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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 1m for Showcase Cup day meeting

The maidens get us rolling at set weights, and local four-year old perennial place-getter 4. Trumped Up can break through at his 15th start, third-up this prep. Was very good from a long way back at Muswellbrook behind a promising provincial filly, and the blinkers are back on. Significant jockey change as well with the "Raging Bull" hopping aboard.

Dangers: Scone filly 13. Lapseki is the immediate threat second-up with gear changes over a bit more ground. Expecting big improvement third-up from rival Scone three-year-old 8. Quan who had little or no room and wasn't suited around the traffic chaos track at Armidale, and blinkers come off; while progressive three-year-old 6. Apache Red is on the next line getting out to an ideal trip fifth-up in his first prep.

How to play it: Trumped Up to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Trumped Up runs third at Muswellbrook on April 9

Now the youngsters, and talented Scone colt 1. Baby Wong resumes in a suitable race at set weights, with winkers replacing blinkers. Was ultra competitive in tougher black-type races last spring, and is the one to beat here over this distance.

Dangers: Promising provincial filly 9. Sweet Ruby took over on the turn and careered away for a dominant second-up maiden win, and beautifully drawn to stalk the speed again. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Blow Dart who drove hard to win a thinner race on debut at Dubbo, and while this is tougher, draws to get a nice trail off the speed. Watch the betting on debutant provincial filly 5. Keynote off two recent progressive trials.

How to play it: Baby Wong to win and quinella 1 and 9. Odds and Evens: Odds

Tricky affair, although keen at the value on Scone filly 13. Cross Step getting on to a firmer surface. Didn't finish off when well backed on debut, but that soft track was shifty, and much better off here rolling forward over a shorter journey.

Dangers: Emerging three-year-old 5. Anselmo resumes off a solid trial, and will be strong late. Must include home track filly 12. C'mon And Love Me who looks ready to pounce off two progressive runs. A query dropping back in trip, although gets in light after the claim. Watch the market on Scone filly 14. Written Verse resuming at big odds for a new stable off a steady trial.

How to play it: Cross Step each way and box exacta 5,12,13. Odds and Evens: Split

Wide race. The progression of provincial four-year-old 2. Ready By Design is enough to see him win a third time in four starts. Has charged home in his last few at BM 64 level, including Gosford three weeks back, carrying bigger weights, and drops a crucial 4kg for this.

Dangers: Hard to fathom why improving three-year-old 10. Scorched Land came up well into double figure odds after sailing home to win under a bigger weight at Muswellbrook, Admittedly this is a decent jump in class, but he's hard fit and carries 5kg less. Keep safe improving three-year-old 9. Point Counterpoint who hasn't finished further back than second in four of his last five, and drops in weight for this much harder test. Progressive four-year-old 8. Battle Guardian steps up from a dominant off-speed CL1 win, and another dropping significantly in weight for the jump in class. Tough six-year-old 1. Chocolatier was brave in the Mornington Prelude here, and rarely runs a bad one, but doubt he can give most of these 6kg and salute; while don't dismiss local five-year-old 6. Shamusu Sho, with a senior rider getting back on from a soft draw.

How to play it: Ready By Design to win and first four 2,9,10/1,2,6,8,9,10/1,2,6,8,9,10/1,2,6,8,9,10. Odds and Evens: Split

Another challenging affair with plenty of chances. Home track four-year-old 4. Manseneta was even through the line resuming in a deeper BM 58 here. Only win so far came second-up, and drops 2kg with key gear changes, and the "Raging Bull" is booked to ride. Well over the odds.

Dangers: Improving filly 10. Kingstar Bullet has shown plenty in her first prep, but has to negate a tough barrier; while don't under-sell resuming Scone mare 9. Cliffsinger who can race well fresh from the good draw. Include both 7. Half Hinch and 12. Rusty Hawk in wider exotics.

How to play it: Manseneta each way. Odds and Evens: Evens

Another open sprint, but like the second-up placement of lightly raced mare and ex-Victorian 5. Kislina from the handy gate. Worked home okay resuming in her first run for a new stable carrying a kilo more, and the "Queen of Hoops" stays in the saddle.

Dangers: Local mare 6. Satin Ruby is ready to win again after flashing home in her last two in similar quality company. Only concern in a big field is the inside draw for one who likes to drift well back. The Scone stable of Sebring filly 8. Surooj has always had a good opinion of her, and she can peak third-up from a handy draw, with a leading country rider taking over. Stablemate mare 9. A Fortunate Lass will also come on well from a solid closing second-up effort behind a smart one in CL2 grade. Keep safe local mare and last-start provincial winner 4. Doppelpunkt; and ex-Qld six-year-old 7. Solar Panel having first run for new Moree stable.

How to play it: Kislina to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Strong and wide open feature race is a typical tactical battle full of chances. Promising Scone four-year-old 8. Total Recall is one of the better weighted runners all meeting. Drops 2.5kg after sweeping home to win a good quality BM 86 first-up over the same trip, and leading Victorian rider Craig Williams makes the long journey to ride.

Dangers: Not overly convinced this track suits local seven-year-old 1. Wren's Day but he comes in off three strong closing runs in good metro grade in Qld, winning a CL3 two runs back over the same distance. Leading trainer has changed up the gear, and if he gets a decent crack at them from the 400m, very few will be finishing harder. Expecting smart five-year-old 2. Two Big Fari to improve sharply on the firm track after disappointing first-up. Tricky draw, but five of his seven wins have been on a Good rating, and he's unbeaten from two starts at the track. Front-running 5. Petronius has been given four weeks since a fighting effort in the Muswellbrook Cup, and looked sharp winning a recent trial. Consistent six-year-old 13. Hit The Target was impressive under a big weight first-up at Newcastle. This is naturally tougher, and has to overcome a horror draw, but drops a hefty 6.5kg in weight. Keep safe provincial five-year-old 10. Holy Reign who flew home to win third-up at Kembla, and is also down significantly in weight for this harder test.

How to play it: Total Recall to win and box exacta 1,2,8. Odds and Evens: Split

We finish over the sprint trip, and smart local three-year-old 2. Ice In Vancouver should send punters home on a winning note. Won two straight in explosive fashion to start his career last year before dropping out with problems in the Kosciuszko. Looks ready to go, winning a recent home trial by nearly eight lengths, and from a low draw with the big weight off-set by a 2kg claim, only bad luck stands in his way.

Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced mare 14. Makana fresh; while provincial three-year-old 10. Castlecomer will be getting home late.

How to play it: Ice In Vancouver to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Ice In Vancouver wins a trial at Tamworth on April 6

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Tamworth Cup meeting