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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m, restricting field sizes to 12 on a nine-race card. Likely on-pace early before levelling out and back-markers get into play later on.

Even sprint for the maidens at set weights to start. The drop back in trip, with the blinkers going on, is ideal for speedy 5YO Coffs Harbour mare 5. Dawn Thunder who has only been collared late in three runs back from a spell, and hard fit now can break through at her 11th start.

Dangers: Newcastle 4YO mare 6. Leave Me Some showed nice improvement at only her second run when well fancied in the market, and draws to get a nice trail. Returning 3YO Newcastle filly 10. Hibern has trialled okay, and draws the inside. Watch the market on 3YO gelding and former Victorian 4. Spirit In The Sky having his first run for local stable who has rung the gear changes, including blinkers coming off. Has mixed his form through this prep, but debuted late last year in a 2YO sprint at Flemington won by recent The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes before forced into a lengthy spell.

How to play it: Dawn Thunder each way and box trifecta 4,5,6,10. Odds and Evens: Split.

Doesn't get any easier here over the longer trip, with plenty of these having been beaten out of sight already, but not so progressive 3YO filly 4. Bear The Crown who has made a nice start to her career finishing hard from the back in two runs for the King of Kempsey Barry Ratcliff, and this trip looks ideal.

Dangers: Plenty of interest, although hard to place, around well-bred 4YO gelding and ex Kiwi 1. Genghis Khan, by former multiple Group 1 winner Cape Blanco, who is having his first run in more than four months as a gelding for new Newcastle stable. Didn't do much on debut at Avondale over a similar distance, but track was very heavy that day, and this is a complete re-boot on this side of the Tasman.

How to play it: Bear The Crown to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

There's a lovely sense of timing around progressive 4YO local mare 11. Pentagon third-up with the blinkers going on. Finished off nicely from well back behind a good one at Coonabarabran, and draws even better here.

Dangers: Newcastle 3YO gelding 7. Reuben James has shown steady improvement sparingly raced through his first prep, and gets his chance to break through at fifth start, although will need a little bit of early luck from a tricky draw. Newcastle 4YO mare 13. All A Lady was unwanted in betting first-up at Scone, but only finished a half length behind Rose Of Savannah, and if she reproduces that will be around the finish, although also has to navigate across from a wide draw.

How to play it: Pentagon each way. Odds and Evens: Split.

Improving 3YO Warwick Farm filly 2. Ready's Girl looks the one to beat second-up despite climbing sharply in weight. Was very well backed resuming with a smart win at Kembla, and draws to get a nice trail with top country rider aboard.

Dangers: Muswellbrook 4YO gelding 1. Dubai Harbour hasn't missed a place in four starts in only his second prep, including a tough maiden win at Scone two runs back. Drawn wide here, but has handy tactical speed, and should be in the finish again. Beaten more than five lengths at $41.00 in a Class 2 at Coonabarabran doesn't inspire a lot of faith about 5YO Wauchope gelding 5. Chief Havoc, but that was behind city class Burning Crown who not only ran a record that day, has since won a BM 72 at Saturday's stand-alone Newcastle meeting in quick time. Previous two runs at Pt Macquarie were sound, and regular rider gets back on. Kempsey 4YO gelding 6. Sheeran can be harder to catch than the singer himself, but he looks well placed here down significantly in weight; while improving 4YO Coffs Harbour mare 10. Rosy Elsie is best of the rest.

How to play it: Ready's Girl to win and trifecta 1,2/1,2,5,6,10/1,2,5,6,10. Odds and Evens: Split.

Plenty of chances in this one, but lightly raced 4YO Newcastle stallion 4. Patagonian can make it two wins from his last three. Beat a handy maiden field two runs back under a big weight before doing his best work late in a strong BM 58 at Muswellbrook.

Dangers: Rival 4YO Newcastle mare 7. Constanzia stalked the speed before scraping home to win her maiden second-up, and rise in grade is off-set by a drop in weight. Improving 4YO Wyong gelding 1. Hubble finished off okay at big odds resuming behind smart stablemate Upper East Side, and trainer has given him plenty of time to recover. Coffs Harbour 5YO gelding 2. Brother Magic resumed off a long break to land his maiden this track before working home okay at Lismore, and looking for this longer trip now third-up; while 4YO local gelding 6. Dr Demon can peak third-up after finishing strongly from well back in his last couple on this track.

How to play it: Patagonian to win and box exacta 1,4,7. Odds and Evens: Split.

Well bred 4YO Newcastle mare 11. Alam Mo Na is one of the better maidens on the provincial and country scene, and looks supremely weighted stepping up in trip fourth-up. Has hit the line nicely from well off the speed in all three runs this prep, and this is peaking time.

Dangers: The hand goes on the heart again with 5YO Coffs Harbour gelding 9. Guest who has almost knocked up finishing hard into a placing from well back, without ever winning. Has 12 placings from 17 starts overall, and has hit the line all four runs this prep behind some better horses than most of these, and this is the lightest weight he has carried in a while. Newcastle 5YO gelding 4. Expiredtime took 25 runs to break his maiden in a weak race this track, but had been competing in much deeper fields, and draws to get a soft run; while rival 4YO Newcastle gelding 5. Into The Oblivion has only won once from 16 starts, but similarly will find this easier than his last few. Include 5YO Pt Macquarie gelding 6. Condover Hall in exotics who draws the inside and rarely runs a bad one.

How to play it: Alam Mo Na to win and quinella 9 and 11. Odds and Evens: Odds.

Alam Mo Na runs fourth at Gosford on October 31

Competitive battle, with a stack of chances again. Newcastle 4YO gelding 5. Bandahara has shown quick improvement in his first prep sailing home to just miss this track two runs back before rubber-stamping his potential with a nice win at Muswellbrook as a hot favourite. Leading rider sticks for top provincial stable.

Dangers: Newcastle 4YO gelding 7. Greenskeeper showed terrific versatility leading all the way to win his maiden last start after flashing home late in his previous two, and can give this a real shake from a suitable draw. Tuncurry 6YO gelding 4. Up The Stairs finished hard to win at home two runs back before a brave effort against stronger in the heavy at Pt Macquarie, and while he goes back up sharply in weight, less depth here, and he's much better back on top of the ground. Scone 6YO gelding 3. Yu Long Sheng Hui was right behind First Time Lucky two runs back before an even effort last start, but will have to overcome a tricky barrier. Newcastle 3YO colt 9. Dodecanese was very well backed resuming at Muswellbrook before going under by less than a length, and while he faces a tough task from a wide barrier, has generally cut his teeth against stronger opposition; while 5YO Pt Macquarie gelding 8. Shoreditch won a weaker race at Taree, and draws well, but another who is in poorly at the weights.

How to play it: Bandahara to win and first four 4,5,7/3,4,5,7,8,9/3,4,5,7,8,9/3,4,5,7,8,9. Odds and Evens: Split.

Very keen on 4YO Newcastle mare 4. The Deel Is Dun second-up for smart trainer/rider combination. Didn't do a lot first-up at Muswellbrook, but is a peak second-up performer, and last run at this track charged over the top from a mile back.

Dangers: Pt Macquarie 5YO mare 3. Our Girl Babs has struck a purple patch sweeping home to win her last two up to Class 3 level, and while the handicapper hasn't missed her here, just needs to find cover from an awkward draw to be powering into the finish again. Local 6YO mare 2. Natural Image has been tackling stronger BM 66 company since a dominant win this grade four runs back, but wide barrier is a concern. Pt Macquarie 4YO mare 7. Nicconi Lass improved to put away a weaker field comfortably at this track last start, but would need to find another length or two here rising in weight; while 4YO Cessnock mare 5. Apache Belle is consistent enough around this grade to be in the finish from an economical draw.

How to play it: The Deel is Dun to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Good tough sprint to finish, and doubt anything can stop progressive 3YO Wyong gelding 5. Upper East Side making it three wins from his last four, drawn to stalk the speed and pounce early in the straight. Came off a stronger race at Hawkesbury to overwhelm a useful field at Kempsey this grade last start, and stable has always had a big opinion.

Dangers: Talented 5YO Wauchope gelding 6. Salad Dodger has built a smart record from just 21 starts, winning two of his last three rocketing home from the back, but up significantly in weight; while 4YO local gelding 7. Fair Dinkum who finished strongly in consecutive Highways is clear best of the rest, despite rising in weight.

How to play it: Upper East Side to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Upper East Side wins at Kempsey on November 8

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