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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth. Selections based on a good to soft track.

Kris Lees has three 3yos on debut here and thought 7. Justitia trialled the best though wary this is a 1400m race so shorter trials can be misleading. She settled back and looked to do it easily running on into third and happy to suggest she should be hard to beat first-up.

Dangers: 2. Kumana was ridden a bit but responded well in his latest trial at Newcastle, easily his best trial to date. Another from the Lees camp and worth respecting. 4. Fonce Factor will likely get back and run on as she has done in the two placings this time in. Shapes as though 1400m will suit and expect her to run on again. The other Lees debutant 3. Political ran fourth in the same trial as Kumana and looked under the pump. He’s bred to be good so keep an eye on betting for the lead.

How to play it: Justitia WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Justitia runs fourth in a Newcastle trial on February 19

10. Now Or Never had excuses first-up at Dubbo when fairly solid in the market. Didn’t appear to settle well and found himself right off the track on the turn, yet still found the line with some purpose late. This is her 11th attempt but nicely drawn here so should have her chance.

Dangers: 1. Shamusu Sho is the big query runner with no recent trials. Ex-Bjorn Baker now with Cody Morgan and showed enough in his first two starts to go around $1.75 at Dubbo, when an even fourth, before switching camps. Respect the market. 5. Astrobaby backs up from a pretty handy third at Mudgee last week over this trip. Put two good runs together now and while drawn out she gets back and runs on. 8. Kyushu ran fifth in the same race at Scone in which Astrobaby ran second, prior to her more recent run, and should have some improvement up in trip and with barrier one as opposed to 11 last time.

How to play it: Now Or Never E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Now Or Never runs fifth at Dubbo on February 16

2. Discombe scored a tough all the way Muswellbrook win before again leading and being run down late at Scone over a mile. Better placed at the weights here, probably leads again, and is sure to be the one to run down.

Dangers: 1. All Too Difficult did get very close to Discombe at Scone last start but meets him 5kg worse off at the weights. His form can be a bit patchy but sure to be hitting the line strongly again. 14. The Timewarp is an 18 start maiden but it has to be said he's racing well this time in and was strong on the line at 1400m at Taree last time. Each-way. 5. My Empire is fitter for two runs back and will find this a bit easier than those races at provincial level. Drawn nicely and a bit of give in the track is handy for him.

How to play it: Discombe WIN ($1.45 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Discombe runs second at Scone on February 21

12. Meyer is the up and comer in the field and while beaten first-up at Newcastle as a firming favourite it was Shout The Bar who she was chasing and that horse won in town next start. Shapes as though 1400m will be ideal and expect she’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 1. Rubble has been outclassed in open company at his last two starts so is a lot better placed back in the same grade as his Gunnedah win two months ago. Generally an on-pacer, he did get back at Scone last time, and he should be competitive. 4. Heredero will need a bit of luck from a tricky barrier but he hasn’t been far away in similar company of late and getting back out to 1400m will suit him. It might also allow him to offset the wide gate by going forward. Each-way. 13. Raided started favourite in similar grade here a couple of weeks ago and battled on okay for fourth. Goes to 1400m and has each-way claims.

How to play it: Meyer WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Meyer runs second at Newcastle on February 17

4. Luff has to be a good each-way chance on his solid first-up Highway effort at Randwick, beaten two lengths at 1000m and he was still strong enough on the line. Blinkers go on, extra trip suits and is rarely too far away. Go well.

Dangers: 9. Madame Pauline started long odds-on at Scone first-up from a long spell and had her chance in running third with the second horse getting past her late. Has to be fitter for the run, draw is a bit sticky but looks hard to beat. 7. Hardspot gave nothing else a chance in leading all the way over this course a couple of weeks ago. Likely to push forward again and while this is harder, and against all comers, she’s in the mix. 3. Texas Storm is probably a better 1400m horse but reacts well if he strikes a fast run 1200m. Not disgraced in the Country Championships race at Taree and this is easier. Wouldn’t shock if he finished over the top of them.

How to play it: Luff E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Luff runs fifth at Randwick on February 29

7. Schappose looked the winner of a Highway at Rosehill last start but may have just failed to run out the 1400m and was outgunned late. Drawn ideally, back to 1200m is perfect and he should be in the finish.

Dangers: 12. Elle’s Nel is a get back and run on type who hit the line well as usual at Dubbo last time out. Trained here and while yet to win beyond 1000m she can run on into the finish somewhere again. 2. Whosyourhousemate had his first run for the stable winning over 900m back in November, a solid effort looking at his previous form over a mile or further. Trip suits here and trialled okay at this track recently. Keep in mind. 9. Jamaican Dream has been freshened up since a close second at Taree almost two months ago. Consistent type drawn well and chance to be in the finish.

How to play it: Schappose E/W ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Schappose runs second at Rosehill on February 22

10. Ligulate has had a perfect build up to this race with an eye-catching third here first-up then not disgraced behind Master Of Wine at Randwick. Blinkers go on and he will get his chance.

Dangers: 6. Hit The Target ran third in this race last year off an outside gate and has come up with a much more favourable alley this time around. Sound enough first-up at Canterbury and will be fitter, no shock to see him run well. 14. Luna Mia left the run just a bit too late when resuming at Newcastle, her first run since an unlucky effort in the Kosciuszko. Fitter for that and is unbeaten second-up. Must be respected. 5. Beauty Best could easily sneak a placing here, fitter for two runs back and ran well in this race last year when first-up from a long break. Each-way. 18. Whiteley looked a good thing in the earlier race and while this is a tougher task he was excellent in that first-up run six weeks ago and trialled okay since. Always shown ability and not out of it.

How to play it: Ligulate WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

READ comments from the trainer of every runner in the Qualifier here.

Ligulate's last start at Randwick on February 29

5. I’m On Break looks a promising type and he did it so easily when winning his maiden here a couple of weeks ago, with the jockey sitting up about 100m out. Fitter for that and drawn to lead again or get the box seat. Good chance for a repeat

Dangers: 7. Jahbath was formerly with David Hayes and makes his local debut without a public trial. Check betting for a push but he’ll need to be ready you’d think to win this. 8. The Eulo Queen could be a good longshot here. Technically she’s first-up but she did resume at Grafton on February 20 where she was declared a non-runner after the blindfold wasn’t removed in time and she missed the start by four lengths. Best form is at 1000m and she might run a cheeky race. 9. Blinkin Legend hasn't raced since December when placed over this course in similar class. Drawn well and no surprise to see her in the finish.

How to play it: I’m On Break WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

I’m On Break wins at Tamworth on February 25

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth