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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true:

5. Immortal Storm is a promising yet costly three-year-old who will jump at long odds-on for only his fourth start, and naturally has this at his mercy. Has placed in all three runs so far against deeper opposition, the latest beaten under a length at Grafton. Again drawn to get the right run; and should only be a matter of times and margins. 2. Purple Kitty has been mixing his runs all prep, but is trained here and drawn the fence he can run the quinella. 6. Indian Hills is an ex-Victorian mare, and betting watch, resuming for the new Coffs stable 33 weeks after failing on debut.

How to play it: Immortal Storm to win; quinella 2 and 5

2. Myriad is another ex-Victorian now in a strong NSW provincial stable, and well placed to break through first-up as a gelding off a 30 week break. Didn’t fire across his initial campaign in autumn, but in sharper hands now, and has been fitted with two improving trials over this shorter race trip. Drawn to get cover just off the speed, and the clear one to beat. 1. Ex Wife is well into his first full prep, and can run the quinella. Blinkers come off, gets a handy draw, and significantly comes back from tougher metropolitan opposition. Watch the betting on lightly raced 3. Trumper returning off two solid trials for the leading provincial yard. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Brown Sugar, a provincial-based filly by Pierata on debut behind an eye-catching trial, and 8. Red Chick, improving into her second start and drawn the fence; who can battle for minor money.

How to play it: Myriad to win

7. Crashmyplaya is a country-based and hard fit stallion with a big finish, bursting to break through fifth-up. Has charged home from the back in his last two here to miss narrowly, but from a softer draw this time he can park a bit closer, and just needs a clear crack at them from the top of the straight. 4. Talk About Layla has found the line well from tricky draws in two runs to start her career, but again will likely be forced a long way back from the outside gate. 3. Sara’s Rocket is locally-trained, and a third start improver with winkers going on. 9. Temple Bells looms over the odds at the weights second-up; while 5. Argerich from a low draw is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Crashmyplaya to win

1. Aye Aye Skipper is a consistent and handy five-year-old trained on the course, and ideally placed to resume with a bang. Was strong through the line in winning a recent trial, normally comes to hand early, drawn to get the right run on speed, and gets some weight relief after the jockey’s claim. 2. Savvyrocker is a rival local mare and big threat fourth-up on a quick turnaround after attacking the line in her last two. 7. She’s A Wild One is very fit deep into the campaign, and comes off a last start maiden win; while 6. Miss Mazerati improving second-up from a softer draw, and at bigger odds 4. Wine Time fourth-up, can both add value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Aye Aye Skipper to win

2. Quick Buck is a very consistent four-year-old, and best placed to claim an open and tactical staying affair. Won two straight at Grafton to launch the prep before being placed in three straight at this level, the latest after going off a $3.40 favourite in a field with more depth. Hard fit and drawn to get a soft run just off speed, he will take some holding out with any clear run over the final 400m coming back in distance. 3. Fulmen Filou has more than enough ability, and incredibly has beaten all but the winner in his last five since late May, including the latest fast-finishing CL2 effort at Moree when resuming off a 16 week break. Bred to run this trip out second-up, but will likely have to settle a long way back from a wide draw. 4. Venom Wolf also draws wide, but is fit and reloads off an impressive win in weaker grade when flying home from the back. 6. Yamba’s Girl has ability, and drops significantly in weight for this longer assignment. 1. Rockbarton Icon beat home the top selection last start, but rises in weight from a much tougher draw, and 7. Highland Hustle who hasn’t been out of the placings in her last four, can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Quick Buck to win

2. Credit Controller is an underrated mare, and terrific value having beaten all bar the winner in her last two, including the Casino Cup. Kept ticking over with an easy trial, winkers come off at the right time, and hits peak fitness for this. 8. Golden Copper is a sparingly raced mare who can give another big sight from the front third-up over further after leading all the way in a CL2 at Coffs. 10. Naughty Nurse showed good improvement at this level third-up, and looks well treated on the limit weight despite drawing wide. 11. Wilderness Star tackles a stronger race, but is drawn to get an economical run right behind the speed. 3. Change The Date drawn inside is the best of the rest, along with 5. Golden Honour improving second-up over more ground.

How to play it: Credit Controller to win

2. Iron Fury is an improving provincial four-year-old well placed second-up to upset a short-prriced favourite. Ex-Victorian who stuck on okay behind a smart and dominant winner first-up for 19 weeks on the Beaumont track, and fitter now back to country level. 5. Shotgun Bella is the stablemate from the Nathan Doyle yard, and clear market fancy resuming from the inside draw behind a strong trial. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Etoile Filante dropping in class second-up, and was scratched from Gosford on Tuesday to be saved for this. 7. Magnolia Jewel is best of the rest from a low draw, and can figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Iron Fury to win

BEST BETS:
R2 2. MYRIAD
R4 1. AYE AYE SKIPPER

BEST VALUE:
R5 2. QUICK BUCK

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