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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Orange meeting. Selections based on a soft to heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

1. Last Bid Liam was well ridden to win last start at Coonamble in this grade 26 days ago. He is rock-hard fit and in form, winning his last two starts. The wide draw is of little concern with it only being one turn coming out of the 1000m chute, and a repeat of his last start figure will put him in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Speed Match was too far back on debut and ran home strongly. Punter's Intelligence recorded he ran the third-quickest last 200m split of the entire meeting in 11.56. The bigger track and further distance suit. 9. Berry Berry Good had the pace/bias against him first-up at Muswellbrook, and the backup with a step back in distance is ideal. 2. Spinosaurus won on debut and then was immediately spelled. He has been wound up for this after three solid trials.

How to play it: Last Bid Liam WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Last Bid Liam wins at Coonamble March 13

Open country maiden. 6. Art Angel will have it all to do from the wide draw but brings a fitness edge relative to some of her key rivals and can hit the line hard. Forget last start when losing all her momentum and confidence after being severely checked/blocked on two occasions. In addition, her prior runs this preparation were solid, and she can close off well again.

Dangers: 3. Suomenlinna was brave in defeat last start at this track 19 days ago after racing wide throughout just to get pipped on the post. 10. Boongarra Girl is rock-hard fit and is proven on rain-affected ground. 5. Count Michelin was every chance and battled away ok before spelling last preparation. He is a market watch who maps to get all favours.

How to play it: Art Angel E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Art Angel last start at Orange on March 20

4. Largo Winch resumes after one strong trial on the Warwick Farm synthetic track running the fastest overall time of the morning. The three-year-old first-up last preparation led at a very fast tempo at Wagga over 1600m to just get swamped over the final strides. He has natural gate speed to control the pace, multiple figures to put him in the finish and can sprint fresh.

Dangers: 1. Crazy Wolf got too far back first-up at Coonamble 26 days ago and ran on well, posting the second-fastest final 200m split of the entire meeting in 10.92. He will strip fitter, step up in distance suits and receives a significant barrier change. Market watch 6. Soloist who raced flat last start as he did in his first preparation and drifted in the market considerably. He can bounce back and is ready to peak third-up. 3. Coppersonic was run to suit last start and ran on ok. The five-year-old mare will appreciate the step back in grade and may have the last shot.

How to play it: Largo Winch WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Largo Winch wins a trial at Warwick Farm on April 1

6. Amazing Nicci was checked/blocked in transit last start at this track/distance and had to make a long-wide sustained run. The Gary Portelli trained galloper charged late to just miss and ran the quickest final 400m split of the entire meeting in 22.50. She is ready to peak third-up and can settle closer from the kinder draw.

Dangers: 2. Starane comes out of the same race as Amazing Nicci, who raced wide and ran well. Expect him to be closing hard over the concluding stages. 4. Centurion was specked on debut and can improve. Add 7. Dantain's Magic and 15. Dreamdust to the exotics.

How to play it: Amazing Nicci WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Amazing Nicci runs second at Orange on March 20

8. Almahero is racing well/consistently this preparation in stronger grade. The three-year-old gelding was backed late when $7.50-$5.00 at Canberra 26 days ago and had no luck. He found himself in an awkward position and was checked/blocked for the majority of the straight but, once clear, he ran on well into third place. Expect an aggressive ride to find a more forward position, and any improvement on his last start figure will put him right in the finish.

Dangers: 12. Loubard led at a strong tempo first-up at Queanbeyan 11 days ago and looked the winner on the turn, but fitness gave out when battling away over the final 100m. Although still a maiden, he has figures that line up and will press forward from the wide draw to control the pace. 3. Vaquero is ready to peak third-up over further distance and 1. Obelos is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Almahero WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Almahero runs third at Canberra on March 13

Forgiving of 7. Quiet Riot’s last preparation where he was found to be lame and had a slow recovery rate after being fancied late in the betting on both occasions. The preparation prior, he raced well in fast time/sectional merit races and has strong form lines. The five-year-old gelding looks to have come back in good order after winning two trials in fast time and looks wound up for this assignment. The wide draw is of little concern with it only being one turn coming out of the 1000m chute, and Ashley Morgan will have options to either press forward or find cover. In addition, if he can find his peak figures, he’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 4. Blitzar was brave winning his last start at Cowra 32 days ago when fending off challengers with a big weight. He is back in distance but will be running home strongly with the anticipated fast tempo. 2. Delacour can improve with a significant barrier change and is proven on rain-affected ground. Market watch 6. I Am Capitan who has trailed well enough.

How to play it: Quiet Riot WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Quiet Riot wins a trial at Rosehill on March 22

3. Brown Thomas, who represents value, was back in distance last start after a 36 day freshen and closed off well. Further, that was the tick-over run he needed in preparation for this assignment. The six-year-old gelding is rock hard fit, proven on wet ground and has a strong record at this track.

Dangers: 8. Shameonus brings the highest last start figure after a dominant win at this track 19 days ago. He is up sharply in distance, but his sectionals indicate he will be able to handle it. 2. Ita was every chance in the Muswellbrook Cup seven days ago but ran on well. Add 7. Picaro to all exotics.

How to play it: Brown Thomas WIN ($14.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Shameonus WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Brown Thomas last start at Orange on March 20

1. Ferus, since joining the Clint Lundholm team, has been a model of consistency and is racing well. The five-year-old gelding led and won dominantly by four lengths last start at Wellington 14 days ago. He was specked the run prior $8.00-$6.00 late in betting in the Coonamble Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) and ran honestly. He has enough early speed to cross them, and a repeat of his last start figure will put him in the finish.

Dangers: 6. Whatsin had the bias against her first-up at Hawkesbury 15 days ago and ran on well. She has strong TAB Highway form-lines for this and multiple winning figures. After one trial, 3. Slatey Bay resumes and can sprint fresh. 11. Super Helpful is rock-hard fit and maps to get all favours. Add 12. The Maxinator to all exotics.

How to play it: Ferus WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Ferus winning last start at Wellington on March 25

BEST BET: Race 6 # 7 - Quiet Riot.

NEXT BEST: Race 5 # 8 - Almahero.

BEST VALUE: Race 7 # 3 - Brown Thomas.

QUADDIE

Leg 1: 8,2
Leg 2: 7,4
Leg 3: 3,8,2,7
Leg 4: 1,6,3,11,12

Combinations = 80.

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