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By Ray Hickson

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

9. Cardinet was scratched from the Country Championships race to contest this easier event and it might be a smart move. She hasn’t raced since November but was excellent winning her first two runs for the Beer yard including one over this course. Needs some early luck but hard to beat.
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Dangers: 7. Let’s Get Animal drops in grade on a below par event at 1400m here a couple of weeks ago and he’s a lot better suited in this scenario. Drawn ideally, and while his best form has been with the sting out you can only see him improving here. 1. Pacific Tycoon was far from disgraced first-up over this course with 62kg. Drew wide and settled back and didn’t make much of an impact but will have come on and his second-up form is better than his fresh form. Keep in mind. 8. Andrassy Avenue started favourite in a Listed race a year ago but hasn’t progressed. Fitter for two runs back and was a month between runs going into her latest at Bendigo. Blinkers on and she’s entitled to lift.

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

Cardinet wins at Albury in October

Prepared to give 8. Exotic Deel another go though keep a strong eye on betting for a sign of confidence. Beaten at odds on at both her starts to date and while not disgraced you’d probably expect more given the price. Fresh with no public trial and drawn nicely.

Dangers: 3. Demanding Mo attacked the line pretty well at his debut almost a month ago at Wagga. Comes back in trip but on the fresh side it shouldn’t be a worry. No surprise to see him charging late. 1. City Rogue raced on the pace all the way and while no match for the winner at Albury first-up he stayed on well and can only improve. Likely to go forward from the tricky gate and chance with even luck. 12. Angama is a big watch on debut for the Beer yard. Takes on older horses but has trialled okay with a sound second behind a Melbourne city winner at Wodonga recently. Any support would be significant.

How to play it: Exotic Deel WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Exotic Deel runs fifth last start at Wagga in September

6. Jungle Book is back in trip from a win at 2000m but it was four weeks ago and it was a dominant effort. Form around the mile previously was sound and he looks well placed from the draw. If he runs up to that latest win he’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 3. Royal Thunder mixes his form but is due a good performance. Overlook his run at Moonee Valley when leading, placing at Pakenham prior is a decent pointer for his chances here. 4. Richwaite Lady is flying with three wins from her last four starts across the border and is worth watching here. Tends to go forward so the alley might not be an issue if she gets some early breaks. Can’t overlook. 7. Zaromatic was a bit plain in a Highway at Randwick last time but prior to that she led all the way over a mile at Wagga in somewhat similar company. Capable of giving a sight.

How to play it: Jungle Book E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Jungle Book wins at Wagga on January 26

11. Miss Elsie May endured a tough run on debut but stayed on for a solid second then might have been a bit flat back to 900m two weeks later. Blinkers go on and extra trip a plus, expecting her to make a good account and well worth another chance.

Dangers: 14. Previso finished just ahead of Miss Elsie May in the same race at what was his debut. Drifter in betting there and ran an even race to finish fourth but is likely to take improvement from that. Drawn one and slight gear change so keep in mind. 5. Front Page was ridden out a bit but looked good taking out a trial at Wodonga a bit over a week ago. Drawn well enough and could give some cheek in an open race. 6. Houlio’s Dream had some support at his third start when battling on well for third over 900m here and certainly looks as though coming back up in trip will suit. Each-way claims.

How to play it: Miss Elsie May E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Miss Elsie May runs sixth at Albury on February 4

14. Rosebank is racing in great form at present and based on her fast finishing third at Sapphire Coast last time she’s looking for the mile. Should be a reasonable tempo here and that will give her every chance to convert. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 6. Miqyaas has improved with each run though was an odds on favourite when beaten on debut. Easy on pace winner at Benalla and you’d expect him to go forward from the wide gate. Has to be considered. 1. Benjamery has been thereabouts without winning this time in. Had his chance here last time but kept trying and this is a small class drop. Well worth including. 12. Lady is fitter for two runs back and she improved noticeably when runner-up at Wodonga second-up out to 1300m. Proven at the trip with a close third before a spell. Drawn one and is an each-way hope at least.

How to play it: Rosebank E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Rosebank runs third at Sapphire Coast on February 1

2. Blitzar disappointed in a strong Highway two starts back but was right back to his best with a smashing win over 1200m at Wagga from on the pace. The 1400m doesn’t look a concern at all at this level and any kind of repeat effort sees him in the finish.

Dangers: 9. Mnementh fought very hard only to be ambushed late when resuming at Wagga then fought on again at Flemington down the straight though safely held. Blinkers go on, will need some luck from the gate but has to be respected. 11. Falling Waters won like a short priced favourite over 1175m here a couple of weeks back but was $26 as they jumped. Drawn well and if she can back that effort up she could repeat the dose. 4. Islands is an interesting runner who was placed first-up at Gosford then below par at the same track on February 4. Is a Kembla winner and has the inside alley so wouldn’t be leaving her out.

How to play it: Blitzar WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Blitzar wins at Wagga on February 13

5. Jodhpur produced a dazzling finish when he resumed with a win at Wagga a month ago and looks a horse on the way up. Placed at a mile before a spell so the extra trip suits and might be a lot closer from a kinder barrier. Go well.

Dangers: 2. Helcolore comes off a strong win over this course where he was right on the speed from a wide gate and fought off the challenges to score clearly. Similar task here so we know he’s up to it. Definite chance. 6. Blazing Engine was the horse doing the chasing behind Helcolore, he loomed as a big threat but couldn’t match him late. Has to be around the mark again. 14. Valoyd hasn’t done a lot wrong in races across the border and hit the line from well back to run second over this trip at Wodonga. Down a little in weight and drawn well so an each-way chance again.

How to play it: Jodhpur WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Jodhpur wins at Wagga on January 21

You’re taking her a little on trust but if 8. Bennelong Dancer is the same horse she was last year when winning this race by three lengths then she’s the horse to beat again. Ran third in the Final at Randwick after that. Didn’t come up last prep but two trial wins have been solid and blinkers go back on. Sure to be competitive.

Dangers: 5. Ilovesaki doesn’t have anywhere near the depth of form but is flying of late with back to back dominant on pace performances at Wangaratta and over this trip at Albury. Will be up on the speed somewhere and if he can improve again he’s hard to beat. 1. Real Key resumed on Australia Day with a very strong on pace win at Wagga over 1200m and has since easily won a trial to keep him up to the mark. Was a 1400m winner before a spell and drawn to get a nice sit with cover. Include. 15. Takissacod might be the best roughie in the race because we know she is a lot better than her first-up run would suggest behind Ilovesaki. She was unlucky not to go close in a Highway at Rosehill before a spell and if she produces that kind of performance she can surprise a bit. 13. Sky Call was clearly headed at Sandown last time but did fight on strongly to run second over 1400m. City form is good form for these heats but she does have a tough barrier to contend with. Can’t leave out.

How to play it: Bennelong Dancer E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Bennelong Dancer wins last year’s Country Championships Qualifier at Albury

READ comments from the trainer of every runner in the SDRA Qualifier here.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Country Championships meeting at Albury