Showcase and Cessnock Cup meeting transferred to this bigger track on a likely Good 4, and with the rail out 8.5m, on-pace should dominate early.
Race 1 CL2 HCP (900m):
Early positions the key and looks a battle in two. Newcastle filly 3. Designer Maid came off a winning trial to score on debut at Taree before failing in town. Again has trialled well held together from the front in preparation for her return. The one to beat.
Dangers: Wyong-trained 2. Rogue Runner won at Cessnock two runs back before disappointing in Soft 7 ground last start. Comes out of that same Gosford trial as Designer Maid when close-up behind Choice Larga who has since won and draws the inside.
How to play it: Designer Maid to win and quinella 2 and 3.
There are eight races scheduled for Cessnock today.Credit:Jenny Evans
Race 2 LIGHTNING HCP (900m):
Competitive scamper and they'll take no prisoners. Wyong-trained 2. Trust Me looks the testing material fresh. Won three straight through the winter including the Lightning at Taree, and has had two forward trials in preparation. Parks right on the speed from a favourable draw.
Dangers: Wyong mare 4. Miss Faith put three wins together, each time attacking the line from off the speed, before failing in a BM 70. Will get a good run from the gate and in well at the weights. Scone-trained 1. Professor Marx will improve second-up after a solid first run in nearly a year in the BM 81 Bowman Sprint at Muswellbrook. Another mare 5. Princess Lottie is also in well at the weights after the rider's claim. Won a BM 70 at Wyong a month back and has trialled well.
How to play it: Box trifecta 1-2-4-5.
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1600m):
Newcastle trainer Kris Lee looks to have a stranglehold on this. Top-weight 1. Crowd Surfer has been given the best horse's weight, yet can justify it third-up from the good draw. Wasn't beaten far in both runs back when short in the market and draws to park right on the speed again.
Dangers: Stablemates 3YO 2. Bedivere who produced an encouraging run on debut finding the line from well back, despite unwanted in betting, will appreciate the longer trip; as will 4. Brazenbrook stepping to the mile third run in.
How to play it: Crowd Surfer to win.
Race 4 CL1 HCP (1200m):
Scone-trained 3. Legion Of Boom is the one to beat from an inside draw. Was terrific sitting wide with no cover at Scone to break through at second career start when solid in the market, and will get a much softer run here.
Dangers: Another Lees runner 4. More Chilli improved off a closing debut at Muswellbrook in the winter to break through at his second start. Has had two trials, but the latest was only fair. Newcastle colt 5. Jamaican Dream is consistent enough and just missed when well-backed at Cessnock before an even effort at Port Macquarie. Close to winning again.
How to play it: Legion Of Boom to win.
Race 5 BM 66 HCP (1600m):
Another even contest, although Newcastle mare 6. Hermosa Reward looks very nicely placed, despite a rise in weight, coming back in grade. Has been close all prep around these journeys and gets a lovely trailing spot, one off the fence and just off the speed.
Dangers: Scone mare 5. Dreamnomore loves to lead and will be hard to run down if she controls the speed. Enjoys a 3kg claim and low draw. Locally-trained 3. Kulnurra can mix form, but won a CL3 three runs back before fair efforts at Rosehill and on this track; while Hawkesbury-trained 9. Elkano continues to improve and found the line nicely last start.
How to play it: Hermosa Reward to win and box trifecta 3-5-6-9.
Race 6 CESSNOCK CUP (2300m):
This looks ideal for Warwick Farm-trained 1. Keep Up. Has consistently found the line behind better horses, including an eye-catching second to the smart High Bridge four runs back and behind the very promising Girl Tuesday. Again hit the line hard at Hawkesbury last start when heavily-backed. More progressive than the rest and will park midfield and sweep home.
Dangers: Warwick Farm-trained 2. Dylan's Romance produced a huge run in the Queanbeyan Cup under a big weight, and from a good draw here, should be right in the finish. Muswellbrook mare 5. Love None is suited by the step up in trip, and stable is good at placing them; while things didn't go to plan for Armidale-trained 6. Rage Against last start, but won two straight at home prior, and I'm a big fan of the stable.
How to play it: Keep Up to win and quinella 1 and 2.
Race 7: MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Break through time for Scone 3YO 4. Nick The Skip after four straight second placings. Will stalk the speed from an inside gate and be produced late.
Dangers: Another Scone visitor 7. Rosaria Caterina found the line nicely in some decent maidens earlier in the year, and suited by the long straight resuming.
How to play it: Nick The Skip to win.
Race 8 CL4 PLATE (1350m):
Up fractionally in weight and distance, but back in grade, 1. Cosmic Reign looks hard to beat in a race of average depth. Was well backed when won from the front at Muswellbrook and should be able to cruise across from a wider gate.
Dangers: Gulgong-trained 2. Sugar Dance will appreciate coming back in trip and from a high-rating Rosehill Highway when solid in the market. Also has to come over from a wide barrier, but looks the clear threat. The rest are making up the numbers.
How to play it: Cosmic Reign to win and quinella 1 and 2.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays at racingnsw.com.au.