Port Macquarie races Thursday tips and full preview

Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1000m)

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Intriguing maiden. Well bred home track two-year-old 2. Buck Pharoah is ready to break through at third start. Has found the line well to miss narrowly in both runs so far, and prior to debut showed his liking for rain-affected ground winning a trial.
Dangers: Liked the trial of All Too Hard filly 4. Annyidea who was restrained early before finishing down the middle under a tight hold on a heavy rating. Drawn wide, but debuts for a smart provincial stable. Improving filly 3. Duchess Nicci showed good speed on debut at Tamworth, and was only collared late. Stays at the trip, although will need to work over from a wide gate; while big watch on stablemate Exceed And Excel filly 5. Excelness who looked strong under a good hold leading all the way in a trial six weeks back. Keep safe Coffs two-year-old filly 10. Boncassie who hit the line from midfield on debut, and will appreciate more ground.
How to play it: Buck Pharoah to win and box trifecta 2,3,4,5
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)

Very tricky maiden. Capable three-year-old filly 12. Muscadelle has been popular with punters despite threatening to win one all prep, but gets her chance in a weaker maiden and down in weight. Didn’t finish off behind a smart winner at Taree, although it was hard to make up ground that day, and she can be ridden quieter here.
Dangers: Well bred three-year-old 5. Cartography was flat to the line on debut after being heavily backed. With that experience, and a senior rider booked for what looks a thinner race, he should be in the finish. Another provincial three-year-old 4. Another Super has been okay in two runs to start his career. Prefers wet ground, but up sharply in weight. Expect improvement from Taree three-year-old 6. Nicci Knee Knack who was ordinary on debut after being backed into an odds-on favourite.
How to play it: Muscadelle to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m)

Keen on progressive three-year-old 6. Olympic Time who made up plenty of ground on debut at Scone in a handy maiden. Gets a softer draw here carrying 2.5kg less, and extra trip an added bonus.
Dangers: Local four-year-old 1. Em Em D’ar is bursting to break through deep into the prep, and draws the inside barrier. Has worked home strongly in his last few, the latest at Scone run in race record time. Improving filly 10. Dismissal has been close-up in her last two, and has a liking for rain-affected ground. Drawn out, but more effective she’s ridden colder from off the speed; while including three-year-old stablemate 5. Coolmeans who trailed the speed before missing narrowly in that same race as the top selection, although drawn much wider here.
How to play it: Olympic Time to win and quinella 1 and 6
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 5 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1500m)

Keen on tough four-year-old 6. War Cat who dug in to beat a solid CL2 field at Muswellbrook fourth-up, and he’s right at the top of his game now despite jumping to a career high 60kg.
Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 3. Camp Rifle responded impressively when stretched out to the mile at Coffs finishing best from just off the speed. Enjoying a consistent and strong prep, and will be right there again from the inside draw. Honest four-year-old 5. Group Think hasn’t been far away in three runs this prep, the latest no match for Camp Rifle over that final 150m. Draws to get another soft on-speed run. Keep safe improving four-year-old 4. Admit It who worked home late behind a smart winner at Newcastle third-up, and at his best on rain-affected ground.
How to play it: War Cat to win and box trifecta 3,4,5,6
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 CLASS 3 HCP (1800m)

Even wider affair here, although progressive three-year-old 7. Scorched Land is ready for this deeper test after charging home to win a BM 58 at Taree. Has a 33 per cent winning strike rate from only nine starts, all on rain-affected going, and carries 3kg less.
Dangers: Newcastle five-year-old 1. Continuation hasn’t won for a long time, and would need to improve on a plain effort third-up at home, but should find this a little easier. Rival provincial five-year-old 2. Arabolini was also disappointing third-up in that same BM 64 failing to run on, but seems to save his best for soft track ratings.
How to play it: Scorched Land to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m)

Moderate sprint for the fillies and mares augurs well for talented three-year-old filly 2. Unearthed who can strike third-up from an ideal draw. Missed by a whisker ridden closer at Muswellbrook, and well treated at the weights after the claim.
Dangers: Local mare 1. Maid Marilyn is much better than her strike rate suggests, and hard fit after four improving runs back. Draws to get an economical run a few lengths back on the fence. Included in exotics both Coffs Harbour mare 5. Bella Broadway third-up and scratched from Grafton on Tuesday to run here; and Taree mare 9. Atlantic Lite who was only run down in the last stride at home third-up.
How to play it: Unearthed to win
Odds and Evens: Split a special

Race 8 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m)

We close the card with the boys’ edition, and the most open race on the card. Keen at the value on home track four-year-old 1. Lord Jaysea freshened up and back in distance with significant gear changes and a 2kg claim. Sailed home to win a good CL3 two runs back, and the second horse then bolted in two starts later, before working home at Taree under 60kg. Relishes rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 3. Spiritual Power can peak third-up, despite drawing wide. Missed by a whisker in a handy CL1, although doesn’t want it slipping into heavy range. Wyong three-year-old 2. Royal Charge finally rediscovered his winning appetite at Tamworth holding off a handy CL1 field despite being unwanted in betting. Will roll forward again and be hard to collar again coming back in distance. The record of seven-year-old 6. Apache Dude doesn’t do his honesty justice. Was close up in stronger grade three runs back before two solid efforts in similar fields, and top country rider goes on. Watch the betting on provincial four-year-old 8. Gogh Fox third-up from the inside draw.
How to play it: Lord Jaysea each way and box exacta 1,2,3
Odds and Evens: Split