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By Neil Evans

Track likely Heavy 9 and rail True

We start over the mile on a track that's finally had some respite from the rain, although showers may return during the card. Home track four-year-old 1. Highballer has been banging on the door all prep, and is the one to beat. Held on bravely to run a place in a Heat of the Provincial Midway C'ship before only collared late carrying 60.5kg in a country BM 64. Has plenty of wet track experience, and draws to either lead or sit right behind.

Dangers: Improving 3. Sound Of Cannons gets a significant drop in grade fourth-up, and draws the inside; while 4. Bastida fourth-up in his first full prep; and 5. Caboteur also over a suitable distance; head the rest.

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

Progressive and lightly raced three-year-old 3. Duke Of Gordon can peak third-up in his first genuine prep. Kept finding on a bog track last time in a similar-graded race, and strikes peak fitness now.

Dangers: Promising local filly 8. Nautical Miss is a clear threat at her fourth start having attacked the line in all three runs this prep, the last two as favourite. Her four-year-old stablemate 1. Blackall has had three runs back, charging home to miss narrowly in a country maiden 26 days ago, and the set weight conditions are a little advantage. Watch the betting on Myboycharlie three-year-old 5. King Charles who debuts from a sound draw, and has trialled okay on rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Duke Of Gordon to win and trifecta 3,8/1,3,5,8/1,3,5,8
Odds and Evens: Split

Competitive and tough sprint, with a few chances. Keen at the value on home track mare 4. Nicci's Song second-up in ideal conditions. Worked home late first-up off a long break in the feature Flat Knacker at Albury, and is a five furlong specialist unbeaten from two starts in heavy ground.

Dangers: Canberra five-year-old 2. Washington Towers (also accepted for Hawkesbury on Wed) is a tough short-courser who carried 61kg first-up to beat a handy BM 70 field at home. Normally holds form into the next run, and effective in wet ground, although taking on some useful provincial and metro sprinters here. City mare 5. Suprina has never raced better, winning three on the bounce from the front, although the last two were on firm footing against weaker country opposition. Must include ultra consistent metro four-year-old 1. Coal Crusher who resumes behind two trials and has a solid fresh record; while 6. Native Rock can improve further off a fourth-up CL1 provincial win.

How to play it: Nicci's Song each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Hard to see metro three-year-old 1. Aircraftman being beaten here after finishing off strongly third-up in a deeper city maiden despite over-racing. Has plenty of wet track experience, and this is weak.

Dangers: Improving mare 7. Flying Grace boxed on for a long way after leading in heavy ground second-up, and also right at home on wet tracks; while resuming mare 8. Iliana can run into a place first-up off a long break.

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

Content to forgive the rank failure of three-year-old filly 5. I Am Brazen at Canterbury last start when she was heavily pressured early before failing to respond in the heavy conditions. Had previously put two wins together in the country, the most recent by more than five lengths in heavy going. Back up in weight, but top metro hoop takes over.

Dangers: Metro six-year-old 1. Lord Zoulander has done very little in three runs back, but this is a drop in quality, and he looks reasonably well placed at the weights after the claim. Keep safe local five-year-old 3. River Mac who rarely runs a bad one in and around this grade. Underrated four-year-old 6. Mentalism is over the odds having not missed a place in four runs this prep, the last three behind well above average sprinters. Include 12. Rafha's Choice in wider exotics, dropping sharply in weight stepping back up into provincial company.

How to play it: I Am Brazen to win and box trifecta 1,3,5,6
Odds and Evens: Odds

Similar graded and open race over the mile to close the meeting. Like Queanbeyan four-year-old 2. Island Bay Boy at good odds getting back on preferred rain-affected ground in a thinner race deep into this prep. Was a dominant BM 80 winner at home two runs back on a Soft 7 before finding the surface too hard in the Albury Mile.

Dangers: Promising filly 9. Thousand Years is a natural threat. Rattled home late first-up at Goulburn, and bred to get much further than this. Progressive mare 8. Enduring Night hit the line impressively, resuming in a BM 72 Midway, and both career wins from 23 starts have come second-up. Expect tough five-year-old 1. Dream Runner to improve sharply second-up via a smart trial win.

How to play it: Island Bay Boy each way
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R1 1. HIGHBALLER
R2 3. DUKE OF GORDON

BEST VALUE:
R3 4. NICCI'S SONG

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