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By Rod Fuller

Following a tough period for many with massive bushfires still threatening the north coast, Mister Smartee could provide a welcome positive in the Hill St Store Open Handicap at Port Macquarie on Tuesday.

The Smart Missile gelding from the astute Tas Morton stable resumed from a spell with a creditable fourth at Grafton last week behind the well performed Murwillumbah galloper Tivoli Street and should benefit greatly from the outing.

With a strong record at his home track and the distance to suit, Mister Smartee looks a safe wager in the highlight of the program with many astute judges anticipating the brown gelding settling near the rear of the field before working home down the outside section of the track.

The main danger centres upon the Taree trained gelding, Casino Mondial, following sound recent placings at Port Macquarie and Taree with Grant Buckley engaged for the mount.

The son of Casino Prince ran an encouraging third in the Hastings Hcp during the Port Cup carnival before a narrow second behind Mo the Great in the Krambach Cup last month.

Astute trainer Michael Byers has given Casino Mondial a freshen up since the outing and this could provide the ideal preparation for the open handicap clash.

Mister Smartee runs fourth at Grafton on November 18

Other chances centre around the Paul Perry trained gelding Nothing Too Hard following his close second at Quirindi last week in similar company while San Francisco provides a live chance for the stable after two barrier trial efforts since an appearance in the Gunnedah Cup last May.

The program could provide plenty of positives for local training legend Neil Godbolt with the stable having plenty of live chances scattered throughout the program.

Condover Hall deserves success following recent placings and the clash in the opening event with Shoreditch provides plenty of interest while Just Sizzling and Alshahhad represent live hopes later in the day.

The safest wager for the Godbolt stable centres around the chances of Our Girl Babs in the closing event with the Clangalang mare responsible for two strong victories since relocating from Victoria.

Her most recent effort at Taree in accounting for Blinkin Snazzy over the mile was extremely encouraging and circumstances resulting in a one month lay-off and a distance reduction to 1200 metres could provide an unexpected positive for the assignment.

The main opposition centres around Metre Eater with the son of Ready’s Image possessing a wonderful strike rate over the track and distance while San Marco should be included in the chances.

The area around the north coast has been severely impacted by the bushfires with the Port Macquarie Race Club ready to assist in any way possible to alleviate the pain with the conducting of Tuesday’s meeting set to provide a welcome tonic for the district.

Racing NSW Stewards have recently contacted industry participants in areas affected by the bush fires around the Mid-North Coast and Northern Regions of NSW to offer financial help and any other assistance.

Racing NSW encourages any person associated with the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry that has been affected by the recent fires, and has not already received assistance, to contact their local regional Stewards or Racing NSW directly to seek help.

For further enquiries please contact Keith Bulloch by phone at Racing NSW on (02) 9551 7588.

The club would like to acknowledge the continued support of Hill St Store and Deli, Black Box Pizza, Wauchope Country Kitchen, Ottoman Kebab (Settlement City), Majestic Cinemas (Port Macquarie & Kempsey), Blairs Newsagency and Ruins Café in the staging of the card.

With $176,000 in prizemoney and the outstanding trackside catering, beverage and wagering facilities of the Ivan Livermore Grandstand on offer, the first event on an eight-race program is scheduled to commences at 1.15pm

The president, Greg Delaforce, and committee of the Port Macquarie Race Club would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and successful 2020.

May the festive season provide the gift of good health and happiness and thanks for the support afforded by jockeys, trainers, staff, sponsors and patrons for assisting in another successful year. The next meetings scheduled to be conducted by the club is on New Year’s Day.

Selections
Race 1: 2 Condover Hall, 9 Shoreditch, 7 Uber Cougar
Race 2: 1 Elgin, 9 Bear the Crown, 7 Onemoreforluck
Race 3: 13 Hibern, 11 Spirited Belle, 1 Another Option
Race 4: 2 Spirit in the Sky, 4 Yes Kurt, 6 Krayzelburg
Race 5: 3 Mister Smartee, 2 Casino Mondial, 5 Nothing Too Hard
Race 6: 1 Triage, 2 Blevio, 3 Just Sizzling
Race 7: 3 Dr Demon, 7 Alshahhad, 4 Elusive Eagle
Race 8: 7 Our Girl Babs, 8 Metre Eater, 1 San Marco.

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Port Macquarie meeting