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Tips by Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail True

Race 1 - 11:00AM PAYNE RACING LISZTOMANIA BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1800M)

1. Ring Ahoy ($6 on TAB) is a tough finisher well into his prep who made up plenty of ground from a wide draw in a much deeper Saturday Class 3 Highway. The seven-day turnaround is a strong stable pointer along with the extra furlong and he can settle closer in the run here and be very strong late. 5. Descending Mist ($6) hasn't finished further back than second in his last four, and while this is tougher, he draws to get a handy trail just off the speed. 6. Everlasting Kiss ($3.60 favourite) draws wide but looks fairly placed coming back from an even effort in provincial company. 3. Mindspace ($10) also draws off the track but gets a timely drop in class fifth-up. 9. Brave Boy ($5.50) down in weight, and 12. Bill Peyto ($7) suited over a furlong further, both go into trifecta and first four plays in what is an open race.

How to play it: Ring Ahoy to WIN

Race 2 - 11:35AM CHAIN OF LIGHTNING COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1050M)

1. City Gold Speed ($1.65 fav) stuck on okay debuting behind a dominant and odds-on winner in a much better maiden on Scone Cup day. Will appreciate this line up on a firmer track, importantly backing up in seven days. 4. Zouandme ($8) is the immediate threat second-up from a low draw also benefiting from firmer going. 5. Bobby Is King ($4.60) has more than enough ability second-up but has to get over from a wide gate. 13. Hefty Price ($10) is a market watch resuming without the winkers, while 6. Casino Collection ($10) is a second start improver with a far more experienced jockey taking over.

How to play it: City Gold Speed to WIN

Race 3 - 12:10PM INVERELL FORD MAIDEN PLATE (1400M)

4. Ju Two ($4.60) is a lightly raced and improving four-year-old who ran home well fresh and drawn to find the right trail and peak second-up. Watch the betting on 1. Marin County ($3.50 to $4.20), a US-bred filly on debut behind a 23-week break for the Brett Cavanough stable at Scone, in his first Australian run since landing from the UK. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Homeland ($4 fav) who gets key gear changes fifth-up but drawn wide, while 2. Comancheria ($6) is an ex-Victorian capable of running into the minor money at big odds on his first outing for the new Armidale stable.

How to play it: Ju Two to WIN

Race 4 - 12:45PM DEAN SMITH EXCELLENT ANN MAIDEN PLATE (1200M)

13. Ol' Mate Coop ($3.30 fav) is a promising and lightly raced two-year-old who can progress off a fast finishing fresh run at Grafton to strike over a shade further against the older horses. The winner ran a record that day and he's drawn to park closer in the run. Only needs clear air from the 400m. 12. Four Degrees ($3.80) was rock solid on debut at Mudgee and drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. 6. Bouvier ($3.90) is another big market watch, a former UK filly by Invincible Spirit and first-up in Australia for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Has placed in five from six starts although seemingly more effective over further. 11. Show Us Ya Texts ($8) is an each-way chance on debut for the Lyle Chandler yard behind two progressive trials; while 7. Gold Puma ($23) at big odds improves into his second start.

How to play it: Ol' Mate Coop to WIN

Race 5 - 1:20PM STEWARTS GRAIN TRADING CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600M)

11. Libby ($9.50) is an honest and improving mare well over the odds in an open race despite a class rise fourth-up. Was unsuited in two runs at Armidale before showing significant improvement hitting the line late at Glen Innes. Gets some weight relief, with a stronger jockey taking over, and being by Reliable Man will relish getting up to the mile. 7. Talakai ($1.95 fav) is an improving Qld mare who will likely jump the favourite after finishing close-up in a handy BM 58 over the border. 12. Redadel ($7) has only been fair in two runs back from a spell but draws to get the right trail and this is a weak line up. Include 5. Maurita ($6.50) who tackled some tougher races in Qld earlier in the prep can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Libby to WIN

Race 6 - 1:55PM TATTS HOTEL FAR TOO EASY BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP (1200M)

1. Rhythm Is A Dancer ($2.90) is a talented and still lightly raced six-year-old who looks ideally placed third-up coming back in grade. Ran home well in a Saturday Gold Coast race two starts back before again finishing well just behind the placegetters in the tougher Country Cup at Scone on Cup day. Reliable weight carrier who will naturally drift back from the draw, but in a race with solid speed on, he only needs to get a clear crack at them over the final 350m to produce a superior closing sectional. 3. Lady Wardel ($2.60 fav) draws to be a threat fourth-up, dropping back from a deeper race at Eagle Farm three weeks back. Over the odds is 7. Bow ($7.50) second-up off a good closing effort at Grafton. Keep safe 5. Starzam ($11) at good odds after doing his best work late in heavy ground at Taree from an impossible position in the run. 2. Cambourne ($9.50) who draws to get a soft run behind the speed, and at much bigger odds 4. Tread Softly ($26) resuming off a dominant trial win, can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Rhythm Is A Dancer to WIN

Race 7 - 2:30PM LEON FOX GOLD FIDDLE COUNTRY BOOSTED BM58 HANDICAP (1400M)

5. Lesgo Don ($9) is a locally-trained and underrated four-year-old who can strike second-up. Won two straight in weaker company to close his last campaign before working home strongly from near last when first-up at Glen Innes. More depth here, but even fitter now and this is his ideal distance. 2. Yellowhammer ($3.90 fav) gets a much needed class drop from tougher affairs over the border, but still under the odds carrying a big weight from a tricky draw. 6. Church Rock ($7) can improve second-up with a claim over a suitably longer trip. 3. Stoinka ($11) reloads behind a dominant third-up win in a thinner BM58. Include 11. Bush Warrior ($7.50) who draws to get an economical run, in all exotic plays, while 8. Jakat ($6.50), a stablemate of the top selection, is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Lesgo Don to WIN

Race 8 - 3:05PM CAMPBELL'S FUEL BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1400M)

2. Navy Steel ($2.20 fav) is a progressive three-year-old and well placed to go back-to-back and take his winning strike rate to 50% from six starts. Beat a handy maiden field first-up at Wellington before running home late in a good quality Class 1. Rubber-stamped that form finishing best in the heavy to claim a deeper BM58 at Muswellbrook. The rise in trip is timely and he's drawn to stay out of trouble back in the field before producing that dominant finish. The one to beat. 3. Under Twenty Two ($8.50) chased home gamely in similar company second-up at Grafton and is clear each-way value. 1. Mazita ($7.50) is a talented galloper albeit unreliable. Better suited here, though, after flopping at Wellington on a difficult surface but still under the odds carting 62kg. 4. Cardsharp ($10) is dropping in grade third-up from a wide draw, 5. Better Tomorrow ($8.50), resuming off a quiet trial and trained on the track, and 9. Meddlesome ($9.50) third-up from a softer draw are all capable of figuring in the money.

How to play it: Navy Steel to WIN

Race 9 - 3:45PM JOHN BERGER MAIN SUPPLY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1050M)

1. Snow Falcon ($11) is building a handy record and presents well over the odds in a wide open race. Finished hard to claim a BM58 at Grafton in heavy going before being spelled. Picked up where he left off at the same track rushing home late to win despite being unwanted in betting. Hard to believe he was well into double-figure odds here early and looks well treated at the weight after the jockey claims 3kg. 8. Ultimate Say ($3.50 fav) is a provincial-based filly who was well rated in front to score on debut at Grafton and gets his chance to repeat the dose from a low draw. 3. Boambee Beach ($6.50) has to get over from a tough draw, but has been battling away in deeper races. Watch the betting on 7. Staffa ($5.50 into $3.80), resuming off a handy trial although her fresh record is poor. 2. Bellzen ($8) steps up from a fast-finishing first-up win in weaker company and draws to get plenty of cover, while 6. Whitsunday Sessions ($8.50) didn't do much when resuming but gets gear changes and normally improves into the next run.

How to play it: Snow Falcon EACH-WAY

Race 10 - 4:25PM SHANE EDMONDS FINISHING CARD BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1050M)

2. Cool Fizz ($9) is more known as a wet tracker but she's tough and very honest in and around this class. Suited by the four weeks between runs in a moderate affair and this is her pet distance. 5. Confederate Lad ($2.25 fav) is the likely favorite and immediate threat having missed narrowly in two runs back from a spell and draws to get a soft run behind the speed. 3. Takemine ($6.50) hasn't won for a while but is honest and trained on the course, while 9. Abrazen Laugh ($9) who drew the fence third-up goes in wider exotixs.

How to play it: Cool Fizz EACH-WAY

BEST BETS

R2 1. CITY GOLD SPEED - $1.65 fav
R8 2. NAVY STEEL - $2.20 fav

BEST VALUE

R7 5. LESGO DON - $9

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