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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Port Macquarie meeting. Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Forgive 6. Power Legend’s last start at Gosford, where the race was run in torrential conditions. Prior to that, he was well backed $9.0-$5.5 and hit the line hard in a high-rating race relative to the day. Further, he clocked one of the meeting’s fastest final 200m splits in 12.24. The four-year-old has multiple winning ratings, is an improver back to dry ground and is ready to win. Each-way.

Dangers: 2. Brendans Hope was solid first-up in a fast-time race and will undoubtedly be fitter for that effort. He maps to have all favours and is suited up in distance. 5. Golden Button ran on well last start at Muswellbrook, and he brings the best last start figure. Add 4. Dante Alighieri to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Power Legend E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Power Legend last start at Gosford on October 27

Forget 2. Mauricently’s last start 30 days ago at Newcastle, where the mare failed in testing conditions. Prior to that start, she won in style at Coffs Harbour and clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 11.76. She is a significant improver back to a drier surface, has strong form lines and is suited to the anticipated moderate/even tempo.

Dangers: 4. Rockbarton Ruby has a strong starting price profile and is suited to 1500m. Expect her to get back and find the line well. 1. Da Nang Star had every chance last start, but he has multiple winning figures, and the in-form apprentice Anna Roper sticks. 3. Millennium Jewel will roll forward and can give a sight.

How to play it: Mauricently WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Mauricently two starts ago winning at Coffs Harbour on September 11

6. Time For Victory is in career-best form and gets in well at the weights. He is rock hard fit, will roll forward, and a repeat of his last two ratings will put him right in the finish.

Dangers: 3. Leave Me Some and 3. Crowned Empress come through the same form reference at Grafton and are both racing well. Market watch on 5. Lucky Sham who resumes off one soft trial.

How to play it: Time For Victory WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Time For Victory last start at Hawkesbury on October 25

4. Canny Prospect was brave in defeat last start at Tamworth after racing wide throughout in a genuine tempo. He brings a fitness edge and should receive a more economical run from the soft draw.

Dangers: Key market watch on debutante 11. Cirebon who comes out of the Kris Lees yard and has trialled well enough. Add 6. Osterberg and 14. Really Motivated to all exotics.

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

Canny Prospect last start at Tamworth on October 10

3. Boss resumes without an official public trial but is well-placed in this event. The gelding is coming out of time/sectional merit races from last prep, and there have been multiple subsequent winners to confirm the form of those events. The Adam Duggan galloper maps well, and the big track is ideal for him to hit the line.

Dangers: Debutant 2. Northern Impact has trialled well at Scone with an apprentice riding. The four-year-old has a tricky draw, but Aaron Bullock rides for race day, and looks to have some ability. First starter 9. Fill Your Heart won a recent trial at Newcastle, albeit on the synthetic. She looks a nice type and is a late market watch. 14. Discreet Lady is fit/honest.

How to play it: Boss WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Boss first-up last prep at Newcastle on February 24

8. Ghost Hunter had every chance at this track last start but was honest in defeat. The four-year-old has a tactical map advantage over some key rivals and will be strong late.

Dangers: 9. Cotton Caper hit the line well to score last start at Coffs Harbour, albeit in a lesser grade. Add 10. Icing On The Cake who resumes and 3. Vilified has had excuses lately.

How to play it: Ghost Hunter WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Ghost Hunter last start at Port Macquarie on October 23

1. Outreach To Henry went to a new level first-up at this track and bolted in running fast time. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjustments and the decisive margins throughout confirmed the quality. The gelding ran strong sustained sectionals throughout and repeating that effort/figure will make him hard to catch. Expect a bold showing from the inside draw.

Dangers: 2. Justadude can bounce back into form with a strong starting price profile in this class and is ready to peak third-up. 8. Offyarocatwo wasn’t suited last start and gets his chance here to run on with an anticipated genuine tempo. Add 5. Wonder Brahma to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Outreach To Henry WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Outreach To Henry wins at Port Macquarie on October 23

10. Clay Pan Boogie, who represents value, wasn’t suited first-up over an unsuitable distance, and he ran on well. His sectional profile suggests he can improve significantly second-up and can rate to win. He does have a tricky draw to contend with, but the big field should generate a genuine tempo. Each-way.

Dangers: 2. Mister Smartee was wide throughout six days ago at Kempsey and never shirked his task to the line. He is rock-hard fit and maps to have a much more economical run-in transit here. 6. Izfallingdown won well last start and repeating that effort will put her in the finish. Market watch on 5. Velvet Lady and 3. Celestial Fury, who both have strong form lines.

How to play it: Clay Pan Boogie E/W ($21 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Clay Pan Boogie last start at Muswellbrook on October 30

Best Bet: Race 7 # 1 – Outreach To Henry

Next Best/Value: Race 1 # 6 – Power Legend

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Port Macquarie meeting