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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 2m from 1100m to 300m & True the remainder:

5. Devine Crusader is a lightly raced filly suited stepping up sharply to the mile at just her third outing. Has got home okay in two country runs from wide barriers to start her career, and from a softer draw where she can settle closer and naturally over a longer journey, she’s ready to peak. 6. Justice Please has plenty of race experience and is hard fit, despite only filling a place once from 11 starts, and draws to get an ideal trail just off speed. 2. Jump In The Line hit the line impressively from a long way back third-up in a slightly deeper race, and will likely jump favourite. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Matete who peaks fifth-up over a furlong further.

How to play it: Devine Crusader to win

17. Divo is an emerging type by 2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist who can strike here at good odds in the battle of the two-year-olds coming back 100m in distance, and significantly on a smaller and tighter track. Came off two winning trials to show speed and lead in a deeper race on debut at Newcastle before being swamped by an impressive winner, and despite the wide draw here, he has strong tactical speed to get over and dictate again. Will take plenty of catching. 1. Big Papa, by Astern, has to overcome a tricky draw, but is one of many debut runners with a chance coming off two solid trials for the Bjorn Baker stable. 2. Codename is another first starter by Hanseatic for the Brad Widdup yard, and well over the odds behind two progressive trials, bolting in the latest in soft ground. 4. Just Awesome, a colt by Written Tycoon, starts his career behind two sharp winning trials. 10. Monocru is a debutant filly by prolific and recently deceased sire Snitzel; while 11. Pyrolysis, by Zoustar who also draws out and is a stablemate of Big Papa, has also trialled well.

How to play it: Divo to win

1. Harlex is a tough and improving customer who can make it two wins this prep fourth-up. Stuck on strong in a much deeper Saturday CL1 two starts ago before only beaten a long neck after tracking the speed at Wyong. Only has to run up to that sort of form to take care of an average lineup. 2. Octa De Lago ripped home to win in the country on debut before a poor effort at Canterbury when ridden closer to the speed. Back to a softer level here, but still a shade under the odds. 3. Our Little Star must be kept safe second-up coming back from tougher BM 64 metropolitan company; while 4. Explosive Torpido is on the next line fourth-up.

How to play it: Harlex to win

1. Golden Straand is promising and was stiff not to win at Wyong on debut. Draws to get a charmed run right behind the speed over 100m further, and only needs a clear crack at them from the top of the straight. The one to beat in a race lacking depth, especially having been scratched from Canterbury on Wednesday to be saved for this. 6. Anyone is a big betting watch for the Chris Waller stable, first-up with gear changes since an eye-catching Victorian debut in spring. 2. Kowloon Victor ran home hard on debut at Kembla from a wide draw, and suited over a furlong further, but doubt this type of course will suit his style. 10. Maquisa resuming off two progressive trials is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Golden Strand to win

1. Sonofdec is a progressive four-year-old who looked good charging home to miss by a whisker third-up at Newcastle in a deeper grade. Had come through two handy form races prior, and from the right cover draw off speed, and back in at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim, he rates clear on top over the mile. 3. Loose Love is a capable Canberra six-year-old ready to win again coming back from a tougher metropolitan BM 72 deep into the current campaign. Has improved as the distances have risen, and while he drops back from 1900m here off only a 10-day turnaround, draws to get a good run right on speed. 2. Line Of Fire gets a timely drop in grade from city opposition deep into his prep, although faces a tricky draw. Doubt the winner comes from anywhere else, but 4. Talana fifth-up behind some handy country form, can add some value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Sonofdec to win

1. Like Lukey is a talented albeit somewhat wayward mare who looks primed here coming back to fillies and mares provincial BM 64 company third-up from a tougher metro assignment run in heavy going. Had previously thundered home to miss by a neck in the Country Cup run on Scone Cup day, and the drying track here is a further plus. Has more ability than most of these put together, and only needs an even share of fortune. 3. Aroha Stone is a progressive filly who opened favourite, and also well suited fourth-up over a shade further from the inside draw. 4. My Mate Kate comes off a BM 64 win at Newcastle for the girls, although would prefer it wetter. 2. Linwood gets some weight relief, and can figure in the minor money fourth-up.

How to play it: Like Lukey to win

7. Orthie’s Boys is an improving metro-based four-year-old who can claim a provincial scalp 20 days after a tough front-running win in a handy country BM 58 over the same trip. Drops 3kg for this tougher test, and loves to roll with a sound cruising speed. 5. Glenbower is lightly raced, and a big market watch resuming off two progressive trials for a leading stable. 2. Mural Crown improves sharply fourth-up getting back on drying ground. 3. Alliri drawn the fence second-up and coming back in class, and 10. Clifton Springs also from a low draw and reloading off a tough win at Hawkesbury in heavy going, both go in wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Orthie’s Boys to win

BEST BETS:
R4 1. GOLDEN STRAAND
R5 1. SONOFDEC

BEST VALUE:
R6 1. LIKE LUKEY

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Gosford meeting