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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and Rail True so likely gradual trend away from the fence

Not often you see 2YO's and 6YO's in the same maiden, and for that reason, this will swing heavily on fitness and tactics. Newcastle 3YO gelding 3. Dansk Havn is knocking on the door finishing close-up in his last three runs. Draws to park just behind the speed and much stronger rider goes on.

Dangers: Big watch on 2YO gelding and first starter 4. Controlthewitness (Star Witness x Cruise Control by Sebring) for leading Newcastle stable whose had two quiet trials; while 6YO Newcastle gelding 1. Birkdale hasn't started for well over two years, but has trialled strong.

How to play it: Dansk Havn to win and box trifecta 1-3-4.

The girls' edition has more depth and quality, although 3YO Newcastle filly 5. Airlie Avenue looks the one to beat on last two fast-finishing runs. Hard to believe she's only placed once from six, but appears much stronger this prep, and should get enough pace on up front to rattle home over the top.

Dangers: Stablemate and fellow 3YO filly 4. Nzuri Mwali resumed with a tidy placing in a decent maiden at Kempsey, and should improve again up in trip; while local 3YO filly 3. Pentagon comes out of that same race when even through the line behind the winner, and is also suited by the extra trip. Doubt anything else can win.

How to play it: Airlie Avenue to win.

Airlie Avenue runs second at Port Macquarie on April 26

Even and weak race, with most having done very little so far. Local 3YO filly 12. Yulong Jupiter probably has the most scope and potential, and was good behind The Soloist three runs back at Goulburn. Draws the widest barrier, but extra trip will allow her to settle back and work home into the finish, and gets blinkers for the first time.

Dangers: The form of Newcastle gelding 7. Taroba doesn't look flash on paper, but he's tackled stronger maidens, and is over the odds in this company. Former Victorian 3YO campaigner 3. Nobody's Perfect has been okay in two runs this prep at Wyong and Newcastle. Coffs Harbour 3YO gelding 4. Ramrod is yet to run a place from four starts, but has been competitive enough against better opposition to be a factor here. Newcastle filly 9. Free Verse didn't do much back in the pack on debut this track, but that was a much deeper race so can improve into the finish off that experience. Local mare 11. Snuggle Bug is still searching for her first win after 26 starts, but if she reproduces anything near her last couple of runs hitting the line from well back, she'll be in the finish.

How to play it: Yulong Jupiter to win and first four 3-7-12/3-4-7-9-11-12.

Good race, with plenty of chances, headed by local mare 3. Typhoon Bonny who is a noted first-up performer. Will go forward from a middle gate and park on or near the speed, and was a dominant winner this track and grade last time around.

Dangers: Gosford-trained gelding 8. Neretva has an ordinary strike rated, but just missed when heavily backed at Taree last start, and nearly his best runs are at this track. Gosford 6YO gelding 2. Ribs resumes off a seven month break, but looked forward at the trials, and normally comes to hand early in the prep. Wyong mare 4. Classy Anna has been a little disappointing in three runs this prep, but better ridden quieter. Did run Stone Cold to a head in a BM 73 last winter. Wyong mare 5. Dual Escape has been up for a while, and really hit the line hard at Taree last start off a freshen-up. Will go back from a wide draw, but look for her late. Taree mare 6. Lobban Hood put two wins together in weaker grade before outclassed at BM 80 level. This is tough enough too, but back in trip and with a 4kg claim should put her around the finish.

How to play it: Typhoon Bonny to win and first four 2-3-8/2-3-4-5-6-8.

Same graded gallopers over the middle trip stacks up nicely for improving 3YO Newcastle filly 2. Dundee Lee who looks the one to beat. Was flat resuming over a shorter trip this track before finding the line nicely in a fillies and mares BM 64. Ready to peak third-up.

Dangers: Local 5YO mare 4. Splash Of Lime doesn't win often, but if she gets enough speed to chase up front, watch for her powering into the finish over an ideal trip. Last couple of strong finishing efforts from 5YO Newcastle mare 7. Longchamp Lass have been good enough to figure here, and in well at the weights after rider's claim.

How to play it: Dundee Lee to win.

Another fairly open contest. Wyong 3YO filly 4. Havenot disappointed resuming in a CL2 at Muswellbrook when well backed. But that was her first run in more than four months, and draws a much better gate here against slightly weaker opposition.

Dangers: If local 5YO gelding 5. Bengalley Lad can get over from a wide gate, he'll be hard to catch. Has natural speed, and resumed with a dominant all-the-way win at Kempsey in weaker company. Newcastle 3YO gelding 2. Akeed has trialled strong, but hasn't fired either side on race day in two runs back. Normally third-up is a peak in his prep, but will need some luck from a wide draw under a big weight. Rival Newcastle filly 3. Asama follows a similar path having won back-to-back maiden and class 1 races in the spring, but done little in two runs back. Her best would put her in the finish, but also draws a wide barrier.

How to play it: Havenot to win.

Very keen on local filly 6. Nicconi Lass over her pet trip, from a good draw, and sensationally in at the weights after rider's 3kg claim. Ran a close second at Grafton in similar grade off an eight week break, and maps as the one to beat.

Dangers: Local filly 3. Apache Belle has finished off strong in all three runs this prep, and again will drift back from a wider draw, but watch for her charging home late. Muswellbrook 4YO mare 8. Magic Era ran them off their legs for a dominant debut win over a year ago. She returned off a long break with a poor run over the short course at Taree nine weeks back, but has since trialled nicely, and should be competitive over this trip.

How to play it: Nicconi Lass to win.

Nicconi Lass runs fifth at Grafton on May 6

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