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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail out 6m from 900m to 350m and cutaway applies; 3m the remainder:

8. Raygun Express is a well-touted filly by Pierata on debut for the Richard and Will Freedman stable at Rosehill behind three progressive trials. Was strong through the line at her latest when finishing in front of Group 3 Black Opal winner King Of Pop, although was pushed out. Bred to handle soft going, and this shapes as an ideal starting point. 6. Blinked is better placed here 26 days between runs after failing to quicken against metropolitan opposition second-up. 7. Outcast Ally is a market watch resuming off two trials for only her second start. 5. Yvette draws inside third-up and coming back from a deeper provincial maiden; while 9. Vincetio gets blinkers added for her third start.

How to play it: Raygun Express to win

3. Manwari is trained on the course, and ready to break through third-up. Did his best work late when resuming in a handy maiden before let punters down at Warren when failing to attack the line after being backed into an odds-on favourite. Suited back at home on a bigger track. 2. Brannum is a rival local and the immediate threat despite drawing wide. Hit the line when beaten narrowly at Moruya resuming for just his third start. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, although 6. Sonic Scene at his third outing gets a nice class drop from two average runs at Canterbury. Another home tracker 9. Molteuno is a lightly raced improver who can add value into wider exotics.

How to play it: Manwari to win

3. Sir Franklin is a progressive four-year-old who arrives from the South Coast primed to grab a third consecutive win stepping up in class and depth. Showed tactical speed to twice dominate at BM 58 level, and while he’s taking on some better ones here, gets a 3.5kg weight drop in a race where most others are weighted up to their best. Hasn’t finished further back than second in six career starts. 1. Don’t Doubt Merlin is a sparingly raced five-year-old who can claim an overdue fourth win dropping back from a provincial BM 64 where he ran home okay off a five week break. All three career wins from only 10 starts have come on soft ground. 7. Magical Moments returns off a seven week break via an easy trial, and draws the inside. 4. Chico Casino is a wet tracker well over the odds after a tough third-up CL2 win in heavy going at Wellington; while stablemate 5. Shaddap is lightly raced and won three from six on soft or heavy tracks, but this is tougher.

How to play it: Sir Franklin to win

3. Jackpot Star is a lightly raced four-year-old trained on the course, and looms as the one to beat in a moderate lineup. Led all the way on debut at Wagga before disappointing back at home, then given a near six month spell before a fighting effort first-up at Albury behind a handy winner. Blinkers go on, and the outside barrier is no setback. Scratched from Wagga on Sunday to be saved for this. 1. Your Magic careered away to bolt in his maiden second-up carrying 2.5kg less, and thrives in soft ground with plenty of early speed. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Xspiritous who can improve sharply on a timely drop in grade well into the prep. 4. Hope And Glory is locally-trained and over the mark at big odds; so too lightly raced home tracker 9. Lombardi Lass improving second-up over more ground.

How to play it: Jackpot Star to win

1. The Big Blue can go one better again, and open his account at fourth start for a leading metropolitan stable, despite drawing the outside. Ran home nicely in a better lineup at Wyong when fresh before missing by a half head as a hot favourite at Scone from a similar midfield position. Peaks now, and importantly is drawn to stay well off the fence and get to the outside in the straight. 3. Jagerbomb ran home well into a place at big odds on debut at Wyong. 8. Angel City is a metro-based filly who stuck on okay when debuting at the provincials, and naturally fitter is pushed out a furlong further. 4. The Cristal is another lightly raced one knocking on the door behind a strong finishing first-up effort at Hawkesbury. 2. My Greek God, a stablemate of Angel City, is a market watch resuming behind two improving trials.

How to play it: The Big Blue to win

4. Jonny Be Swift hasn’t won for a while, but has placed in three of his last five against deeper opposition, and the wetter the better. Drops back to the suitable mile trip coming off a six week break, and in a wide race full of chances, he emerges as the clear best value. 8. Miss Bariloche is a reliable wet track mare well placed second-up off an eight week break after doing her best work late in a deeper grade. 3. Sir Sublime is a stablemate of the former coming off a dominant all-the-way third-up win on that same day. 1. Ronny Rock Art has been up for a long time, but gets a significant class drop from a poor run in the Coffs Harbour Cup. 6. Drunken Sailor is a provincial-based five-year-old up sharply in weight, but drops back from a much deeper CL3 at Eagle Farm. 5. Angels Cry drawn wide third-up goes in all trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Jonny Be Swift to win

5. Benamera is a tough provincial four-year-old tracking towards a second career win fourth-up in another very open race. Has worked home late into the money at the provincials in his last two, and significantly drawn to get to the outside over his pet trip. 1. Duke of Camden thrives on wet tracks, and will be hard to hold out back to this class third-up after finishing just over a length in a much better race at Wyong. 9. Thoughtful is trained here, and similarly knocking on the door fourth-up with good weight relief. 3. Write Your Own improving over a furlong further, and 12. Greygenta third-up; are both each-way contenders.

How to play it: Benamera to win

BEST BETS:
R2 3. MANWARI
R4 3. JACKPOT STAR

BEST VALUE:
R5 1. THE BIG BLUE

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Goulburn meeting