy trial. Watch the market on lone two-year-old 12. Vain Invader ($12) debuting behind two quiet trials for a leading provincial stable, while the betting will also be an indicator with 5. Boxing Day ($16) who hasn't done much in two runs either side of a spell but this is weak.

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

Plenty of chances in this one. Progressive provincial three-year-old 1. Densaur ($3.80) is bursting to strike fifth-up. Has been in the placings in three of those four runs including at Nowra 23 days ago when he led for a long way. Better when ridden a little quieter and any rain won't hurt.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by local 2. Lumber Dream ($3 fav) who has ability and hit the line hard here third-up after working from the gate. Keep safe 3. Hombre Grande ($8.50) who has been freshened since being run down late at the Sapphire Coast, and the winner then scored again at Queanbeyan on Sunday. Expect 9. Jauhera ($10) to be running home late down in weight from the inside draw, while metro four-year-old 5. All About Ollie ($8) is best of the rest.

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

Hard not to like progressive Canberra filly 7. In De Summertime ($2.30 fav) in a heat of the Wagga Stayers Series, despite drawing off the track. Has won two straight, both times powering down the middle from well back and will relish this journey and the long run home. Any rain is a further plus.

Dangers: Honest five-year-old 2. Foxtrot Bravo ($4) drops in grade deep into his prep and is part of a powerful team from the Theresa Bateup stable. Victorian four-year-old 1. Exhibition ($21) comes back over the border via a trial five weeks after dropping right out fresh, but has to contend with 62.5kg. Include in wider exotics 8. Nicholas ($19) with blinkers back on, and Victorian 9. Munsa Magic ($7) who draws inside.

How to play it: In De Summertime to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The maiden girls wrap up the program and this looks ideal for lightly raced Canberra filly 8. Ella Amelia ($6.50) who got a long way back here resuming off a seven-month break before making up some late ground. Much fitter now over a more suitable trip and leading country jockey takes over. Was preferred here to Queanbeyan on Sunday.

Dangers: Keep a big watch on four-year-old Deep Field mare 3. Luckyimwithaimee ($8.50) who starts her career in blinkers behind two improving trials for the Theresa Bateup stable. Wodonga mare 5. Sunday Habit ($8.50) second-up off a long break, 7. Wilful Spirit ($4 fav) also second-up, and 12. Superdini ($6) at her third start, are all each-way hopes at bigger odds.

How to play it: Ella Amelia to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R2 - 1. EVANORA ($3.20 fav)
R6 - 7. IN DE SUMMERTIME ($2.30 fav)

BEST VALUE
R3 - 5. FIFTY CARATS ($6.50)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga (Riverside) here