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By Neil Evans

Track improving to around Soft 6 and rail true

We start over the sprint course for the older maidens, and surely this is break-through time for 4YO perennial place-getter 2. Uprise. Has gone down narrowly four times this prep at Grafton, but this is weak.

Dangers: Coffs 4YO 5. Express Dragon resumes off a nice trial; while stablemate to top selection, 4YO stallion 4. Rockdog can also work into the finish fifth-up.

How to play it: Uprise to win and quinella 2 and 5. Odds and Evens: Split

Should be good speed in this, and that suits Gold Coast filly 5. Jubai Pride who can sit back with cover and pounce late. Flew home to win on debut at home before good to the line again at Ipswich, and ready for her first run in NSW.

Dangers: Ultra consistent Toowoomba filly 1. Kirra Lass has early speed, and only missed a place once in six starts; while another Qld filly 3. Learning Curve debuted with a strong front-running win at the Sunshine Coast, but up sharply in weight and less experienced rider is on.

How to play it: Jubai Pride to win. Odds and Evens: Odds a special.

Jubai Pride runs fourth at Ipswich on October 14

Out to the middle distance now. Capable 4YO 4. Bells Approaching is working towards another win after charging home to score second-up. Was okay late at the Gold Coast last start, and gets nice weight relief, with blinkers on.

Dangers: Gold Coast 4YO and ex-Victorian 2. Honorable Spirit drove through to beat a handy Class 2 field at Murwillumbah second-up off a six week freshen. Be shocked if one of those doesn't salute, but include local mare 6. Ester's Rose in wider exotics.

How to play it: Bells Approaching to win and quinella 2 and 4. Odds and Evens: Evens

Eagle Farm-based 4YO 4. Kaaydeh resumes from the outside gate, but should be too smart for this field of fillies and mares. Comes to hand quickly, and fitted with a nice Doomben trial win.

Dangers: Fellow border-hopper 7. Cool Intelligence disappointed as a heavily backed favourite at Lismore, but previous form was good enough to figure, and she is drawn to get a charmed run. Lismore mare 3. Flick has only been placed once from 14 starts, but found the line okay in his last couple against deeper opposition. On a quick back-up, and draws to get a handy trail.

How to play it: Kaaydeh to win and quinella 4 and 7. Odds and Evens: Split

Now for the boys' edition, and it's a modest but far more open affair. Qld country 6YO 5. Harryup has been close-up in two runs this prep. ready to peak over this distance, and bred to relish soft ground.

Dangers: Qld 3YO 10. Go Factor is bursting to win one after being close-up in his last three against better opposition. Has good speed, and draws the inside, with the last 100m the only query. Sunshine Coast 3YO 12. Nasa will find this easier after only being collared in the last few strides third-up at Murwillumbah. Gold Coast 5YO 3. Direct Drive can improve again over a bit more ground after two handy runs back from a spell. Local 3YO 8. Atomic Feather is best of the rest.

How to play it: Harryup each way and trifecta 5,10,12/5,10,12/3,5,8,10,12. Odds and Evens: Split

Small field, and looks a race in two. Improving Grafton mare 7. Queenofthecastle was solid through the line at Grafton second-up off a lengthy break. Drops in weight, and is drawn to get a lovely trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Murwillumbah 5YO 3. Maspoeta has hardly run a bad one this prep, and chased home a speedy one last start. Likely will come over from the widest barrier and sit outside or just off the lead, and be hard to run past. Gold Coast 5YO 2. Nick The Skip worked home nicely fourth-up in a deeper race at home, although climbs in weight.

How to play it: Queenofthecastle to win and quinella 3 and 7. Odds and Evens: Odds

Queenofthecastle runs third at Grafton on October 20

We close the card with an even and tricky sprint. Home track 4YO 6. Shy Boy charged home to easily win his maiden here after being placed 10 times in his first 19 runs. Well treated at the weights after the claim, and improving track is a big plus.

Dangers: Former Victorian 4YO 2. Sweeping The Board resumes in his first run for leading Far North Coast stable. Normally takes a run to fire, but trainer has given him two trials, and he can go close in this company. Include Eagle Farm 5YO 4. Penasquito who resumes off a handy trial win.

How to play it: Shy Boy to win. Odds and Evens: Split

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Ballina meeting