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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

1. Archie Maximus is a colt by Brutal on debut here and has had two trials, winning the latest of them at the Gold Coast. He’s drawn well here and is suited with the apprentice claim. 8. Steffi Electrica had two runs earlier in the year for a second at Doomben and a third at the Gold Coast and has had two trials leading into this return. 5. Scriptus Vivace won on debut at the Sunshine Coast in January and resumes here after a third in a Deagon trial. 2. Bucket List finished fourth in his only trail and looks to have the ability to be therebouts.

How to play it: Archie Maximus WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds)

5. Lucky Neko resumes from a spell having had two trials and has been placed in two of five starts. She looks well placed to break through here from the rails alley. 4. Homeland has been placed in four of his 10 starts and wasn’t far away when a last start fifth at Inverell. 3. Pride Of Glasgow went down narrowly when second as favourite at Grafton when last produced and is one of the chances again, while 1. Causeways improved when resuming with a third at Taree and can show up again.

How to play it: Lucky Neko WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds)

9. Merapi was a Port Macquarie winner three starts ago and has since finished third in two subsequent runs with both being good efforts. She is up sharply in trip for this but has performed well over this sort of distance. 5. Serenade The Cat was back in the placings when a last start third at Inverell and has minor claims again, while 12. Charmed Destiny has been midfield in a couple of recent runs but can lift. 10. The Khan was a last start winner at this track earlier this month and only needs to repeat that to be a leading contender again.

How to play it: Merapi EACH WAY ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

2. Call Out resumes here after two good trials and has been placed in one of his four starts and ran well in the others. He’s drawn to get a good run and is set to break through. 3. Champonett resumes from more than a year away from racing but has won a trial to prepare for this. 4. Enhance has been placed in both runs since resuming and should be prominent again, while 13. Totally Underrated ran third at Beaudesert before a last start fourth on the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast.

How to play it: Call Out WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds)

3. Monarch Express was a winner at Lismore in January then resumed with a solid finishing fifth at Grafton earlier this month. The extra trip should suit here. 2. Hardley Grey was placed here before a last start fifth at Grafton and should be respected again. 6. Vetoed was a last start winner at this track when fresh and has claims again, while 11. Dazzling Robert can improve on his latest two runs with the benefit of a good gate.

How to play it: Monarch Express WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds)

2. Stoinka was a winner two starts ago and wasn’t beaten too far when a last start fourth at Inverell. He should run well here from the inside gate. 5. Skates On was an Armidale winner three starts ago and has been placed in both runs since. 7. Cosmic Fortune won at this track two starts ago and should be thereabouts again. 1. Aye Aye Skipper is a last start Grafton winner.

How to play it: Stoinka WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

2. Majorelle is a handy performer that was a winner at Grafton two starts ago and followed that up with a sixth at the Gold Coast. He should push forward here and take a power of beating. 3. The Astronomer won three in a row before being spelled and should be set to run well here. 1. Maximum Vortex was midfield at Eagle Farm when last produced and isn’t out of this. 7. Krakarib won well at Ipswich last time out and isn’t out of this.

How to play it: Majorelle WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds)

1. Secret Plan has been racing well with a fifth and then a third at Eagle Farm at his past two starts. He should be around the mark again if he can run up to his best. 3. Skyforger is consistent and could get into the placings after a solid last start fourth at Rockhampton. 5. Ocean Alps was a Sunshine Coast winner three starts ago and ran well in the Silk Stocking last time out at the Gold Coast. 6. Cenotes is resuming here and can sprint well fresh after a successful campaign last preparation over longer distances.

How to play it: Secret Plan WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Insinuate was a strong winner at this track by a big margin last time out. She’s a winner of two from six and should be primed to run well again. 5. Monte Maximus has been down on form in his last two starts but can improve on that. 4. Indubitably ran eighth at Ipswich when last produced but her previous form was sound, and she can figure against these on her best form. 13. He’s A Copy Boy has been hitting the line well of late and gets his chance from a good gate.

How to play it: Insinuate WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds)

Best Bets:
Race 2 (5) Lucky Neko
Race 5 (3) Monarch Express

Best Value:
Race 3 (9) Merapi.

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Casino meeting