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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth. Selections based on a good track.

5. Exonumia only went down narrowly at his first run for the leading local yard after hitting the lead at Gilgandra. Given some time and trialled up easily just under two weeks back. Will need some luck from the gate but hard to beat.

Dangers: 14. Shine Your Light takes on older horses and is a huge query here. If she can reproduce her debut third to Barber at Randwick in October she’ll be a decent threat. Trialled twice and drawn to have her chance. 4. Divine Summer had support at his only start back in October and worked to the line from the back into third. Finished second in the same trial as Exonumia at Scone and stays under notice. 13. Royal Radiance drew wide and went back on debut over this course and worked home into fourth. Draws softer here and no surprise if she’s a big improver.

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

Exonumia runs second at Gilgandra on January 2

5. Lostma Cowboy stood out running into a close second in a 1200m maiden here two weeks ago and looks ready to step up in trip. Draws favourably this time around and chance to go one better.

Dangers: 9. Monopoly Girl made a handy debut at Port Macquarie coming from worse than midfield into third and did attract some support so it was no surprise. Has gate one this time and extra distance should suit. 7. Valoria chased Russian Standard home here before going back to 1150m and producing a fair third on the Beaumont track at Newcastle as favourite. Might be looking for more ground so worth including. 2. Church Town wasn't disgraced on debut when fifth in the same race as Lostma Cowboy. Open to improvement so could be placed.

How to play it: Lostma Cowboy E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Lostma Cowboy runs second at Tamworth on February 10

1. Dimension is bursting to win a race after seconds in all three runs back. Drops in class from a close second in a Class 4 here two weeks ago and with the claim is very well weighted. Big opportunity for the young apprentice at his first ride. Go well.

Dangers: 3. Rhythm Is A Dancer finally broke through before a break and returned in great order with a strong win over this course two weeks back. Up 4.5kg but hard to knock. 6. Poet Lad is racing in great form and he dominated from on the speed scoring over a mile here last time out. Can’t leave him out of the chances while in this mood. 7. Sheng Gui was two months between runs going into his even effort at Newcastle a couple of weeks back. He was well in the market there and should be fitter. Open to improvement.

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

Dimension runs second at Tamworth on February 10

5. Crazy About You couldn’t have been more impressive first-up for the new stable when scoring a runaway maiden win here over 1400m. No fears with the extra 200m and the class rise is only modest. No surprise if he goes on with it.

Dangers: 6. Snizzi was a small drifter first-up in a country Class 1 at Newcastle. His maiden win was at a mile and he should improve on that fresh effort up in distance. Good chance. 3. Satay Chicken started $1.35 first-up and cruised to an easy maiden in over 1400m here last month then odds-on again and had every chance in third. Perhaps looks for the mile now so entitled to another chance but this is no easier. 14. Suva May is a 21 start maiden but she has been placed in 11 of those starts and wasn’t disgraced running into fifth from well back here two weeks ago. Could place at odds again.

How to play it: Crazy About You WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Crazy About You wins at Tamworth on February 10

6. Star On Fire showed some promise in his first campaign with a solid debut then an easy maiden win at Gunnedah from the front. Trialled against a couple of handy types at Scone recently, drawn the be prominent and could easily measure up.

Dangers: 4. Athena Nyx won a maiden over 1200m here back in September then won at Beaudesert at her next start before taking on open three-year-old fillies grade. Nice recent trial and if 1000m isn’t too sharp she’s right in this. 7. Bullawa Creek hasn’t raced since a popular maiden win here on Christmas Eve over 1200m. Drawn well and another who can be right in the finish if it’s not too short. 5. Warrah Flash is ex-Cody Morgan and hasn’t trialled publicly for the new yard but brings a consistent record into this race. Check betting for any pointers but no surprise if he runs well.

How to play it: Star On Fire E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Star On Fire runs third in a Scone trial on February 15

2. The Dramatist might have a big weight here first-up but it’s a high limit so that’s negated. Narrowly beaten in a Highway first-up last prep and had to like how he warmed up in his recent trial. Should be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 11. Russian Standard has promised a lot but finally got the maiden out of the way with a runaway win here a month ago. Trial winner again since and while he’s up a few grades he could have turned the corner. 6. Trumped Up is an honest gelding who has been freshened since running into second over 1000m here last month. Yet to miss a place at this trip and with even luck from the barrier he’s an each-way chance. 10. Rura Penthe is a huge query first-up for Cody Morgan since running second at Mornington about seven weeks ago. No guide from his trial so kee an eye on betting for a pointer.

How to play it: The Dramatist WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

The Dramatist runs second in a Scone trial on February 15

14. Running Bear brings some very strong Highway form into this race and appears a bit underestimated. Wyong BM64 winner in June then run down by I’ve Bean Tryin’ and Super Extreme in two runs since. Fitter for that fresh placing at Randwick and can feature.

Dangers: 1. Akasawa has won five from eight including a benchmark race at Canterbury and he’s trialled quite well against a smart filly leading into this. Draws okay and won three from four fresh. Big threat. 13. Bootscooter is shaping up well to peak third-up after a nice third at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago. Highway winner over 1400m in June and drawn to get every chance. 2. Ezekeil has some important negatives to consider, he's yet to run 1400m and is right up in weight on his last two wins. Against that he’s been highly impressive in those wins and he’s been given his chance to prove himself. If he wins he might be the horse to beat in the final. 6. Commando Hunt was runner-up in this race and the Final last year and tackles it first-up at his preferred trip. Probably wants it wet but can’t undersell.

How to play it: Running Bear E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Running Bear runs second at Randwick on February 4

9. Indicative comes back to 1200m after three Highway runs over slightly further. He’ll roll towards the front here back in class on the back up from a solid effort last week and if he can get comfortable he should take some running down.

Dangers: 11. Transplant might have needed the run at Gilgandra first-up but was always in control leading all the way at Dubbo in a BM66. She’s on the up and looks a good chance. 1. Broken Hill hit the line hard to win over 1000m here back on Christmas Eve when resuming and has been freshened up again. Trialled nicely and if he has any luck from the wide gate he’ll be in the finish. 13. Smart Shot won on debut here in September and placed in two subsequent starts. Trialled since an even third in a Class 1 here five weeks ago. Drawn well and stays in the mix

How to play it: Indicative WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Indicative’s last start at Rosehill on February 18

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth