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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

1. Lune D’Excellence is a talented mare that has been placed in three of six starts. She hasn’t raced since finishing sixth at Ipswich in July and has had two trials in preparation for this resuming run. 2. Kooky has had two runs back from a spell at Port Macquarie and performed well enough in each of them and has claims again. 3. Birdy Girl just managed to beat home Kooky when they last clashed at Port Macquarie and is worth including among the main chances, while 6. Fast Blue has been just behind the placings in his latest two starts and has minor claims.

How to play it: Lune D’Excellence WIN.

7. Seething Seb ran well when finishing fourth at Grafton three runs ago and has since followed a sixth at Port Macquarie with a fifth on the Beaumont track at Newcastle when not beaten too far. He gets his chance to show up here. 8. City Gold Ready did the job well when scoring a strong win at Armidale when last produced and can show up again with a repeat. 6. Mission To Win looked good winning a couple on end in August and September and can lift on his latest two runs in this. 2. Kosuke has been tackling tougher opposition in his recent runs either side of a spell and looks nicely placed against these.

How to play it: Seething Seb EACH WAY.

1. Buzz Saw failed to fire on debut at Grafton but has since performed well when finishing third at big odds at Armidale and then running second at Port Macquarie. He shows potential and should take plenty of beating. 3. Outoftheoffice followed a Grafton second placing with a last start midfield effort at the same track. He warrants thought here. 11. Varazze has finished second in her latest two starts at Muswellbrook and Taree and is knocking on the door for a win, while 12. Supido Star is a filly on debut after four trials and bears close watching.

How to play it: Buzz Saw WIN.

1. Rustemo has finished second in both of his runs since resuming from a spell and has been placed in three of his five starts in total. He’s drawn to advantage here with Aaron Bullock to ride and gets his chance to break through. 5. Paralia was placed in a couple on end at Port Macquarie and has since finished fifth at that track and then at Scone. He has the ability to get into the placings again. 3. River Biscotte was close-up when third when clashing with Rustemo last time out and should be thereabouts again. 7. Honeyhill is on debut after three trials and could show up without surprising.

How to play it: Rustemo WIN.

1. Santatime was a winner at Taree in March of last year and then ran second before being spelled. He returned from a lengthy layoff with a second at Port Macquarie and followed that up with a third on the Beaumont track at Newcastle. 3. Calamity Fox has been racing well with a second at Port Macquarie being followed by a win at that track. 6. Fox Reign showed improvement when a last start fourth at Muswellbrook. 8. Set To Prophet wasn’t beaten far at Moree last time out and has place claims.

How to play it: Santatime WIN.

3. Grey Effects was a strong winner at Coffs Harbour in September and then had a trial before flashing home for a third at Port Macquarie. He backed that up with another third at Doomben last time out and can feature here if the breaks go his way. 8. What A Rush won well at Port Macquarie before a sixth at Grafton and is not out of this. 6. Love Child won at Muswellbrook two starts ago and resumes here on the back of a midfield Highway effort at Randwick in June. 5. Calido Magic disappointed at Grafton last time out but can improve.

How to play it: Grey Effects WIN.

2. Bantarki won at Port Macquarie when resuming and since followed a third at that track with a last start third as favourite at Taree when leading. He can bounce back to winning form here. 3. Swift Charm resumed with a midfield Port Macquarie effort and backed that up with a strong finishing second at Grafton. 9. Mindspace resumes after a Grafton trial win and can sprint well fresh. 10. Bold Hoi Ho is also resuming and ran third in the trial won by Mindspace.

How to play it: Bantarki WIN.

4. Jo Jo Sun had been racing well with a Port Macquarie win two starts ago being followed by a last start last at Warwick Farm when beaten just over 5.5 lengths. He will find this easier and has gate one. 5. Savvyrocker won well at Port Macquarie when last produced and can show up again with a repeat of that. 6. Toomuchinformation has been out of the placings in recent runs but is capable at best. 10. Go Isla Go has been just behind the placings in her two latest runs and has minor claims.

How to play it: Jo Jo Sun WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 4 (1) Rustemo.
Race 6 (3) Grey Effects.

Best Value:
Race 2 (7) Seething Seb.

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Kempsey Cup meeting