Neil EvansJuly 5, 2026 — 5:15pmTrack heavy 9 and rail out 8m from 1400m to WP & 3m the remainder.Race 13. County Kilkenny is a tough local dropping in quality after losing his way here in heavy ground at a vital stage 15 days ago. Steps up sharply in trip from the mile and is well over the odds in an open race. 6. Mr Tadashi is a real wet-tracker, having ploughed through the mud to win his last two here up to this level and distance. Senior rider sticks like glue. 7. Reel Crystal dug in hard to fend off the challengers at Goulburn in a weaker race. Hard fit dropping in weight for this steeper test, and is building a tidy record. 8. Strategic Defense steps back up in trip and grade deep into the campaign. Victorian-based pair 1. Quamby, which drops back from deeper metropolitan opposition, and 2. Star Blazer, which has won two of his last four in slightly weaker races, can both figure in the minor money.How to play it: County Kilkenny to win.Racing heads to Wagga Wagga on Monday.FairfaxRace 24. Hot Toddy is primed to finally break through fourth-up this prep, and at his 22nd attempt. Was narrowly beaten into a place twice to start this campaign before closing off well enough on a heavy 9 at Albury. Winkers coming off is a vital gear change. 3. Hold This is the immediate threat fresh for a leading Albury stable, also with winkers removed. Comes to hand quickly in these conditions and fitted with a soft trial. 2. Distant Stripes is very fit and an honest wet-tracker. Gap to the rest headed by Canberra filly 9. Krasavitsa, which debuts for the Nick Olive yard with gear additions behind an easy trial.How to play it: Hot Toddy to win.Race 33. Rockabye Roxy is a progressive Canberra filly well-placed to land her maiden win third-up. Has hit the line to miss narrowly in two soft-track runs back on the South Coast and the switch to the bigger track 17 days between runs is ideal. The one to beat. No tougher campaigner in the field than 4. My Mate Elvis, which has been in and around the money all prep searching for that first win. Given nearly three weeks since hitting the line impressively in a deeper metro field at Canterbury, although a slight query in really heavy ground. 1. The Ultimate Star is a lightly raced Canberra three-year-old that did his best work late here at big odds nine days ago. Gap to the rest headed by 7. Broken Image, which has been chipping away for a breakthrough win for an eternity. Blinkers go back on amid a string of gear changes and can improve sharply.How to play it: Rockabye Roxy to win.Race 42. Mount Ogilivie is an emerging home-track four-year-old that has to tuck in from a wide draw, but there was enough to like about his closing first-up effort. Fitter now, drawn to get to the outside, and this is a weak maiden. 13. Who’s Who was well fancied on debut, but the Victorian three-year-old dropped out alarmingly after leading. NSW jockey sticking this side of the border is a boost, but the market might be the telling factor staying on heavy ground. Locally trained mare 9. Speed Of Thought is lightly raced and big market watch returning for her first run since late last spring without any official trials. 4. Artie’s A Star can run a much-improved race fourth-up at big odds, while 6. Metro Girl is a fourth-up improver.How to play it: Mount Ogilvie to win.Race 58. Vinolass is a sparingly raced Canberra mare well-placed to strike after a 32-day freshen-up. Powered home to claim all but the winner here last time. While this is step-up, all three career wins so far have come on rain-affected ground, and she drops sharply in weight as well. 3. One Hard Lady will be hard to hold out first-up for 10 weeks. Was competitive enough in much tougher races through autumn and has trialled well. 9. Sparklenglitter resumes with no public trials, but is a big watch having tackled stronger metro and provincial fields last spring. 1. King Gutho is a sharp second-up improver back on the turf, while Victorian 5. Toompine, dropping back from tougher metro opposition, can add value into trifecta and first fours.How to play it: Vinolass to win.Race 66. Mr Avery is an emerging Albury three-year-old ready to pounce off a seven-week break. Charged home to beat a handy maiden field first-up at home before again hitting the line from well back at BM 58 level when pushed out to 2000m. Back in trip now off a tidy soft-track trial, and while this is his first run under heavy conditions, is headed for bigger targets than the rest of these. 5. Tis No Man is a third-up improver that can run into the money. 8. Look Here is a consistent and progressive Canberra filly that has been hard in the market in her last two and is building a tidy record at this course. Keep safe 7. Russian Gangster four weeks after a smart debut win. 13. My Mate Elvis drops in weight from a handy draw if he starts here rather than in an easier race earlier.How to play it: Mr Avery to win.Race 711. Taluk is an honest local mare who has more to offer than her modest strike rate. Has hit the line hard from well back in her last two, and finally steps up to a more suitable trip in what is a weak lineup. 8. Spring Blossom is a metro-based filly shooting for three straight wins to open her career, but has to get across from a wide draw. 7. Heart Balm comes off a second-up and dominant barrier-to-box maiden win here in very heavy ground. 1. A Book Of Days who hasn’t been far away in his last three on wet tracks, and 4. Dreamstone second-up with a 2kg claim, can both add value into exotics; while 9. Bulla Vinaka second-up heads the rest.How to play it: Taluk to win.Race 84. Under Wraps bolted in from the front here two starts ago when running a handy time for a heavy 9 rating. Fell in a heap last start when going too hard in front in a better field at Albury, but prepared to forgive with a far superior jockey taking over, and importantly blinkers coming off. 2. Fire Chat is a progressive and fit local that will try to repeat the dose from 15 days ago when he bounced to the front in heavy going and gave nothing else a chance. 10. Iroquai is each way value fifth-up and coming off a fast-finishing maiden win at Albury. 1. Dee Dee Express draws the inside back in trip third-up; while 3. Noteabeel, off a narrow win on debut, and home-tracker 11. Witch Of November fourth-up are the best of the rest.How to play it: Under Wraps to win.Best betsRace 3: (3) Rockabye RoxyRace 4: (2) Mount OgilvieBest valueRace 5: (8) VinolassFrom our partners