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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail true

1. Musumeci is an emerging three-year-old by Capitalist who made up good late ground from near last on debut in a better maiden at Tamworth. With that experience over more ground and on a track that will be either close to on back to Good; he gets his chance to break through. 4. Yanabah is well suited second-up after closing off okay in that same race as the top selection. 3. Takeover Lad is bursting to break through deep into the prep, and has been frshened since running home late into a place as an odd-on favorite. Has been in the money seven times from 11 starts. Watch the betting on 8. Stolen Summer, a filly by The Autumn Sun on debut for the Paul Messara-Leah Gavranich stable from the inside draw behind two quiet trials. 2. Star Of Salisbury has been only fair behind the placegetters in two runs this prep, but can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Musumeci to win

3. Jonny Be Swift is well placed to finally crack it for a third career win back from tougher provincial company, and with a couple of rivals being preferred at Sunday's Dubbo meeting. Kept chasing behind a smart one in heavy ground two starts ago, before holding his ground in a much tougher BM 64 at Wyong after being well supported at each way odds. Draws to get a cheap run just off the speed. 2. Descending Mist is a tough improver who will relish coming back from a stronger race deep into the prep. Swept home to win a similar race at Armidale two starts back before outclassed in a BM 85 at Tamworth. 1. Cascade Mountain is ultra consistent having won his last two as a short priced favourite. More depth here though, and has to get in from a trickier draw. 4. Nature Boy, a last-start all-the-way winner in deeper grade, is well in the mix again; while 8. Tycoon Lad back out in trip from a soft draw goes in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Jonny Be Swift to win

10. Silverturn is a lightly raced filly who can claim a tricky maiden at only her second start. Was disappointing on debut at Armidale as a hot favourite coming off two progressive trials, although was never suited in the run on a Soft 7, and is much better placed here on firmer footing. 2. Eclater, a Pierata three-year-old on debut in blinkers for the Greg Hickman stable at Warwick Farm off two quiet trials, can make a statement. 5. Sizzling Boy can run into the money dropping back from steeper provincial company third-up. Big watch on 12. Miss Arisa, a two-year-old filly by Headwater on debut for the John Ramsey yard at Muswellbrook. who starts behind a dominant trial win in soft ground, and was scratched from Dubbo on Sunday to be saved for this. 1. Crusader Razor is a market watch resuming off a long break and having his first run for the new Wyong stable since transferring down from the Chris Waller base in Qld.

How to play it: Silverturn to win

10. Mad Harry is a tough and honest four-year-old bursting to break through deep into his prep. Beat all bar the winner on the Beaumont track in heavy ground three starts back, and was stiff not to win at Armidale when working through traffic from midfield to miss by under half a length. Stays at the distance on the limit weight in what is a moderate affair. Watch the market on 2. Oakfield Mercury, a nicely bred colt by So You Think making his debut for the Kris Lees stable. Has been given two improving heavy track trials, and the leading jockey sticks. 1. Skit 'N' Scat is a lightly raced five-year-old who can improvely sharply second-up. 11. Magic Sorcerer is trained on the track and can peak third-up in a maiden with less quality. 4. Gloryess who is fit but drawn wide, and 5. Mr Chips, who finds a slightly weaker maiden well into the prep, both fight for minor money.

How to play it: Mad Harry to win

13. Fleetly is progressive, and swept home to land the maiden at her fourth start, beating the on top selection from the previous race. Has more than enough ability in this tougher test, just needs to get clear air from the inside draw by the top of the straight. 7. Raymond's Reward is progressive stepping up from an easy CL1 win against weak opposition in a non-TAB meeting, and draws to get a soft run on speed. 3. Interventionist is much better placed back on firmer ground. All four career wins from 18 starts have come on Good ratings, but he's drawn right off the track. 1. To Be Frank is fit and beat a handy CL1 field three starts back, but has to carry a big weight also from a wide draw. 4. Damascus Gate third-up off a freshen-up and another one scratched from Dubbo, 5. Always A Saint who is hard fit and continues to improve; and 12. Bright Legend fourth-up; all go into wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Fleetly to win

9. Lady Olenna is a lightly raced and promising filly who looks to have this at her mercy coming off a smart second start win from just off the speed at Scone as the hottest of favourites. Again drawn to get a lovely run for the same leading trainer/jockey combination, and the task made even easier with two of the early market rivals both starting at Dubbo on Sunday. 4. Too Darn Lovely has been disappointing in three runs back from a spell, but gets her chance in a weakened race. Was well backed before showing speed to lead at Quirindi six days ago, and while she was easily overhauled, the winner of that race is going great guns. 1. Rare Beauty improves significantly coming back from tougher BM 72 mares company at the provincials. So too can 5. Whistling Straits second-up, although does prefer softer ground. 6. Eighty Eight Stars resumes with no public trials, but is versatile and normally comes to hand in the prep, and did lead all the way to comfortably win a BM 58 at this track late last year. 8. La Pelago can run a race second-up off a break in weaker company, and unlike those two more fancied stablemates, was preferred here to Sunday's stronger Dubbo card.

How to play it: Lady Olenna to win

3. Mercantilist is a smart provincial filly reloading off a seven week break for only her second start, with a 4kg claimer booked to offset the weight. Charged home for an impressive debut win at Gosford as a hot favorite before being turned out. Fitted with an easy trial, and only has to get over from a wide draw to be the one to beat. 4. Rail Trail is an improver and genuine threat fifth-up. 5. Wasted Days ran home well into a place second-up at Bathurst, and winkers have been added. 2. Tigers Roar has tactical speed, and comes back from a deeper race at the provincials. Watch the betting on 1. Golden Passport first-up for the new Tamworth stable off a long break and quiet trial. 6. All Too Sneaky second-up, and 8. Divine Bene drawn out but with early speed; are the best of the rest.

How to play it: Mercantilist to win

BEST BETS:
R2 3. JONNY BE SWIFT
R6 9. LADY OLENNA

BEST VALUE:
R4 10. MAD HARRY

All the entries, form and replays for Monday's Gunnedah meeting