RACE 2 - 1.50PM: RACING AT MURWILLUMBAH ON ANZAC DAY OPEN HANDICAP (1530m):

Slogging battle of tactics which should suit five-year-old Toowoomba visitor 2. Grey Steyne third-up. Has a superior winning strike rate, and shown an ability to get through wet ground. Carried this weight over a shorter trip to win at home first-up and now looking for this journey.
Dangers: Gold Coast gelding 1. Bratislava is building a nice record and is hard fit coming out of stronger metro miles in Brisbane, but a query in the ground while Ballina five-year-old 3. Winkler has been well beaten in his last few against stronger, but down in grade and bred to handle the wet.
How to play it: Grey Steyne to win

RACE 3 - 2.25PM: DIRECTORS CLASSIC CG&E CLASS 2 HANDICAP (SCALED -1.0kg, 1100m)

Tricky sprint in small field, but keen on 2. Sanglier who has had two improving runs back from a spell, boasts strong soft-track form, and rookie rider importantly takes 4kg off.
Dangers: Eagle Farm-trained five-year-old 3. The Danger was around the mark this grade in the spring and, while first-up record isn’t flash, has good heavy track form and gets 2kg claim. Stablemate of Sanglier, three-year-old gelding 4. We Concur won his maiden at third start in the spring, and has had a typical quiet trial. Never seen a track this heavy, but was impressive on debut in only soft track run. Doubt anything else can win.
How to play it: Sanglier to win

RACE 4 - 3.05PM: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)

Big watch on local mare 7. Wakata which is first-up for a nearly a year. Competed in stronger maidens first prep last autumn, and went close in heavy ground over longer as a heavily-backed favourite. Had two 1000m trials on good-rated surfaces, so will be right in the finish if she handles the ground.
Dangers: Stablemate mare 6. Ser Ser Schon has had two improving runs after three trials, so fit enough, but a breeding query in heavy conditions. Toowoomba filly 3. Maddiara improved at third career run to just miss from a wide gate at Ballina, but in her first prep has never raced on anything worse than good.
How to play it: Wakata to win and box exacta 3-6-7

RACE 5 - 3.40PM: BOWLERS BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)

Local three-year-old gelding 1. Thunderous Strike resumed in much stronger race at Doomben and only win so far was second-up. Has more experience than most in rain-affected ground generally in stronger class, and rider claims 4kg.
Dangers: Beaudesert-trained mare 4. Send Us A Sign has been close-up in her last few in Queensland against stronger and at her most competitive on wet tracks. Casino gelding 2. Crooked Gent is the clear threat. Closed nicely at his second run back, has a good strike rate this track and normally handles the wet. Last couple of runs from Beaudesert mare 8. Only Ever Annie at big odds have been OK, and she’s bred to handle the conditions. Gold Coast mare 3. Cosmos Seven has had one average run back and no second-up form to recommend, but against that is a two-time winner in heavy ground, and will race on the speed so can't dismiss.
How to play it: Thunderous Strike to win and box exacta 1-2-4

RACE 6 - 4.20PM: KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS CLUB CUP F&M CLASS 2 HANDICAP (SCALED -0.5kg, 1100m)

Could be well off the fence by now which won't concern Beaudesert-trained mare 3. Miss Amanda which had a seven-week freshen-up after winning two back at the Sunshine Coast at big odds before a solid on-speed effort at Ipswich. Bred for this weather, and won only soft track run convincingly. The one to beat.
Dangers: Coffs Harbour mare 4. The Eulo Queen is going well, but a query at 1200m in this ground from the inside. The form of Gold Coast mare and former Victorian 6. My Unicorn doesn't look flash, but her best form is easily on rain-affected ground, including a fast-finishing close second at Warrnambool last winter. Eagle Farm-based three-year-old 1. Snicki Minaj is a genuine query at the price. Has been racing against stronger in the city, but flopped badly in only previous heavy track run, yet as a rule the Hinchinbrooks normally handle it. Watch the fluctuations closely.
How to play it: Miss Amanda to win

RACE 7 - 4.55PM: WESTLAWN FINANCE & INSURANCE MURWILLUMBAH MAIDEN PLATE (1530m)

The clumps could be flying everywhere by this race and, at tricky middle distance, the exotics might be the best way home. That said, the Gold Coast form of consistent three-year-old gelding 8. Sir Husson is good enough to win. Was overhauled late two runs back when hard in the market before ridden quieter and finishing hard into a place. Fit, bred to handle this ground and looking for the longer trip.
Dangers: Gold Coast filly 9. Del Vega comes out of that same race finishing just in front of Sir Husson, looks capable of handling heavy ground and suited up in trip. Big watch on local three-year-old 5. Lumens (Savabeel x Illuminates by Strategic) having first start and bred to swim. Had a recent quiet trial for leading stable and will wear blinkers on debut. Casino-trained gelding 1. Delius has been working home right through this prep, and desperate for a longer journey. Untested in this ground, but bred to handle it. Lismore three-year-old 4. Kidlat is also hard fit and hasn't been far away this prep, but also new to these conditions. Local filly 10. Luvyoulongtime is close to breaking through after three runs back, but a real query in heavy ground and drawn the fence.
How to play it: first four 8-9/1-4-5-8-9-10

RACE 8 - 5.30PM: THE BLUE PACIFIC BISTRO BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1530m)

Local mare 2. Howick resumed with a nice effort at Ipswich when heavily backed before failing against stronger at Doomben. Was sent back to the trials, and ready now for the extra trip. Wet track form solid and drawn to stay out of trouble late in the day.
Dangers: Stablemate 1. Westrock has fair form around this grade, but unproven in heavy ground while Gold Coast filly 3. Intimissimi rattled home at second career start to win her maiden at the Sunshine Coast, and is bred to handle the wet. Eagle Farm-trained gelding 8. Cedar Rapid just missed in a class 1 at Kilcoy last start and is clear best of the rest.
How to play it: Howick to win and quinella 2 and 3

BEST BETS: Race 2 – 4. WAKATA; Race 6 - 3. MISS AMANDA
BEST VALUE: Race8 - 2. HOWICK

Tips supplied by Racing NSW.

Full form and race replay at racingnsw.com.au