Race-by-race preview and tips for Grafton on Tuesday
Track good 4 and rail out 4.5m so should play fairly even.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1720m)
Improving four-year-old 1. Helmet Head has had four runs back this prep, and led for a long way this track and trip last start. On the quick back-up is a good pointer.
Dangers: Coffs four-year-old 2. Lookonchina is searching for this trip now after two runs back; while 6. Hichaux has been threatening to break through all prep and drops sharply in weight for a weaker assignment.
How to play it: Helmet Head to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Coffs six-year-old mare Rival Mo took on much better fields earlier in the prep, and a win is overdue.Credit:Fairfax Media
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1115m)
Plenty of chances in this, with some of the fancies drawn off the track. Not so Murwillumbah three-year-old 12. Wave Maker, who resumes for only his third start, and first as a gelding. Bolted in a lead-up trial, and crucially gets the inside gate with winkers going on. Looks ready to fly.
Dangers: Local mare 7. Holiday In Dubai resumes with no public trial and drawn wide, but has versatile speed and only missed by a whisker here on debut in summer. Capable mare 8. Le Figaro resumes off an 11-month break and two forward trials, but will need to slot in early from a horror draw. Likewise, three-year-old stablemate 11. Testabello resumes as a gelding off two smart trials, but has to do it from the outside barrier. Include in exotics 5. Kingoftheharbour at long odds who is hard fit and draws to get a nice trail.
How to play it: Wave Maker to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 BM 58 HCP (2230m)
Now the restricted stayers in a modest affair. Coffs six-year-old mare 4. Rival Mo has an average record but like the way she's been attacking the line in her last few. Took on much better fields earlier in the prep and a win is overdue.
Dangers: Rarely do you see one resume off a 16-month absence over this distance but five-year-old mare 1. Windermere has had two trials for a new stable and done plenty of work. Gold Coast mare 3. Hayate has been up for a while but backs up quickly from a similar race here when edged out by a head. Local eight-year-old 2. Glycine Max hung on to win that race eight days ago and break a long run of outs, but sneaking up in the weights.
How to play it: Rival Mo each-way and box trifecta 1,2,3,4
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1420m)
Lightly raced five-year-old 2. Maspoeta has more ability than anything else in the race and will relish getting back on dry ground. Had been close-up in stronger sprints after winning his maiden but floundered on a bog track in a CL2 at Ballina.
Dangers: Big watch on 3. Fallow who resumes for a new stable off a lengthy break and two improving trials. Coffs four-year-old 4. Furphy burst through to win his maiden fourth-up at home but prefers a softer track; while Inverell mare 6. Fight For Love will find this easier than her last two and gets in light after junior rider's 4kg claim. Coffs mare 1. Could You Be Loved is best of the rest fourth-up with a 2kg claim.
How to play it: Maspoeta to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1115m)
Keen on resuming and progressive local mare 4. Queenofthecastle, who hasn't publicly trialled but comes to hand quickly. Hit the line hard first-up last time and can settle back off what should be a solid speed.
Dangers: Ex-South Australian mare 3. Autumn Splendour hasn't started for more than seven months but won a recent trial and looks ready for the leading Far North Coast stable. Local five-year-old 1. Moringa's Amordoro careered away for an impressive debut win here and been given four weeks to prepare for this next level.
How to play it: Queenofthecastle to win and quinella 3 and 4
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BM 58 HCP (1115m)
Similar restricted sprint augurs well for home-track mare 7. Savanna Jeune, who has been banging on the door all prep. Was close up in a deeper maiden here eight days ago and a little more ground on the quick back-up is a bonus. Preferred here to the last race.
Dangers: Lismore six-year-old 3. Dexter Dutton was beaten under a length in that same sprint as the top selection but will need to slot in early from a wider draw. Improving six-year-old 12. Mosserati beat a weak field here last time, but had plenty in reserve and looks up to this lot from a soft draw; while tough Port seven-year-old 1. Bangalley Lad is more of a wet tracker but has been finding the line consistently in better races.
How to play it: Savannah Jeune to win and trifecta 3,7,12/1,3,7,12/1,3,7,12
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 CLASS 3 HCP (1215m)
Keen on local five-year-old 7. Bozeman, who can make it two from his last three coming back in distance. Bolted in a BM 58 here as a heavily backed favourite before collared late in a handy BM 66. Boasts a strong record on this track and drawn to get a peachy run.
Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 5. Vivendo Il Sogno drops back in class after an average effort in a stronger CL3 at Doomben. Missed by a nose carrying 62kg in a BM 58 the start before and this trip suits fourth-up. Keep safe Coffs mare 6. Alternative Facts, who is hard to catch but has plenty of ability and drops in grade second-up off a nice trial. Coffs seven-year-old 2. Northern Knight is over the odds resuming, with the blinkers coming off. Likes to settle back and hit the line, and has a sound fresh record.
How to play it: Bozeman to win
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
Race 2: (12) WAVE MAKER
Race 7: (7) BOZEMAN
BEST VALUE
Race 3: (4) RIVAL MO
Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au