1st Race @ 1.35pm

*Track rated Good 4 and Rail True so should play fairly even

*Race 1 @ 1.35pm TJC WELCOMES WAYNE WOOD - MAIDEN HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 57kg; Weights raised 2kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

Very competitive sprint to get us underway, with a few first starters on show. Locally-trained 3YO gelding 11. TAKETHESHOT (Mitchell Bell; 57kg) from the Mark Mason stable can strike third-up, and at only his fourth career start going up in trip. Worked home nicely here a fortnight ago in a stronger maiden, and just needs to find cover from the wide gate to be the one to beat.

*MAIN DANGERS: Debutant Newcastle 3YO 3. Hooyah trialled okay behind Ushindi who then scored a dominant win on debut. Lightly raced 5YO Moree mare 14. You're Joking was heavily back on debut off a long break, but was trapped wide all the way, and weakened. Must be forgiving from a better draw, down in weight after the rider's claim, and over more ground; while home track 6YO 16. Poet Lad will need a further scratching to get a run, but wasn't beaten far in that same maiden as the top selection.

Likely Tempo: Solid to Good

My Betting Attack: TAKETHESHOT to Win

READ ALSO:

*Race 2 @ 2.10pm TAB.COM.AU - MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) - Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:

Improving 5YO Newcastle gelding 3. PROSPERO (Ashley Morgan; 59kg) from the Nathan Doyle stable should win this second-up after a fair effort as a rock-solid favourite when trapped off the track in a stronger maiden at Tuncurry.

*MAIN DANGERS: Local 4YO mare 9. Swara stuck on okay at big odds here in a deeper maiden, and is drawn to roll forward again and give some cheek; while 4YO mare 5. Delavigne hit the line well second-up at Taree, and can improve again.

Likely Tempo: Fair to Solid

My Betting Attack: PROSPERO to Win

*Race 3 @ 2.50pm CARLTON UNITED - BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m) Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

Progressive Home-track 4YO gelding 2. ONEMORECHOICE (Serg Lisnyy; 60kg) trained by Troy O'Neile was scratched from Saturday's Highway at Rosehill to be saved for this. Found the trip way too short first-up before only grabbed in the last stride by an in-form mare here a fortnight ago. Despite the sharp weight rise, he can peak for this third-up.

*MAIN DANGERS: Newcastle 4YO gelding 8. Mbappe has ability, and has been running on strongly all prep. Wyong 5YO mare 7. Fearless Mila is hard fit and finished nicely in a deeper race last start, but seems to save her best for wet tracks; while Muswellbrook mare 10. Smart Style was also preferred here to the much stronger Highway and Port Macquarie on Monday, and draws to get plenty of cover back in the field.

Likely Tempo: Moderate to Solid

My Betting Attack: ONEMORECHOICE to Win and Box Trifecta: 2,7,8,10

*Race 4 @ 3.25pm GOOD LUCK ICE IN VANCOUVER - CLASS 1 HCP (1400m):

Keen on progressive 4YO gelding 1. SAINT AMBROSE (Reece Jones a1.5kg; 59.5kg) from the William Freedman stable at Scone. Got a mile back and covered plenty of ground fourth-up at Tuncurry, but still hit the line late beating all but the dominant winner. Drawn much better here, and can charge over the top.

*MAIN DANGERS: Improving Newcastle mare 6. Solvency boxed on well resuming in a Class 2 at Kempsey, and fitter now can give a big sight on the speed. Consistent Newcastle 4YO 2. Meyisti weaved underneath runners and attacked the line impressively to win his maiden third-up here, but drawn wider for what is clearly a tougher test. Improving local 4YO mare 5. Bridges To Babylon came off a sound Highway run to charge home late in a thinner race at Moree, and looks even better placed back at home over a bit further.

Likely Tempo: Solid

My Betting Attack: SAINT AMBROSE Each Way and Trifecta: 1,6/1,2,5,6/1,2,5,6

*Race 5 @ 4.05pm GOOD LUCK LIGULATE - CLASS 2 HCP (1200m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

Good strong race, with plenty of depth and a stack of chances. Loved the way local 5YO gelding 10. COZHECANCAN (Robert Thompson; 56kg) trained by Mark Mason has attacked the line hard both runs this prep. Screaming for this longer journey third-up, and draws to coil up back in the field with cover. Well over the odds!

*MAIN DANGERS: Ultra consistent Scone 5YO gelding 9. Military Bay made it three wins from his last five, bolting in the weaker Picnic C'ship final at Dubbo, and will be competitive again dropping a huge 8.5kg for this tougher assignment. Improving Scone 4YO 1. Brother Bassy looks suited second-up staying at this trip after working home okay resuming in a handy BM 66 at Mudgee.Watch the market on improving Scone 6YO 6.My Zebrinka who also missed that run at Orange, but has hit the line strongly in his last two at BM 58 grade; and keep safe resuming Scone mare 12. Know Where To Look who hasn't publicly trialled, but draws a low gate and is in good hands.

Likely Tempo: Good

My Betting Attack: COZHECANCAN Each Way and Trifecta: 9,10/1,6,9,10,12/1,6,9,10,12

*Race 6 @ 4.40pm GOOD LUCK CODY MORGAN RACING - CLASS 3 HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

Another sprint with plenty of depth, natural speed and many chances. Like lightly raced 5YO gelding 7. I'M A CRACKER (Ms Rachael Murray; 57kg) resuming for the Luke Morgan yard, and ideally drawn to dictate from the front. Hasn't publicly trialled, but bolted in on debut in autumn.

Dangers: Smart 4YO Scone mare 1. Emperor's Choice normally fires first-up, and in typical stable fashion returns with no official trial as well. Should sit right on the speed from a good draw, and will be hard to stop over the short course. Progressive Wyong 5YO 5. Gidgee Guy was very good late in a BM 64 at Newcastle, and if he can tuck in anywhere from the awkward gate will be charging into the finish; while Scone 6YO 10. Gold Codes had been consistently in the placings before having little luck here in a good Class 2 four weeks ago.

Likely Tempo: Strong

My Betting Attack: I'M A CRACKER to Win

*Race 7 @ 5.20pm GOOD LUCK ANETHOLE - OPEN HCP (1000m) - Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:

We finish with a tough and open sprint. Like Muswellbrook mare 6. IMA CRUMPET (Mitchell Bell; 56kg) from the Jan Bowen stable. Hasn't been beaten far since claiming a BM 66 four runs back, and has good early tactical speed.

*MAIN DANGERS: Local 7YO mare 7. Arletta looks suited from the inside draw; and Newcastle 6YO 8. Sausalito resumes off two nice trials.

Likely Tempo: Good to Strong

My Betting Attack: IMA CRUMPET to Win

**My BEST BETS:

R2 3. PROSPERO** Expect: $1.85 - $2.00; My Early Rating: $1.50

**My BEST VALUE:

R4 1. SAINT AMBROSE*** Expect: $5.50 - $6.00; My Early Rating: $2.70

R6 7. I'M A CRACKER** Expect: $4.60 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $2.60

**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:

Mark Mason*