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By John Schell

Selections based on a heavy track

9. Charmed Destiny has drawn the rails here and has been racing well with a win at Port Macquarie three starts ago being followed by solid runs at Tuncurry and then again at Port Macquarie. He likes wet tracks and should take plenty of holding out. 2. Solar Power scored a strong Port Macquarie win last time out and the step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem. 3. Maui hasn’t been too far away of late and has place claims. 5. Castel Trosino was midfield behind Solar Power at his latest start and isn’t out of this.

How to play it: Charmed Destiny EACH WAY

1. Homeland has been placed in each of his three starts since resuming and gets his chance to break through with a win here. 3. Sharman Pete resumes and has had two trials in preparation. 4. Temple Bells has been racing well with a few recent placings, while 7. Labarna is handy at best and could sneak into the placings.

How to play it: Homeland WIN

8. Lucky Neko resumes here having had two thirds from four starts. She failed to beat a runner home in a recent trial but should be primed to run well. 12. Ol’ Mate Coop was placed behind Shaggy on debut and resumes here. 6. Zouandme resumes for a new stable after a solid trial, while 11. Dirty Does It after a trial and has a wide alley to overcome.

How to play it: Lucky Neko WIN.

5. Monarch Express won his maiden at his third start back in January. He resumes here from an outside gate but has the ability to score again. 4. Cool Fizz scored a good win at Taree three starts ago and can bounce back here if she can get a run to suit. 1. Cabsav resumes and is a two-time winner first-up. 10. Bondi Prophet is resuming and has shown enough talent to be rated a chance.

How to play it: Monarch Express WIN

5. Risk For Reward finished second at Ballina before being spelled and has won a trial at Casino leading into this return to racing. He’s been placed in four of eight starts and can break though here. 3. Jed hasn’t been too far away at his latest two starts and has a good draw. 6. Rock The Machine is yet to be placed but is far from the worst here, while 7. Sivo could sneak into the minor money.

How to play it: Risk For Reward WIN

6. Olivershare resumed from a spell to score a win as favourite at this track at just his second start. He’s drawn the rails here and gets the chance to go on with the job. 1. Colleano wasn’t beaten far when finishing second at the Sunshine Coast last time out after leading. 4. Bring Me Saki scored a strong Gatton victory last time out and has claims on that. 7. Yalla resumed with a solid second at Port Macquarie and can be in the finish with a repeat of that.

How to play it: Olivershare WIN

5. Resurrected hit the line well from back in the field for a last start second at Ipswich and he has a handy overall record. 1. Hardley Grey won here three starts ago and ran well when a last start second at Casino. 2. Caledonian won in a small field at Newcastle last time out and has claims on that effort, while 6. Wilderness Star is a chance if she can get her own way in front.

How to play it: Resurrected WIN

5. Veandechance raced on the speed and did the job well to score a last start win at Taree on the back of a solid Highway effort at Rosehill. She looks set to run well again here. 1. Bean Foggy has a consistent record and was a last start second at Ballina. 7. Badgers Nuts has been racing well and should be thereabouts despite the wide gate, while 8. Flying Birds wasn’t beaten far at the Gold Coast at his latest start.

How to play it: Veandechance WIN

2. Beauty Eight broke his maiden on a heavy track at Casino at his fourth start in a race and he has the tactical speed to overcome the wide draw and go on with the job here. 3. He’s A Copy Boy has run well in both of his runs back from a spell and has claims again. 9. Do It For You will find this easier than a last start Eagle Farm effort, while 10. Merapi has a win and a third at Port Macquarie since resuming from a spell and can show up again.

How to play it: Beauty Eight WIN

3. Shamadan resumed with a close-up fourth at Doomben and this looks a nice race for her to break through again in having shown talent as a two-year-old. 9. Pickupstixx has been placed at this track in his latest two starts and can be thereabouts. 7. Church Rock won at Lismore before being spelled and can sprint well fresh. 8. Cosmic Fortune is a last start Casino winner that has claims.

How to play it: Shamadan WIN

Best Bets:
Race 6 (6) Olivershare.
Race 9 (2) Beauty Eight.

Best Value:
Race 1 (9) Charmed Destiny.

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Grafton meeting