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

Track good 4 and rail true.

Race 1

2. Artie’s Magic can bounce back hard here third-up after nothing went his way at Taree when baulked at the start and forced to cover plenty of ground. Previous form in deeper races was sound, and back on firmer footing is a further plus. 5. Stormy Seas is another one by The Autumn Sun, and naturally a big betting watch on debut for a leading Scone stable behind two progressive trials. 8. Duskaura is a first starter by Captivant, which won the second of two trials, and a string of gear additions have been made. 6. Vendor returns for his second full prep behind an easy trial. 1. All Too Sheik is second-up at big odds after holding his ground when fresh at Armidale, and the winner of that race then won a Class 1 next start.
How to play it: Artie’s Magic to win.

Race 2

2. Erniegy is a progressive three-year-old that should have won third-up at Dubbo when he got home late. Has beaten all but the winner in three runs this prep, and from the inside draw where he can settle closer in the run only needs a clear shot at them over the final 400m. 1. Microgravity is a provincial-based three-year-old that ran above his big market price on debut finishing hard from midfield behind a dominant winner at Muswellbrook. Drawn wide and up in weight on a tighter track, but any repeat of that effort puts him right in the finish. 6. Akuma is an improver that did his best work late when coming off a let-up, and the extra furlong looks a plus. Check the betting closely on 3. Prima Vecchio, a gelding by Castelvecchio on debut behind two quiet trials.
How to play it: Erniegy to win.

Race 3

8. Oakfield Mars has found a weak maiden first-up and can finally open her account. Was never far away in her last three, the latest sticking on OK behind the placegetters at Dubbo over 1400m when backed from $2.50 into $2.05. Drawn to get the right trail in a race lacking depth. 10. Yasena is an honest and improving mare that can run into the money second-up. 5. Don’t Say Do can run a big race fresh for a leading country yard, despite no public trials. Missed narrowly in consecutive maidens from on speed late last year before doing it tough in a much deeper provincial maiden, then spelling. Big gap to the rest headed by 7. Meteor Mist, a filly by Headwater making her debut from a handy draw off two soft trials, while 1. Rurairi improves third-up.

How to play it: Oakfield Mars to win.

Race 4

6. Quirky Princess is a lightly raced and improving filly that can break through at only her fourth start in a moderate staying affair. Ran home into a place from well back over a mile at Tamworth before beating all but the winner in a Class 1 when stepping up sharply to this trip. Well treated at the weights after the jockey’s claim, and unlike most of these, she’s headed for better races. 5. Libby is a fit mare that draws low, and has more to offer than her lone win from 17 starts. 4. Tipsy Miss is an improving three-year-old that steps up sharply in distance fifth-up, and returns to the track where she won her maiden two months back. 8. Farraige hit the line hard in a handy BM 66 only eight days ago. 7. Bold Rouge drops in weight well into her prep and was preferred here to Dubbo on Sunday. 1. Dipierdomenico goes back up in trip after a poor run as a short-priced favourite in a weak race on Anzac Day.
How to play it: Quirky Princess to win.

Race 5

2. Canamble is a sparingly raced provincial-based mare that will relish a significant drop in grade third-up after missing by a half-length at Mudgee. Advantaged around this smaller course with her tactical speed, and she can take her winning strike rate to better than 20 per cent. 5. Denman Bandit will be hard to hold out after a smart third-up win in a Class 1 at Wellington after being heavily backed. 4. Sorrento Palace is a market watch first-up off a handy trial and was scratched from Sunday’s Dubbo meeting to be saved for this. 1. Soobooco carries a big weight and hasn’t won for a long time, but is hard fit and this is the pet trip. 6. Set To Prophet third-up off a let-up, and 7. Reprisal second-up, are both capable of figuring in the minor money.
How to play it: Canamble to win.

Race 6

4. Dunquin is a versatile three-year-old that maps to get a charmed run behind the speed in an open race. Landed the maiden two starts ago before doing his best work late in a strong Class 1 at Tamworth. Settles closer here from the inside draw and only needs a clear shot from the 350m. 3. Chestime has won two of her last three against similar opposition and is very fit, but still has a task from a wide draw under a big weight. 2. To Be Frank has been campaigning fairly in better races and drawn to get plenty of cover off speed. 9. Meddlesome, deep into the campaign, is having her first run for a new stable. 5. Lesgo Don finished best to claim a weak BM 66 fourth-up and looks poorly weighted against some of these. 6. Rainbow Blessing is the best of the rest third-up, with a more experienced rider taking over.
How to play it: Dunquin to win.

Race 7

3. Magurtz is a lightly raced improver that found the line OK first-up in a smarter Class 1 at Muswellbrook after being well backed. Carries the same weight here from the fence draw and the extra trip is an added bonus. The one to beat. 6. Farnciful is on a quick back-up well into the campaign after running homer fairly in a tougher provincial Class 1, but likely to be forced well back from this draw. 1. Sir Leaf can improve sharply second-up over more ground. 4. Ode So Much is a market watch resuming for only his second start behind an easy trial. 8. Casino Sting, a lightly raced three-year-old resuming off a quiet trial, goes into exotics at big odds.
How to play it: Magurtz to win.

Best bets

Race 2: 2. Erniegy
Race 4: 6. Quirky Princess

Best value

Race 6: 4. Dunquin