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By Neil Evans

Track Good 3 and rail true:

8. Silent Serenade is a consistent filly who finds an ideal and weaker race fourth-up, finally getting over more ground. Worked home okay into a place in successive races at Tamworth and Muswellbrook before again finishing off in a deeper maiden only eight days ago. Drawn to get cover, and the quick turnaround is a strong stable pointer that she's ready to run this distance right out. 7. Zo Frilling comes through that same race as the top selection, and gets an economical run second-up from the inside draw, with an important gear change. 3. Magic Merlin is a three-year-old by Lucky Vega, and a big market watch on debut behind two trials. 1. Lucky On Landing resumes off a lengthy break and can figure in the minor money. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Silent Serenade to win

6. Kakoda seemingly has this maiden at her mercy, and can start a potentially exciting career with a bang. A powerhouse filly by Graff, she signalled her ability with a seven length romp in a recent Scone trial. 2. Spellecast can improve sharply at his second start with blinkers going on, and run the quinella. 1. Heta is well bred and debuts for a leading country stable off a soft trial; while another first starter 5. Cheating Lilibet, by renowned sprint sire Cosmic Force, draws to get a sound run.

How to play it: Kakoda to win

6. Amoruso is a lightly raced mare who can improve enough to claim a second win at just her fifth start. Stuck on okay in a deeper CL1 at Tamworth 15 days ago, and the drop back a furlong in trip from a softer draw are big keys. 2. Signatories can bounce back from the inside draw after a weak effort in front first-up at Scone when backed from $3.20 into $2.90. 3. Amarone is honest, and returns for his first run since spring for an underrated country stable who has a handy record with fresh runners. 5. Broken Wings is better suited here after dropping out in tougher provincial company when reloading off an eight week break, but still under the odds. 1. Snatchreilly having gone back to the trials well into the current prep is some value from a sound trailing draw.

How to play it: Amoruso to win

3. Four Degrees has been very disappointing from off speed this prep, albet in better races. Draws to get a soft run here with blinkers coming off in what is a field with very little depth, and the leading NSW country jockey stays on. 1. Winged drops in grade after two sound efforts against deeper opposition, and did bolt in from the front in a similar race to this when first-up in early December. Is a versatile galloper, but a rookie 4kg claimer goes on replacing that same hoop who rides the top selection. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Shut Eye drawn low and 6. Skates On second-up, who can both add value into exotic plays.

How to play it: Four Degrees to win

1. Rivkin is well placed to claim the feature sprint second-up and 24 days between runs. Plenty to like about his first-up run for the new stable when beaten under a length in the Summer Sizzler at Muswellbrook. Fitter now, with a significant jockey change, he can park outside the lead and prove too strong over the final part. 7. Cresta Run returns for her first run since mid December, and has the fresh tactical speed to threaten. Won two straight up to BM 66 level last spring, and has been tuned up for this with an easy trial. 3. Gold Lover is an honest mare returning off a seven week let-up via a trial win at Armidale. 8. Super Sioux was good hitting the line in BM 74 company third-up, and afforded a 3.5kg weight drop for this tougher test.

How to play it: Rivkin to win

3. Big Short loves dry ground, and is well over the odds fourth-up-up from a handy trailing draw. Worked home late in a deeper BM 66 at Armidale before holding his ground in a smarter BM 58 than this only nine days ago. Gets in fairly at the weights after the jockey's claim. 7. Bonfidelity comes off a sweeping CL1 win third-up at Armidale, but meeting some better ones here and under the odds from a tough gate. Big watch on Qld raider 2. Airswing who has beaten all but the winner in his last two up to CL3 level, and pushed out now over a furlong further. 5. Toulon Factor draws wide, but is hard fit and the best of the rest.

How to play it: Big Short to win

4. Shamedy is on track to go one better after missing by a head in last year's Cup, peaking third-up over a shade further. Worked home from the back in the home Inverell Cup when first-up for eight weeks before finishing hard to miss narrowly in the weaker Glen Innes Cup. This is tougher again, but there's a real sense of timing nearly four weeks between runs. 1. Voracious is ultra tough and never raced better. Won three of his last five since mid spring, twice in metropolitan company over the border when in the Tony Gollan stable, then a dominant front-running win in the Inverell Cup ironically in his only outing for Todd Payne who trains the top selection. Now finds himself in the Mack Griffith camp at Mudgee five weeks between runs, and climbing sharply in weight to a career high 62kg, he must be a shade under the odds. 10. Ring Ahoy is each-way value from a low draw and down significantly in weight. Gap to the rest including 7. Zamborghini third-up, 12. To Be Frank second-up and down sharply in weight, and 13. Otium second-up off a long berak, who can all challenge for minor prize money.

How to play it: Shamedy to win

1. Yanabah is a lightly raced five-year-old, and well over the odds first-up since spring behind a narrow trial win. Beat all bar the winner in a string of races last year before finally snapping the maiden at Tamworth late last August. Will likely be forced back from a wide draw, but can produce a superior final 400m burst, and relishes firm tracks. 4. Gelsey wasn't beaten far when resuming in similar company off a long spell, and is drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. 2. McLovin is an ex-Victorian resuming off a lengthy break in his first outing for the new Scone stable. 6. Ofcourseiam can run into the money third-up; while 9. Evony dug in hard to land her maiden fourth-up at big odds.

How to play it: Yanabah to win

BEST BETS:
R1 8. SILENT SERENADE
R7 4. SHAMEDY

BEST VALUE:
R6 3. BIG SHORT

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's meeting at Walcha