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By Tony Megahey

Regional training heavyweights Phil Sweeney and Matthew Dale provide the form, numbers and punting push for Albury’s Monday TAB meeting, while fortunes have improved spectacularly for Geoff Duryea.

While the celebrated Corowa veteran fancies the chances of emerging maiden Albert the Cat ($2.80 on TAB) in the fifth event, excitement is rising for far bigger occasions with the imminent comeback of his star city sprinters Front Page and his sister News Girl.

News Girl’s career was threatened by leg surgery, but she’s recovered, completed a rehabilitation program and will soon return to the racetracks.

So too Listed Flemington winner Front Page who was the early favourite for The Kosciuszko but was scratched after severely injuring himself in the float travelling to Sydney.

“The mare’s operation was a complete success, she’s back home after rehab in a clinic near Seymour and I’ll have her back in work in a few weeks.

“Front Page the same, he cut his head badly and other abrasions, but previously he was always a bomb-proof traveller.

“The timing was just cruel with those big races - seems to happen to the good ones,” offered the former jockey who rode Red Hope as an apprentice in the 1973 Melbourne Cup won by Gala Supreme.

“Too early to program races, just a big relief they’ll race again; you can wait a long time for a top horse.”

A racing horizon away from them is Albert The Cat and Geoff says the naming (Magic Albert-The Cat’s Magic) shouldn’t deter punters for a modest 1400m maiden sponsored by Choice’s Flooring Wodonga.

“He’s close to breaking through, his last run was really good - been missing the start and closing strongly. Hopefully it’s just inexperience and not a bad habit as he’s only had the three starts.

"We’re drawn well, the right jockey (Blaike McDougall) in a steady maiden and out to 1400m will suit him.”

Sweeney is represented in most of the seven races, some to be ridden by his daughter Brooke.

His best chance is in the final event with consistent three-race winner Come Get Me ($6), impressive scoring in heavy conditions recently at Albury and favoured by similar conditions on Monday.

A focus Dale runner is Nothing Compares (race 3-$5) a former New Zealand mare who contested the Group 1 Oaks last season and will be fitter for one run resuming from a lengthy spell for the Canberra training ace.

At present Albury is rated a soft 7 track in overcast conditions.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here