Tips and race-by-race guide for Tamworth on Monday

Track soft 5 and rail out 3m from 1000m to 350m and true the remainder.

RACE 1

3. Northfire has shown some promise despite not having much go his way in four runs to open his career. Worked home OK at Moree last start, draws to get a soft run and winkers go on. Suited up to the mile, leading country jockey sticks solid and is over the odds. 7. Oakfield Nevada is a filly from the leading provincial stable that worked home late on heavy ground in just his second start. Settles closer here from a softer draw, and is the clear threat. 9. White Waves is a lightly raced stablemate of the former, and can improve sharply second up getting off a heavy surface.
How to play it: Northfire to win.

RACE 2

2. Ordinary Angel is a lightly raced three-year-old ready to break through after chasing home a dominant winner at Gunnedah when backed from $5.50 into $4.40. Drawn to find a nice trail, and better placed around this bigger circuit. 3. Haras is also banging on the door after only being run down late as a hot favourite second up at Moree. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Don’t Say Do, improving second up off a lengthy break.
How to play it: Ordinary Angel to win.

RACE 3

8. Supido Star is a progressive enough filly that can go one better after making up plenty of ground to beat all but the winner in her past two. Hard fit, with a superior jockey back on, and importantly she’s drawn to settle back and get to the outside. Big watch on 4. Lucci, an ex-Queensland filly five weeks between runs, having her first outing for the new Scone stable and under a light weight after the jockey’s 4kg claim. 2. Scathingly is over the odds second up from a low draw. 3. Eezitosort should improve second up despite drawing wide.
How to play it: Supido Star to win.

RACE 4

1. Bellini Spritz can bounce back third up after not having much luck from a wide draw in a much deeper Saturday class 3 Highway. This is the weakest race she’s tackled since bolting home in a BM66 by nearly four lengths in August. Up in trip and has to carry a big weight, but she’s ready to peak back against country opposition. 3. Spenzalot is the immediate threat getting back on a firmer surface over longer third up. 2. Currumbin Alley is very consistent, having beaten all but the winner in three consecutive outings before easily claiming a weaker class 1. Gap to the rest, headed by 6. Autumn Heir, which hasn’t been far away in his past three and is back down in weight.
How to play it: Bellini Spritz to win.

RACE 5

10. Devilish Sun is a lightly raced three-year-old well over the odds third up from a low draw in a very open race. Comes off a dominant maiden win at Moree where he beat Haras, which goes around as a big chance in an earlier race. Far more depth here, but he gets a good run over a suitable furlong further. 6. Oakfield Utah is an emerging three-year-old and likely the most talented galloper in the field, but still under the odds from a tough draw. Was good first up in a deeper race at Scone before dropping right out in a much tougher class 3 Highway at Rosehill run on a heavy 9. Will have a task slotting in, but still a big threat at this level. 3. Smart Buy is each-way value fourth up on a drier track and finding a thinner race.
How to play it: Devilish Sun each way.

RACE 6

8. Irish Jig is ready to claim an overdue third career win third up since last December in another very open affair. Stuck on for a long way in a BM74 two starts ago, then had a tough run under a big weight when missing a place in weaker company at Moree. Drops a hefty 6kg for this tougher assignment, and draws to get a cosy run on the speed. 5. Denman Bandit has been close up in two runs at BM58 level since winning a class 1 at Wellington. This is tougher, but he does get handy weight relief from the inside gate. Bypassed Sunday’s Warren meeting to be saved for this. 12. Golden Vader is a tough and fit mare that finished best to claim a weaker class at Dubbo 12 days ago. 3. Dub is a lightly raced home-tracker in the mix from a tricky draw.
How to play it: Irish Jig to win.

RACE 7

10. Reprisal is a tough and underrated home-tracker that can pounce, resuming off a nine-week break. Mixed his form against deeper opposition late last year, but flashed home late when resuming against similar in autumn. Nice and fresh again in a race where there will be plenty of speed and pressure up front. Top jockey booked to ride is a further plus. 4. Solar Blast is trained on the course, and an each-way threat from a soft draw. 7. Iknowyou has to tuck in from an awkward barrier, but drops back to his pet distance on a 10-day turnaround. Include 6. Pretty Cheeky, third up, and 8. Lyrical Beauty, resuming, in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Reprisal to win.

Best bets

Race 2: (2) Ordinary Angel
Race 7: (10) Reprisal

Best value

Race 3: (8) Supido Star

Supplied by Racing NSW.