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Neil Evans' Tips for Armidale (Tuesday)

3 minute read

Track Good 4 and rail True.

Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1900m):

We start with a competitive battle over the longest trip on the program, and it shapes well for ultra honest four-year-old 3. Turnaway who is primed to win a second race, dropping back from tougher provincial company. Hasn't finished further back than fourth all prep, draws to get a good trail just off the speed, and is bursting for this longer trip.

Dangers: Must respect last start winner in similar grade 1. Spoke To Rajiv who finished strongly from midfield to snap a run of three consecutive second placings. Has enjoyed a very consistent prep, but likely will likely be forced a long way back again from the outside draw carrying 2kg more. Keep safe 4. Italian Tune who is capable of running home hard with a 2kg claim; while 5. Rahaan who is hard fit; and 6. Rise 'N' Shine with blinkers back on for his second start in NSW; can both add value in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Turnaway to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1400m):

Handy quality maiden, and keen on progressive home track three-year-old 2. Blue Canasta who is primed to break through third-up on a nice little weight drop. Hit the line hard in a handy maiden first-up before again finishing well behind a talented winner only nine days ago. The quick back-up is a healthy sign, and so is top country jockey sticking strong.

Dangers: Watch the betting on lightly raced 1. Enterprise Success who drops significantly in class from metro maiden company over the border. Include in all exotics, 3. Master Tyler who comes through that same last start race as the to selection, and can settle much closer here from a softer draw; while ex-Qld mare 4. Caoimhe having her first run for a new Gunnedah stable; and 7. Little Bit Yours back from provincial level fifth-up; head the rest.

How to play it: Blue Canasta to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1100m):

Tricky maiden sprint here, although the market will be telling with one key debutant and a few handy ones returning. Improving three-year-old 2. Devilicious can rebound second-up after settling too far back when resuming at Tamworth as a well backed favourite. Drawn to advantage on-speed here, and elss depth in this line-up.

Dangers: Watch for any money around Outreach three-year-old 1. Carbrook who starts his career as a gelding behind two handy 1000m trials. Keep safe 7. Twin Seas who is tough, and will roll forward. Improving filly 11. Wet And Windy is an each way candidate coming through some handy maidens; while ex-Victorian 3. French Comet resumes for a new Tamworth stable with a string of gear changes including blinkers coming off.

How to play it: Devilicious to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m):

Strong race for this class. Got plenty of time for progressive Tamworth three-year-old 3. Vis I Do who can take the next step after flooding home from the back to claim his maiden nine days ago. Has been attacking the line hard from off speed all prep in and around this distance, and drawn to get plenty of cover here, only needs a clear crack at them from the 400m.

Dangers: Expecting a big run from 4. Vain Rich who draws inside, and has been working to the line and banging on the door all prep. Improving 2. Untouchable Ed did his best work late first-up for 10 weeks since transferring up from Victoria, and looks well treated at the weights after a 2kg claim. Local 1. Apple Cubed down 3kg second-up after the claim; 5. Eastowin who draws to park closer fifth-up; and big-finishing mare 6. Lago's Daughter back up sharply in distance; are all capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Vis I Do to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1100m):

Like the value here about Tamworth mare 6. The Affirmative who has in and around the money all prep in generally deeper races. Won two straight from the front earlier in the prep before only even to the line in the deeper John Clift at home, then chased home a smart winner three weeks ago. Again draws to roll forward and park on-speed, with Ashley Morgan taking over in the saddle.

Dangers: Front-runner 3. Sparks led all the way to win a similar graded race at Quirindi two starts back, drew well, and has a sound record at this track. Ageing 1. Nosey is better suited back in this grade over more ground, but has to cart a big weight. Watch the betting on former Victorian mare 2. Come On Eileen having her first start for the new northern NSW yard, and did win a deeper race last spring; and 4. Just Jacky emerging second-up from a handy BM 58 form race five weeks ago; while 9. Lady Tulessa heads the rest.

How to play it: The Affirmative to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m):

Staying at the same trip, and promising filly 6. Villa Treville can repeat the dose from a dominant debut win at Tamworth where she jumped to the front and gave nothing else a chance. Carries the same weight here, and the top selection from race 3 chased her home that day, so look for that form franking.

Dangers: Big watch on ex-Qld three-year-old 4. Lost Media having his first run for the leading home stable. Hit the line hard to beat all bar the winner in his last two, and was just behind the placegetters in a metro CL1 back in mid March. Expect Improving filly 1. Cannoli to be hitting the line late second-up. Honest mare 2. Ever Bella is fit and never far away, and has a near 60 percent place record from 15 starts. Include 3. Enterprise Phoenix back in trip; and underrated mare 11. Wanjina Rose in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Villa Treville to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m):

Another open sprint to close the card, and keen on consistent home track four-year-old 3. Bean Rocking who is well placed back a touch in distance, and could cap a huge day for jockey Ash Morgan. Hit the line late in consecutive Country CL1s before sweeping home to win at Moree running a slick time for 1400m.

Dangers: Keep safe underrated stablemate 5. Windabull who hasn't had a lot of luck in better races since finishing hard to win a CL1 here in late March. Capable 1. Assiduity is better placed here second-up with blinkers off after puncturing when leading in a deeper CL1 over the Scone carnival, although will have to get across from a wide barrier. Include 2. Kalahari Heart who finished hard to win a similar race here three starts back; 10. Vascotto from a softer draw; and 11. Albanjo who runs home strong; in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Bean Rocking to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

How to play it: Avalicious to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 2. BLUE CANASTA
R4 3. VIS I DO

BEST VALUE:
R5 6. THE AFFIRMATIVE


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