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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail true so a tough pattern read, although should trend slowly towards the middle.

Tough opener, with some all-aged battlers going around over the mile. Wangaratta 4YO mare 9. Shadow Of Pylon is one of a few coming out of a recent maiden on this track in similar ground when he loomed up to win at the furlong, but was over-run late. Hard fit.

Dangers: Kyneton 4YO gelding 2. It's Trumps crosses the border for his third start, and leading district jockey booked is a solid lead. Comes off an average run on the Ballarat synthetic, but is bred to handle wet tracks, and get over more ground. Untested in this ground, but should get through it; while 4YO Wodonga mare 8. Rewards Caro has been up for a while, but also did her best work late in that same maiden as the top selection.

How to play it: Shadow Of Pylon to win and box exacta 2,8,9. Odds and Evens (First 2): Split.

Wagga 3YO filly 5. Thuwaany looks in the right race after hitting the line nicely on debut this track on a Heavy 10 rating. Well in at the weights after rider's claim, and drawn to power down the middle.

Dangers: Local 5YO mare 8. Peggy Rose has been close up in her last two, but first time in genuine heavy ground. Wodonga 4YO mare 2. Mythical Goddess trialled okay on the Heavy 10 behind the smart Bennelong Dancer, only weakening late in the inferior ground, but hard to get a real line with the winner flopping badly first-up at Warwick Farm.

How to play it: Thuwaany to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Open race, but 7YO Jerilderie mare 2. Enconti looks well very placed in the ground, and at the weights with promising apprentice's claim. Returns to the track where she bolted in a Class 3 in similar conditions, and was only run down late at Narrandera last start. The one to beat.

Dangers: If 5YO Canberra gelding 1. Banja Luka can take her consistent good track form on to the heavy, and the inside ground is okay, she must be in the finish, with the jockey taking 4kg off. Was heavily backed winning his maiden two runs ago before solid on-pace at Forbes. Include lightly weighted 6YO Wodonga mare 8. Macca's Hero who wasn't far off Enconti this track before chasing home high class wet track sprinter Yeldarb last start; while Wagga 4YO mare 5. War Blues resumes without a public trial, but finished off nicely in heavy ground in her final run last prep.

How to play it: Enconti to win and trifecta 2/1,8/1,5,8. Odds and Evens: Split.

Enconti runs second at Narrandera on July 21

Another tricky race at set weights, but 4YO Wagga gelding 4. Our Romeo can break through at his 30th start. Has finished strong from well off the speed in his last two, the latest a big second at Wagga on a Heavy 9 rating when weaving through the field before forced to change course in the straight.

Dangers: Local 4YO mare 11. Spinher looks a threat resuming off two forward trials in heavy ground. Went close a couple of times last prep, and gets conditions to suit, with the winkers coming off. Wangaratta-trained gelding 1. Destination Rocks resumes off two average metro trials in Sydney, and while went he close first-up last prep, 59kg from a wide barrier looks a huge task. Include 5YO Canberra mare 6. All About Me who is well weighted fourth-up; and resuming 4YO Wodonga mare 7. Ballybane in wider exotics.

How to play it: Our Romeo each way and quinella 4 and 11. Odds and Evens: Split.

Feature race over the middle distance, and most have a chance. Going with lightly raced 5YO local mare 6. Carano to upset far more experienced wet trackers. Drops significantly in weight third-up for this tougher test, but she's still improving, and has shown a real liking for wet tracks bolting in a trial by nearly six lengths last month.

Dangers: Prolific mud runner 7YO Wagga gelding 3. Gentleman Max faces the starter for the 102nd time, and looks hard to stop again, with the rider claiming 3kg. Powered home to win a BM 75 in similar ground last start, and just keeps adding to an amazing and versatile record that has seen 11 of his 14 career wins come on a heavy surface. Wangaratta 5YO gelding 4. Parliament won three straight before freshened and working to the line okay behind Gentleman Max in a BM 73 three weeks back. Down in weight, but another who would prefer it no worse than soft; while 6YO Canberra mare 7. Smart As hasn't fired in three runs back from a spell, but has a strong record on rain-affected tracks.

How to play it: Carano each way and first four 3,6/3,4,6,7
Odds and Evens: Split

Another testing battle, although thin in depth. Victorian 5YO mare 3. Lemon Splice is much better suited back to this grade and trip. Cruised home in similar ground against weaker three runs back before flopping next start as a heavily backed favourite when nothing went right in the run, and then outclassed taking on some good stayers at Caulfield over 2400m.

Dangers: Wagga 7YO gelding 2. Willy White Socks threatened to win for a while before charging home to land a big betting move in a BM 58 at Gundagai. Drawn to get a nice trail back in the field, and will be finishing on. Canberra 5YO gelding 4. Palamedes can be hard to assess, scoring a dominant win at Narrandera this grade two back before a poor run on the synthetic at home. Has the ability, but probably needs it drier.

How to play it: Lemon Splice to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Same grade for the sprinters now, and keen on 6YO Goulburn gelding and smart wet tracker 1. Treasure Boss. Has won two of his last four in heavy ground, including over a stronger field this track two runs back, and big weight hike is off-set by rider's 3kg claim. Wide gate shouldn't be a disadvantage late in the day.

Dangers: Local 7YO gelding 2. Pacific Tycoon ploughed home to win a BM 58 this track in the heavy three runs back before chasing home Treasure Boss in his last two, but the top-weight has a little swing in the weights; while local 5YO mare 8. Cathanda resumes in a tougher race after flying home to win a BM 58 this track and just missing in a Class 2 at Wagga. Trialled strong in the heavy, and is a first-up winner.

How to play it: Treasure Boss to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Treasure Boss runs second at Moruya on August 6

Local 5YO gelding 3. Thunder Tub was very good first up coming from a long way back at Gundagai in this grade, and steps to an ideal distance second-up with a 3kg allowance.

Dangers: Stablemate 6YO gelding 1. Hail The Hero is ready for the mile too after three runs back, including an even effort in tougher grade last start, but goes up significantly in weight. Expect a big run second-up over a more suitable trip from lightly raced Brighton-trained 5YO mare 5. Coronation Pia who scored back-to-back wins in Tasmania last prep before doing her best work late first-up in a stronger BM 58 at Wagga; while local 4YO mare 7. Pips 'N' Crowns is a pure wet tracker, and was strong late winning a Class 1 last start.

How to play it: Thunder Tub each way and box trifecta 1,3,5,7. Odds and Evens: Odds.

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