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By Neil Evans

Track likely back to a Soft 5 and rail true

Very testing opener for the boys, with several chances. Going with Tamworth 3YO 5. Demeurer who finished off okay on debut at Armidale where the track was way too firm, and gets a couple of key gear changes. By Smart Missile so a few showers around, and some give in the track, will be plusses, and so is the booking of a supremely experienced senior rider.

Dangers: Scone 4YO 4. Gilded Crown has been well supported in early betting having his first run for the hot Mark Schmetzer stable since switching from Victoria. Trialled quietly, and will be tuned up from the good gate. Include Cessnock 4YO 1. Rubick's Command who hit the line powerfully second-up in that same Armidale race as the top selection, and yearning for this longer trip. Consistent Dubbo 3YO 9. Urus stuck on for a long way in a handy maiden at home, and his natural speed will be a bonus around this track. Include at bigger odds, lightly raced 7YO 6. Jay 'N' Jay who dropped out resuming in a deeper maiden at Newcastle, but can improve sharply here down in weight.

How to play it: Demeurer to win and trifecta 1,4,5/1,4,5,9/1,4,5,6,9. Odds and Evens: Split

Now the girls' edition, and it's even tougher. Scone 4YO mare 2. Nana Neddy made a solid return off a lengthy spell on that concrete track at Armidale, beating all bar a dominant winner. She can go close second-up, with a significant jockey change.

Dangers: Local mare and ex-Victorian 9. Vista Girl went down narrowly here second-up, and carries 1kg less. Modest record doesn't do her ability any sort of justice, and she should be charging into the finish. Improving filly 5. Pump It Up is hard fit, and was good late in a handy maiden at Coffs, but does rise 2kg; while Newcastle filly 7. Endorphins resumed with a steady first-up effort at home, and has since trialled. Include Scone filly 8. Spritza Seritza who gets blinkers on if you're playing the wider exotics.

How to play it: Nana Neddy each way and box trifecta 2,5,9/2,5,7,8,9/2,5,7,8,9. Odds and Evens: Split

Out in distance we go for what shapes as a real battle of tactics. Keen on Quirindi 6YO 1. Chuck'N'Paul who has placed in his last two against deeper opposition. Draws to get a handy trail, and 1.5kg claim for form apprentices is crucial in a race like this.

Dangers: Tough 7YO 3. Club Town had been banging on the door for some time in BM 58 grade before charging home to win at Orange. More depth here, but as fit as any horse across the meeting. Muswellbrook mare 2. Souchong has steadily improved this prep as the trips have got longer, finishing best to win a BM 58 at home, and draws to get a soft run right behind the speed; while 8YO 5. Kilmarnock finished well from a long way back in a thinner race at Tuncurry, and has drawn the inside.

How to play it: Chuck 'N' Paul to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Chuck'n'paul runs third at Armidale on December 1

Another open battle, this time over the mile. Keen on 4YO Newcastle mare 9. Fu Ni pushed out to this trip second-up. Did her best work late resuming at home in a maiden of some depth, and draws to get crucial cover. By 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide.

Dangers: Improving mare 6. Divine Intavention kept finding the line at Kembla, and has drawn even better staying at the distance. More sparingly raced this prep, and will be hard to hold out in the easiest race she's struck for a while. Gap to the rest headed by stablemate mare 12. Surf who has finished off nicely in her last two at Muswellbrook, although considering her general starting price in six runs so far, she's been very costly.

How to play it: Fu Ni to win and quinella 6 and 9. Odds and Evens: Split

A stack of chances again, and there will be a real market fight on for favouritism. Tamworth 5YO 5. Hardyo is ready to break a run of outs, back slightly in trip and down significantly in weight. Was strong through the line in a handy BM 58 at Tuncurry, and performs better when drawn to settle back and get to the outside.

Dangers: Tamworth 6YO 4. Poet Lad has been a little disappointing since winning his maiden four runs back, but drops in weight from a good draw, and is searching now for this journey. Liked the way 4YO gelding 2. Political finished off in this grade at Tuncurry behind a smart winner. Draws to get a handy trail, and continues to slip down in the weights after young rider's claim. Gosford 4YO 1. Landstrasse found the line well in a much improved run fourth-up at Kembla, but the handicapper hasn't missed him one bit, up 3.5kg from a provincial CL1 to a country CL2.

How to play it: Hardyo to win and box trifecta 1,2,4,5. Odds and Evens: Split

Most open contest of the day augurs well for exotic players. Armidale mare 14. Vinaigrette has more than enough ability, and struck trouble at a crucial stage resuming in a CL1 at home. Given she still made up plenty of ground against the pattern of that rock hard surface, this suits nicely second-up, with some more give underfoot. Expect her to tuck in around midfield and finish like a train.

Dangers: Progressive Newcastle mare 13. Magic Palace didn't have much luck in a stronger BM 58 at home last start, and little rise in trip from a softer draw is appealing. Well travelled 5YO 2. Larynx led for a long way at Newcastle off a freshen-up, although won't find it easy getting a comfortable lead in this. Tamworth 8YO 4. Call Me Brad produced one of the better wins of his 64-start career here last start sweeping home to win a weaker BM 58 by more than four lengths. Up in weight against some better ones, but draws find a trail and get home again.

How to play it: Vinaigrette each way and box exacta 2,13,14. Odds and Evens: Split

Back to the sprint trip for the boys, and Newcastle 3YO 1. Married To The Mob can repay punters third-up. Missed by a whisker resuming behind Daltoro who then only went under a nose at Scone last Friday, before a "forgive" run from the inside barrier. Much better drawn a few spots off the fence, and getting on a track that isn't so firm is an added plus. The one to beat.

Dangers: Got plenty of time for 3YO 3. Hinch'em Up who resumes off a quiet trial. Won impressively on debut at Taree in winter, although will need to slot in from an awkward gate. Consistent 4YO 5. Time For Don has been edged out narrowly in his last two; while include in exotics ex-Victorian 5YO 4. Bumrah having his first start for new Tamworth stable, with key gear changes.

How to play it: Married To The Mob to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Married To The Mob runs fifth at Port Macquarie on November 24

We finish with a strong edition for the fillies and mares in a much wider and tougher sprint. Newcastle 4YO 1. Cool Missile boasts plenty of class in this garde, and resumes from a handy draw off two steady trials. Bolted in first-up at Coffs last prep, and she'll have the option to either go through and lead or sit behind.

Dangers: Tough Scone 4YO 3. Invincible Ninja blew them away resuming at Quirindi in first run for the Schmetzer yard, and then crossed from the outside gate here before only nabbed right on the line by a very handy sprinter. Should be right there again, and doesn't have to lead, with plenty of pace either side. Another 4YO 7. Makana didn't have the greatest run in transit second-up at home after a dominant fresh win, and she can bounce back here ridden a little quieter. Don't under-sell progressive 2. Imsouane who can settle back off a strong speed and attack the line second-up.

How to play it: Cool Missile to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

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