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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail true

5. Oh Arthur, a three-year-old by Flying Artie, makes the long trip up from Goulburn for his debut behind two quiet trials. Been working well, drawn to get a handy run off speed with a 2kg claim, and represents terrific value in a tricky race. 14. Vivika is a two-year-old in the Matthew Dunn yard and likely clear favourite returning off a five month break for only her second start, despite drawing wide. Has looked good through the line in two trials over the border, and only missed by a head on debut behind a smart one at Doomben. 2. Chilled With Ice is a stablemate of the former, and a big market watch at odds resuming off two trials. 7. Sources Link resuming from a handy draw and trained on the track, and at big odds 12. Insain Chaos, a Coffs-based two-year-old by Zousain on debut behind two trials; can both run forward races. 1. Barron is the best of the rest fourth-up.

How to play it: Oh Arthur to win

2. Chief Of Staff is well placed coming off a seven week freshen-up, and dropping down from metropolitan BM 64 level, with the blinkers removed. Had been in and around the money in three consecutive provincial outings before struggling in heavy going at Canterbury, but a return to drier ground and back a furlong in distance are big plusses. 14. Ziggy Rose is another Goulburn visitor well in the market second-up. Came off a 34-week break to charge home from a long way back behind a short-priced and dominant winner at Dubbo, and bred to get further. 5. Pride Of Savabella has run home well into a place in his last two maidens in country Qld. 9. Gold Puma has been working home okay all prep without winning, and draws to get a soft run; while Qld mare 10. Pharaline can add plenty of value into exotics.

How to play it: Chief Of Staff to win

2. Bollinger Miss is an Eagle Farm-based filly who can bounce back hard after getting little or nothing to suit in Group 3 company over the border 11 days ago. Prior to that had hit the line impressively at Doomben and Ipswich, and drawn to get plenty of cover back in the field, the drier the ground the better placed she is. 5. Headhunter has a big claim peaking fourth-up after charging home to miss narrowly in BM 68 grade over the border. 9. Silent Call is the clear best of the NSW hopes, dropping sharply in weight for this step up in class behind a dominant maiden win at Murwillumbah in heavy going as the hottest of favourites. 1. I’m Heroic is another tough Qld visitor who has won two of his last five, and ran home hard in the Rocky Guineas 11 days ago. 8. Ronny Bee who finished best to win the Guineas Prelude second-up, and 10. Xtra La Vita hard fit and coming off a maiden win at Ipswich; can both run into the minor money.

How to play it: Bollinger Miss to win

9. Magicon is a provincial-based four-year-old who can peak well into his campaign and stepping up significantly in trip. Placed twice at Hawkesbury earlier in the prep before enduring a tricky run on very heavy ground at Newcastle 18 days ago. Looking for this journey now. The market will be a key indicator with 6. Khor who returns off an eight week break via a quiet trial, and took on some deeper Saturday races in Melbourne back in autumn, winning a BM 70 at Sandown. 4. Sherriff Cody is honest enough and drawn to get an economical run just off the speed. 7. Behtar can improve sharply back on firmer ground and down in class after being beaten out of sight in consecutive metro runs in Sydney up to BM 88 level. 11. Everlasting Kiss has never raced better, but tackling much deeper opposition here from a wide draw.

How to play it: Magicon to win

1. Wonderland Star is a progressive mare who can go back-to-back coming back in distance three weeks between runs. Surged home from near last to to score at Murwillumbah second-up, and will carry the same weight again settling a little closer from a softer draw. 2. Monarch Express is well placed fourth-up from a soft barrier coming back from the Guineas Prelude, with a superior and stronger jockey taking over. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but keep safe 7. Hotzino third-up over more ground from the inside draw.

How to play it: Wonderland Star to win

5. Stratafy is a front-running provincial filly who will take a power of catching second-up over this trip in what is an open sprint. Led all the way to win a BM 64 at Gosford in early autumn before swamped late in a Provincial Qualifier a month later. Led for a long way resuming at Wyong when hard in the market when carrying 2kg more than she will here. 7. Zoutastic is an improving filly who ran home late first-up at Hawkesbury, and draws to get good cover. 1. Extreme Diva resumes off two easy and spaced trials, and while she will likely be forced a long way back from the outside draw, has a tidy fresh record. 2. Port Erin is very fit and heads south after some honest closing efforts in Qld up to BM 70 level. 4. Immortality is on an 11-day turnaround from an overdue CL1 win in country Qld, leading from barrier to box.

How to play it: Stratafy to win

5. Barber is a smart and sparingly raced metro four-year-old, well placed deep into the prep to claim the Listed and open feature. Did his best work late first-up in Listed grade at Randwick behind the smart In Flight who has since won again at Group 3 level before again finishing well in a Group 3 at Eagle Farm 18 days ago. Drawn to get the right run just off speed, and gets in with only 1.5kg over the minimum weight. 1. Compelling Truth is a powerhouse on speed sprinter who boasts a 50 percent winning record from 24 starts. Been given a month since digging in to win a Listed sprint at Eagle Farm coming off a similar let-up, and has enough tactical speed to off-set the wider draw. Keep safe 13. Tribeca Star, a talented Far North Coast five-year-old, who resumes off two progressive trials and has a smart fresh record. 8. Sha Of Gomer comes off a feature country win in Qld, and can produce his customary big finish in this tougher race dropping down to the minimum 54kg. 14. Lady Extreme is hunting a third straight win after narrowly toppling a BM 78 field at Rosehill; while tough 4. The Big Goodbye can run a race second-up at big odds.

How to play it: Barber to win

5. Beauer is an improving provincial mare primed to pounce second-up over a furlong further. Worked home nicely in a deeper CL3 at this track when resuming, and stable has a handy record when talking them on the road. 1. Colleano is a Qld four-year-old knocking on the door well into the campaign after missing by a whisker in a CL1 at Doomben. 3. Arribbiata is an honest and underated mare who was edged out by a nose third-up at Tamworth, and draws to get a soft run on or near the speed. 6. Think Romance is better placed here down in class second-up from the inside draw. 2. Oakfield Peewee is over the odds over a shade more ground; while 4. Caracoron heads the remainder second-up.

How to play it: Beauer to win

BEST BETS:
R3 2. BOLLINGER MISS
R4 9. MAGICON

BEST VALUE:
R6 5. STRATAFY

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Grafton meeting