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

Race 1

1. Musumeci is an emerging three-year-old by Capitalist, which made up good late ground from near last on debut in a better maiden at Tamworth. With that experience over more ground and on a track that will be either close to or back to good, he gets his chance to break through. Watch the betting closely on 8. Stolen Summer, a filly by The Autumn Sun on debut for the Paul Messara-Leah Gavranich stable from the inside draw behind two quiet trials. 4. Yanabah is well suited second up after closing off OK in that same race as the top selection. 3. Takeover Lad is bursting to break through deep into the prep, and has been freshened since running home late into a place as an odd-on favourite. Has been in the money seven times from 11 starts.
How to play it: Musumeci to win.

Race 2

3. Jonny Be Swift is well placed to finally crack it for a third career win back from tougher provincial company, and with a couple of rivals being preferred at Sunday’s Dubbo meeting. Kept chasing behind a smart one in heavy ground two starts ago, before holding his ground in a much tougher BM64 at Wyong after being well supported at each-way odds. Draws to get a cheap run just off the speed. 2. Descending Mist is a tough improver that will relish coming back from a stronger race deep into the prep. Swept home to win a similar race at Armidale two starts back before outclassed in a BM85 at Tamworth. 1. Cascade Mountain is ultra-consistent, having won his last two as a short-priced favourite. More depth here though, and has to get in from a trickier draw. 8. Tycoon Lad back out in trip from a soft draw goes in trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Jonny Be Swift to win.

Racing returns to Gunnedah on Monday.Credit: Jenny Evans

Race 3

10. Silverturn is a lightly raced filly that can claim a tricky maiden at only her second start. Was disappointing on debut at Armidale as a hot favourite coming off two progressive trials, although was never suited in the run on a soft 7 track, and is much better placed here on firmer footing. Big watch on 12. Miss Arisa, a two-year-old filly by Headwater on debut for the John Ramsey yard at Muswellbrook, which starts behind a dominant trial win in soft ground, and was scratched from Dubbo on Sunday to be saved for this. 2. Eclater, a Pierata three-year-old on debut in blinkers for the Greg Hickman stable at Warwick Farm off two quiet trials, can make a statement. 5. Sizzling Boy can run into the money dropping back from steeper provincial company third up. 1. Crusader Razor is a market watch resuming off a long break and having his first run for the new Wyong stable since transferring from the Chris Waller base in Queensland.
How to play it: Silverturn to win.

Race 4

10. Mad Harry is a tough and honest four-year-old bursting to break through deep into his prep. Beat all bar the winner on the Beaumont track in heavy ground three starts back, and was stiff not to win at Armidale when working through traffic from midfield to miss by less than half a length. Stays at the distance on the limit weight in what is a moderate affair. 2. Oakfield Mercury, a nicely bred colt by So You Think, making his debut for the Kris Lees stable, is likely to jump a short-priced favourite. Has been given two improving heavy-track trials, and the leading jockey sticks. 9. Justice Please is well placed third up coming back from a deeper provincial maiden. 11. Magic Sorcerer is trained on the track and can peak third up in a maiden with less quality. 5. Mr Chips finds a slightly weaker maiden well into the prep, and can run into the minor money at big odds.
How to play it: Mad Harry to win.

Race 5

13. Fleetly is progressive, and swept home to land the maiden at her fourth start, beating the top selection from the previous race. Has more than enough ability in this tougher test, just needs to get clear air from the inside draw by the top of the straight. A mile over the odds 7. Raymond’s Reward is progressive stepping up from an easy class 1 win against weak opposition in a non-TAB meeting, and draws to get a soft run on the speed. 3. Interventionist is much better placed back on firmer ground. All four career wins from 18 starts have come on good ratings, but he’s drawn right off the track. 1. To Be Frank is fit and beat a handy class 1 field three starts back, but has to carry a big weight also from a wide draw. 4. Damascus Gate third up off a freshen-up, and another one scratched from Dubbo, and 12. Bright Legend, fourth up, both go into wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Fleetly to win.

Race 6

9. Lady Olenna is a lightly raced and promising filly which looks to have this at her mercy coming off a smart second start win from just off the speed at Scone as the hottest of favourites. Again drawn to get a lovely run for the same leading trainer/jockey combination, and the task made even easier with two of the early market rivals both starting at Dubbo on Sunday. 4. Too Darn Lovely has been disappointing in three runs back from a spell, but gets her chance in a weakened race. Was well backed before showing speed to lead at Quirindi six days ago, and while she was easily overhauled, the winner of that race is going great guns. 1. Rare Beauty improves significantly coming back from tougher BM 72 mares company at the provincials. So, too, can 5. Whistling Straits second-up, although does prefer softer ground. 6. Eighty Eight Stars resumes with no public trials but is versatile and normally comes to hand in the prep, and did lead all the way to comfortably win a BM 58 at this track late last year. 8. La Pelago can run a race second-up off a break in weaker company, and unlike those two more fancied stablemates, was preferred here to Sunday’s stronger Dubbo card.

How to play it: Lady Olenna to win.

Race 7

5. Wasted Days is a sparingly raced four-year-old that ran home well into a place second up at Bathurst, and winkers have been added in what is now a weakened race. 2. Tigers Roar has tactical speed and comes back from a deeper race at the provincials. Watch the betting on 1. Golden Passport first up for the new Tamworth stable off a long break and quiet trial. 6. All Too Sneaky second up is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Wasted Days to win.

Best bets

Race 2: (3) Jonny Be Swift
Race 6: (9) Lady Olenna

Best value

Race 4: (10) Mad Harry

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au