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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 6 and rail true:

We start on rain-affected ground with the provincial-based sprinters. Local More Than Ready three-year-old 4. Twobobrob was close-up on debut at Newcastle when well backed. Had previously won an open class trial on soft ground, and fitter now, shapes to get the ideal conditions. Was scratched early from the next race to run in this.

Dangers: Trained on the track as well, 1. Copper Moon tracked the speed and finished strong to win on debut in heavy going. Improving home filly 5. Artieos has been placed in three from four this prep, with an edge in race fitness, and also comfortable on wet tracks. Gap to the rest headed by stablemate of the former 2. Bowie Of Dubai who dug in late for a strong first-up provincial win against the older maidens; while last start provincial maiden winner 3. He's Purring can run into the minor money from the inside draw.

How to play it: Twobobrob to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Like the opening race, not much between a few of these, but debutant hometracker 3. Candlelit looms as the one to beat. Showed good cruising speed to easily win a trial here under a hold, has since been gelded, and bred to thrive in the conditions being by Press Statement out of a Mossman mare.

Dangers: Big market watch on Godolphin four-year-old 1. High Plateau who has been prepared to debut as a gelding behind three improving trials, and bred to handle the ground. Keep safe too metro colt 4. Global Empire returning for only his second start behind a trial win.

How to play it: Candlelit to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Got plenty of time for progressive metro filly 8. Bindi's Choice who peaks at her third start back down a little in weight. Has worked home nicely in two runs to start her career, the latest over 1200m run in a slick 1.09.6 mins, and like most of the Denman stock goes in all conditions.

Dangers: Home tracker 1. Headstock presents over the odds second-up; while Irish-bred 11. Fiancetto improves at her second start.

How to play it: Bindi's Choice to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Now for the juveniles, and there are plenty of hopes. Like the value about I Am Invincible colt 1. Altair I Am on debut for a leading Rosehill stable. Was strong through the line in a recent trial win, has options from the draw, and winkers have been applied.

Dangers: Big respect for the stablemate colt, More Than Ready colt 5. Mr Caleb who won the second of two recent metro trials, and drawn to get to the middle of the course if the pattern goes that way. Both well-bred The Autumn Sun colt 2. Autunno at his third outing; and 8. The Years drawn inside at second start; are also in the each-way mix.

How to play it: Altair I Am to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Always fair depth in these races at this level, with a few looming over the odds. Despite a wide draw, like five-year-old 3. Vucetich resuming off a forward trial, and back in grade. Was competitive in much deeper company last spring, and right at home on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Beautifully-bred three-year-old 1. Golden Age resumes behind a quiet trial; while 8. Piece Of Turf shooting for a fourth straight win up in class; and 12. Zouologist off a tough country BM 66 win; both go in exotic bets.

How to play it: Vucetich to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tough affair here. Improving city three-year-old 3. Crazy Russian can peak at his third start. Has found the line well in two runs from just off the speed; and drawn to get to the middle.

Dangers: Progressive 5. Ring Ahoy has plenty of ability and was well specked in the market before finishing hard first-up in metro company, but doubt the inside draw late in the meeting will do him any favours. while including 6. Separatist fourth-up in exotics.

How to play it: Crazy Russian to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Wide open and strong feature race of the day. Talented metro mare 13. Essonne has been given a quiet trial since dumping the rider at Canterbury in a night meeting 13 days ago. Previously had swept home to beat a handy metro BM 72 field third-up, and will finish this off strong getting on to a suitably bigger track, under a big drop in the weights. Boasts a 50 percent win rate from only eight career starts, with all four coming in soft ground.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old 6. So Good So Cool also charged home from the back first-up in a metro BM 72; and is the clear threat; while 1. Byron will roll across on speed from the wider draw, and give a sight on his preferred soft ground. Smart four-year-old 4. Mobstar will likely have to navigate through traffic getting back from the inside gate, but she's another one who fires off any length of break. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Essonne each way
Odds and Evens: Split

We finish over the longest journey of the day, and in another open battle, it stacks up nicely for provincial mare 5. Ausbred Bluebird peaking third-up. Has worked home solidly in two similar fields up to this trip, and both CL1 wins so far came on soft ground over further last prep.

Dangers: Honest and tough 3. Endorphins comes back in grade and trip three weeks between runs. Emerging three-year-old 4. Midori Burly has trialled quietly since a dominant off-speed win in weaker country grade. Keep safe too convincing last start winner 7. Whetu who rises in grade; while locally-trained 8. Jamberoo up in distance off a Midway CL1 win; and 10. Sulwaan who beat a promising one in a provincial maiden last start; can both add further value into the exotics.

How to play it: Ausbred Bluebird to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 8. BINDI'S CHOICE
R2 3. CANDLELIT

BEST VALUE:
R8 5. AUSBRED BLUEBIRD

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Provincial-Midway Championships meeting at Kembla Grange