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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Friday’s Orange Cup meeting. Selections based on a soft to heavy track.

3. Wallenda seems to have improved in his second preparation looking at the latest trials, compared to those in November, including a nice one over a subsequent city winner at Warwick Farm. He shown speed in his trials so expect he’ll be prominent here and looks hard to beat.

Dangers: 1. Flying Trapeze showed some promise in the spring and his Golden Gift run was a tidy effort. Won both trials leading into this in good style and he now has to produce it on race day, in this class he’ll have his chance. 5. Champers Girl is another trialling very well and she has the advantage of gate one. Niggled along to win the latest trial, that may not be a concern, and she commands respect. 7. Greatestofease has disappointed in two runs back so will need to improve but gets the chance to back to country grade.

How to play it: Wallenda WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Wallenda wins a Warwick Farm trial on March 31

2. Tamaroa has to be a huge market watch on debut on the back of one very quiet trial a couple of weeks ago. Wasn’t let go at any stage after breaking okay and racing midfield. If gate one is no disadvantage he can be in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Ferrari Girl trialled quite well before her debut at Hawkesbury where she raced handy then gave ground. Fitter for that and could be an improver. 5. Zhi was about the same all the way on debut at Wellington when fourth but she’ll be better for that and Wellington can be a tricky track. Improvement wouldn’t surprise. 6. Gleditsia had some support and ran a much improved race for third at Wellington and has run a handy race on heavy ground. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Tamaroa WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Tamaroa’s trial at Warwick Farm on March 31

4. Adelinda looks well placed to produce her best run this time in and she comes through what has to be a strong provincial Class 1 at Newcastle where she ran on late into fourth behind Karedada. Only won one from 20 but extra trip suits and draws softly. Big chance.

Dangers: 6. Section Twenty broke through for his first win at start 12 with a strong all the way effort at Wellington three weeks ago. Expect he will roll forward again and can give a sight. 1. Flashing Steel has promised a bit but his lone win so far has come in a Scone maiden. Made some ground without threatening at Kembla when resuming and back a notch here has another chance. 2. Midori Fuji was a minor drifter in betting fresh at Muswellbrook and just looked to knock up late in fourth after making a dash. Down 2kg and did win second-up last time in so keep in mind.

How to play it: Adelinda WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Adelinda runs fourth at Newcastle on March 30

5. Montebello’s Charm is clearly the horse to beat it’s just a matter of how the race pans out for him from the tricky gate. Eye-catcher first-up at Moruya then again charged when it was all over at Goulburn last time. Close to a peak and he should be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 6. Sonny Fella might be close to a win, though back slightly in trip on his fast finishing second here some six weeks ago. On the fresh side and if he can make some use of gate one he’s a good chance. 4. Suomenlinna is always a chance though she’s now a 28 start maiden. Boxed on well for another placing at Wellington and was close up in two previous runs at her home track. Each-way. 11. Loch Anton Lady is a similar story, she’s a consistent type yet to break through but has five placings from six starts on her home track and is worth including in the multiples.

How to play it: Montebello’s Charm WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Montebello’s Charm runs third at Goulburn on March 17

2. Tour Of Duty started big odds when resuming but he finished off with plenty of purpose here a month ago running into fourth. Step to the mile suits and down in class. Likes the sting out of the ground and has a good each-way hope.

Dangers: 3. Loose Love has run into some form of late with placings at Canberra and Albury in March. Draws well so should be in the first four or five in the run, that would give him evert chance. 12. Chaotic Beauty stole some ground along the rail but it was still a handy first-up third at Wagga over 1200m a couple of weeks ago. Jumps quickly to the mile but best form is around this distance range so pay to keep safe. 1. Not Too Bad held on well to win at Wellington two starts back then favourite and perhaps not in the preferred going when a close fourth at Mudgee. Same weight here and blinkers go on. Has a case.

How to play it: Tour Of Duty E/W ($10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Tour Of Duty runs fourth at Orange on March 19

9. Dubbo Wanderer made a very handy return when fourth at Tamworth just over a week ago and he drops 6kg into this with gate one a big plus. Won only start here and has a handy record for a lightly raced horse taking on open company. Go well.

Dangers: 6. Kattegat drops 4kg on his second at Kembla on a heavy track where he led and staved everything off around him with the winner darting up closer to the fence and breaking away. Honest sprinter who can give a good account. 8. Career Change was back to her best with an all the way win at Dubbo and she has a nice 3.5kg drop in weight. Will roll forward from the wide alley and could take running down. 5. Morgenstern might want 1200m but he shouldn’t be left out first-up on the back of a trial win recently. He did win at this trip at Warren in November so it’s not beyond him and he must stay under notice.

How to play it: Dubbo Wanderer E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Dubbo Wanderer runs fourth at Tamworth on April 4

***BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY***

4. Ita ran second in this race last year off a similar lead in. Handy placing second-up at Rosehill then solid in the Muswellbrook Cup where she was outsprinted by the winner but came again late to be beaten a length. Up in trip but she’s handled it before and has top claims.

Dangers: 13. Reward Seeker battled on okay in open company at Tamworth last start and he was close up in the Wellington Cup before that. Honest type and drops 7kg on his latest effort. If there’s a lightweight hope he’s likely the one. 5. Marsabit can be a bit in and out but he ran right up to his Rosehill effort from two back when closing off late into second in the Albury Cup. If he can match that he can be a factor. 3. Mayfair Spirit sat outside the lead second-up at Kensington and boxed on okay beaten just over a length. Has to be considered.

How to play it: Ita WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Ita runs fourth in the Muswellbrook Cup

5. Watch Me Rumble has the right form around her. Beat Amicus Curiae first-up then favourite in the Coonamble Country Championships and was a close up fifth. Slightly sticky draw but with even luck she should be in the finish.

Dangers: 1. How’s It Kev has been racing well and scored a solid win over 1410m here a month ago when a solid favourite. Only up 1kg and drawn well so has the set up to be competitive again. 3. Rylan’s Pick has won five from 13 and got the job done third-up at Tamworth over 1000m after a couple of close seconds. Has won at 1400m albeit at Nyngan and has the wide gate but is promising and can’t be overlooked. 2. Transplant ran well in a Class 2 at Tamworth two starts back then led and knocked up at Hawkesbury in much stronger company. Well worth another chance back in class.

How to play it: Watch Me Rumble WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Watch Me Rumble runs fifth at Coonamble on March 12

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Orange meeting