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By Neil Evans

Track is rated a Soft 5 with the rail in the TRUE position. The weather is partly cloudy with a possible shower.

We start with a very testing middle distance maiden on a track that should remain comfortably in the Soft range. Keen on provincial filly 7. Antarctic Pride ($5 equal favourite on TAB) getting out to this distance fourth-up. Has worked home well enough in her last two against deeper opposition and has a liking for soft ground.

Dangers: Rival Wyong filly 9. First Secret ($9.50) is a big threat deep into her prep. Has run home hard into the placings last three and couldn't be fitter. Big watch on Tamworth three-year-old 2. Go Seeking ($7) who has been given nearly four weeks since disappointing as an easing favourite. Drawn wide for the extra journey but far more effective in soft going rather than heavy while the longer trip is also a plus for 5. Searchlight ($8) third-up. Include 3. Pep ($9) from a better draw, 8. Croatian Madame ($13) back in preferred soft ground and backmarker mare 12. My Khaleesi; ($9) all in wider exotics.

How to play it: Antarctic Pride to win and take the first four numbers -
2,7,9/2,3,5,7,8,9,12/2,3,5,7,8,9,12/2,3,5,7,8,9,12
Odds and Evens: Odds

Progressive three-year-old 1. Klinsmann ($2.40 fav) did everything but win second-up at Coffs when nailed in the last few strides. Right at home in soft ground and peaks third-up with a senior country rider back aboard.

Dangers: Improving mare 5. Angela Sistina ($6.50) was backed from $4.20 into $3.60 when narrowly beaten first-up and the stable has made key gear changes. After three runs back, 4. He's Spoken ($21) can figure back down in weight from the inside draw. Consistent 7. Flying Squad ($3.90) rarely runs a bad one and suited coming back 100m in trip, while expecting a sharp improvement from six-year-old 2. Sacred Of Mo ($31) at his second start.

How to play it: Klinsmann to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Improving three-year-old 1. Star On Fire ($3.30 fav) was solid enough in the market when chasing well in soft ground on debut behind a hard fit winner. He can bounce off that run and strike in a race with less depth.

Dangers: Well bred 3. Menotti ($5.50) disappointed first-up when hard in the market but can improve with a weight drop here. From a better barrier fifth-up off a long break, 9. Broadbeach Dancer ($5) improves, while watching the betting on provincial filly 13. Power Conductor ($6) seven weeks between runs via a steady trial.

How to play it: Star On Fire to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good pressure all the way in this sprint and that augurs well for four-year-old 2. Dalavin ($2.80 fav) who is ready to win again deep into the prep. Hit the line well in a Class 3 three runs back before fading from on speed in a much deeper Highway, then beaten narrowly by a talented one in a country Class 3 when backed from $5 into $3.60. Rolls forward to stalk the speed and suited back to this shorter trip.

Dangers: Similarly, 3. Aunty Monnie ($4.20) is well placed from a good draw coming back from an even run in that same Highway. Tough five-year-old 1. Bengalla Bay ($15) will find this easier than his last couple at Scone, although draws wide and the handicapper hasn't missed him with 63.5kg. Honest mare 5. Kinjina ($3.50) is first-up and should sprint well fresh.

How to play it: Dalavin to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Potential match races in this class, with two runners rating well above the rest. Lightly raced 8. Mirror Queen ($2.40 fav) is one of the more exciting middle distance fillies in country NSW. Appreciated firmer footing sweeping home for a dominant Class 1 win at Tamworth third-up, and as long as the track doesn't get any worse than the current Soft 5 she can settle back again from the wide draw and produce a superior closing finish.

Dangers: Progressive Newcastle filly 5. Exolay ($3.50) shoots for two straight wins over a little more ground. Came off a five-week break to charge home in a dominant display at Port, and her record already points to her winning better races than this. Gap to the rest, although expecting a much better run fourth-up from three-year-old 3. Superdeel ($34) who was soft in betting and ran accordingly at Tamworth, but a little less depth here. Improving three-year-old 10. Global Sensation ($19) relished a wet track to bolt in his maiden over further, while provincial four-year-old 12. Oakfield Warpaint ($6.50) powered home to win a weaker race at Coonamble a fortnight back.

How to play it: Mirror Queen to win and quinella 5 and 8
Odds and Evens: Split

Feature race of the day throws up plenty of chances. Like the value of progressive five-year-old 10. Hit The Rim ($6) fourth-up and out to this distance at the right time. Charged home to win a handy BM 66 at Dubbo two runs back before holding his spot in a tougher Highway 16 days ago. Gets a nice 3kg weight drop for this.

Dangers: Honest seven-year-old 2. Reward Seeker ($12) isn't far off another win after working home late behind a smart winner in the Wellington Cup run at Dubbo. Has a 30% win rate from 22 starts and comfortable in soft ground, but up sharply in weight. Another tough seven-year-old 1. Hit The Target ($6.50) will appreciate the drop back from deeper metro BM 72 grade fourth-up, although an even bigger task carrying 62kg. Was scratched from Newcastle on Saturday to be saved for this. Talented five-year-old 6. Patrick May ($7) has been finding the line okay in a handy class sprints and is ready for this longer trip, while including 4. Mandalong Tapit ($15) who likes it soft and 7. One For Betty ($13) fourth-up, in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Hit The Rim each-way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Speedy Tamworth four-year-old 1. Tools Down ($8) can return with a bang off a near six-month spell. Was put out after failing in a BM 58 here mid-January but reportedly has been working well. No public trials, but that's typical of the stable and he comes to hand quickly.

Dangers: Provincial filly 2. Asherla ($2.60 fav) drops back from BM 64 metro grade, has a smart second-up record and is well treated at the weights in a country Class 2. Big watch on 4. Taketheshot ($3.10) who heads the rest fifth-up and down in weight, with a significant jockey change.

How to play it: Tools Down to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R4 - 2. DALAVIN ($2.80 fav)
R5 - 8. MIRROR QUEEN ($2.40 fav)

BEST VALUE:
R6 - 10. HIT THE RIM ($6)

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