Racing & Sports expert selections.

RACE 1 - ZOUBEAUTY (1) progressive mare who comes here with superior form lines. Has the three wins from five starts and should have little trouble carrying the 61kg in this inferior race. The one to beat. ARDONAUGH (3) trained locally and has a good record over this course and trip. Kept fresh after jumping in grade from the awkward gate when a wilting last over 1200m at Randwick in Highway grade on December 28. Claim helps again and she looks the main danger. PLAY MY SONG (4) from leading country stable and gets nice weight relief here although up in class. Fitter after one run back and anywhere near her best will see her take a hand in the finish. SCHWOON (6) had mixed luck in easier company and drops 7kg in weight for this. Tempo suits and has rough place claims.

RACE 2 - HALLE BEE (9) consistent mare who gets her chance in this easier contest. Trained on the track and narrowly beaten again when sitting on the speed for a narrow second over 1400m at Inverell. Looker keeps the ride and will take catching. HIDEYO (10) third-up for this after attacking the line late when a close-up second over 1405m at Coffs Harbour. Since fitted with a 1200m tick over trial and the tongue-tie goes on. Leading player. SAINTLY SANDS (13) encouraging debut when motored late from well back to secure third over 1200m here on January 6. Ready for this trip and further now and should prove hard to hold out. SHOWRUNNER (6) kept safe in betting on debut when covering ground for a gritty third over 1280m at Muswellbrook. Further improved and expecting another strong showing again from the inside draw.

RACE 3 - MYSTERY LAD (2) consistent gelding who saves his best for his home track. Tired late out to the 1400m when a tenacious third at Inverell. Maps to stalk the good tempo and reunites with winning rider Kody Nestor. Hard to hold out. OLLIE'S SECRET (8) is racing in good order and drops in weight here. Kept fresh when holding on well for a close-up fifth over the 1250m at Newcastle on January 10. Fitter now and has genuine top three prospects. VERY SHARP (5) good on her day and will have to find several lengths to pose a threat today. Has an exceptional second-up record and could be looking for the 1200m now. Worth another chance. DEEP ROUGE (1) tough mare who carries the big weights well. Eye-catching effort first-up when a narrow fourth over 1100m at Gilgandra. Comes to hand quickly and is sure to be powering late again.

RACE 4 - Tricky affair with a handful of chances. DALE (1) is a well-bred son of Castelvecchio fitter after two runs back. Knocked up late when stepping out to the 1500m when a nose second at Muswellbrook. Can sit off the solid tempo and pounce late. HELL OF A FOX (12) strips fitter for this and the firmer surface will help her prospects. Never comfortable in the soft conditions second-up when a plodding effort at Taree. This looks much easier and is expected to bounce back sharply today. BRAIN WAVE (9) slow maturing Dundeel filly getting up to her right trip now. Better run at her third career outing when catching the eye late to run third over 1500m at Port Macquarie. Senior rider on and look for her late. PARKRUN (4) Neasham and Archibald trained Ocean Park gelding looking for this trip and further now. Unsuited in both career runs, and the cross-over nose band goes on. Further improvement is expected.

RACE 5 - ANARITA (9) Hellbent filly from in-form yard ready to win. Returned good figures late when a fast finishing fifth over 1200m at Warwick Farm two weeks ago. Should prove too strong for these. BRILLIANT KNIGHT (4) Dundeel gelding out of a Commands mare on debut for the Messara & Gavranich stable. Has shown ability in both trials and gets his chance to take a hand in the finish. RATHORAN (2) saves his best for this course and returns from a lengthy break. Finally drawn a low gate and should be primed for a first-up performance. Has the 800m trial under the belt and not without each-way claims. STARSARISE (8) covered ground first-up and failed to shirk her task when a gritty third over 1000m at Muswellbrook. Backs-up quickly and will find this more to her liking with the claim.

RACE 6 - REMATCH (1) classy gelding undefeated this track resuming. Raced with distinction in Highway class last prep and is ready to go with the searching trials under his belt. Has the turn of foot to sprint well fresh. MACLEAY (2) has a good record over this track and trip and was a month between runs when an even fifth over 1600m in the Gilgandra Cup on January 5. Well placed for this from the good gate and can take a hand in the finish. BETTER TOMORROW (11) failed to make it three wins in succession when coming to town for a fast-finishing sixth over 1600m at Randwick. In peak fitness now and looks one of the better hopes. JESSANDI (6) returned to form at her last two outings and kept fresh for this. Went out hard and found wanting late when second over the 1800m at Hawkesbury on December 15. Best form is over this trip and senior rider on today.

RACE 7 - ARLIEBEL (7) has been up a long time this prep and indicated she was near her top when powering late over this distance here on January 6. Meets a similar line-up today and expect to see her race closer from the inside gate. Genuine each-way player. NIGHT PATRA (5) has the one win from thirteen starts but has had genuine excuses at most of his career runs. Attacked the line strongly when a solid fifth over the 1400m first-up. Fitter now and looks to have come back well. BILL PEYTO (9) had a fair bit of success at this track and is close to another victory. Back in grade as fav when a plugging second over 1450m at Quirindi on December 26. Kept fresh and not without each-way prospects. ACOTANGO (1) has done the bulk of his racing here and drops back a level today. Stretches out to the 1400m for the first time this prep after finishing just out of the minor money last start. Will relish the claim from the low draw.

RACE 8 - CUTEPI (3) improving filly who beat an average field first-up, before giving her all from the wide gate when second over 1100m at Port Macquarie. Blinkers come off from the better gate and is expected to go close. AUTOFOCUS (5) locally trained mare who launched late on return for a narrow third over 1000m here on January 6. Grima rides again and is much better placed over the 1200m. Undefeated second-up. WITHSTAND (8) finally got off the mark at start eight when leading throughout for a commanding victory over 1280m at Muswellbrook. Backs-up quickly and has the figures to play a leading role again. MYALABY (11) back-marker rewarded for her consistency when a fast finish nose winner over 1280m at Muswellbrook. Confidence is high and can add value to the exotics.