OVERVIEW: HOPPY (7) is flying this campaign for Team Craven, with a cracking first-up run in free-for-all grade followed by a barnstorming victory last weekend at Melton. He came from three fence there and rounded up his rivals with ease, drawing clear to win softly by 6.5m on the line. He has an awkward barrier here and will probably end up towards the back of the field, but has a great turn of foot and should be rattling late. VYTIS (9) looks the other key winning hope, and like HOPPY (7), has had the two runs back this campaign. He was parked and battled away bravely for third first-up before working to the lead and beating MITCHELL WRAP (4) and MUSKEE (11) at Melton on June 20. He’s classy and looks to be drawn for a nice trip. WITH APLOMB (1) is flying for Steve Cleave with five wins from her last seven starts but this is a step-up in grade, while MUSKEE (11) is a handy trotter who would need some luck to win but is a must for wider exotics.

OVERVIEW: IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (1) showed a major turnaround in form when he sprinted sharply from off the pace to win impressively at Melton last week and this shapes as another suitable assignment from the good draw. He has good gate speed and should either lead or sit leader’s back on quick beginner PRETTYBOY HARRY (4), and from there will take plenty of holding out based on his most recent effort. I’m a big fan of CARLA PIXIE (9) this preparation, and she continued her good run of form with a closing third from three back the fence in a good race at Melton last start. She should get a nice trip here and will give this a real shake if the tempo is genuine. PRETTYBOY HARRY (4) couldn’t lead last time and was trapped parked before dropping out, but his prior form from the front was very good, while NAKEDTRUTH (8) is running well of late and looks set to get a nice position on the pegs to be dangerous in the straight.

OVERVIEW: HOWDY MATE (10) never really got much room to launch when settling last on the fence and racing in restricted room up the straight last weekend behind Hoppy. It was his first run for close to a month and he did appear to have plenty left in the tank, so his 14.2m defeat might be a little misleading. He’s a progressive type that has won five of 19 starts, and looks well placed in this race where you can make a case for quite a few. ARTIGAS (7) appears the obvious danger given his triumphant stretch of three, which includes a last-start front-running success over three rivals that reoppose here on June 20. He was able to work over and find the front from PROHIBITED GRACE (5) and gripped on to win by a neck. It won’t be as easy from gate seven this time, but Aaron Dunn has him ticking over nicely and he’s every chance of leading, where he’d prove hard to beat. PROHIBITED GRACE (5) led and was run down by Ijustcalledtosay and Aldebaran Abel last weekend, but is performing very consistently of late and is the likely speed influence here, while IRON WOMEN (11) found the top and was swamped by Hoppy and co. last Saturday, however did finish third in what was another solid effort.

BACK: HOWDY MATE (10) – 1 unit (win)

OVERVIEW: While he hasn’t been winning, LE CARDINAL (3) is growing on me week by week and this appears a great chance to prove victorious in what is a pretty hot 0/$15k event over the 1720m. Last weekend, he showed really good gate speed to lead before handing up to red-hot favourite Apollostorm. The pair cleared right out from the rest of the field, and LE CARDINAL (3) chased his rival so gallantly in a super slick last quarter of 26.4 to be beaten 1.4m. He has drawn underneath key rival MOST EXCITING (7) here and if he’s able to glide to the top, he’ll be awfully hard to beat. All his form this campaign is outstanding and he’s a smart horse on the rise who appears destined for free-for-all grade in time. MOST EXCITING (7) actually beat home LE CARDINAL (3) when they last clashed in a strong three-year-old contest back on June 6 and was only grabbed late by Miss Ari here a fortnight ago. They appear the two clear winning chances, but plenty of respect has to rest with ROYAL APPOINTMENT (1), who draws well and rarely runs a bad race, and TALERN LOFTY (2), who came with a sustained run at Shepparton last time and worked past the highly-touted Quatro Moth only to be grabbed in the shadows of the post by Okanui Beach.

BACK: LE CARDINAL (3) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: CIGANO (7) was super impressive winning first-up as a four-year-old at Melton on June 13 when he settled back in the field and let rip with a sweeping final lap to score decisively. That was 1720m and this is over 2240m, so driver Mark Pitt might elect to work forward with fast beginner MAXNJAX (5) in a bid to find the lead. Either way, he clearly goes on top as a likely short-priced favourite. SWEET IDEAL (8) led and won a good race at Melton latest, and while she has the sticky inside back row gate this time, the Lawlor family’s mare possesses blistering speed and should be storming late with even luck. LET HER ROLL (9) is first-up from a long spell but brings top form to the table and heads here following two trials, while SON OF MAC (6) had a tick-over trial at Melton during the week following a last-start victory from the breeze at Melton on May 9.

OVERVIEW: APOLLOSTORM (2) looks the lock of the night here as he shoots for three-straight wins to start the campaign. He has led and been scintillating in both triumphs as a four-year-old and this looks like a rinse and repeat job from the good gate and with OZZIE CORKA (1) a known hand-up horse. I’d be very surprised if he was beaten. KARTIARE (9) is a lovely pacer from the Quinlan yard who probably should have won last time out, but cost himself with some erratic manners. He has a booming finish and will be charging late. HOORAH PHILTRA (8) might get that nice trip three back the fence and has great form since joining the Herbertson stable, and ODIN (7) is a horse in good form but the barrier draw hurts his winning chances.

OVERVIEW: THE STEEL DRAGON (1) clocked some outstanding sectionals (race fastest 54.90 last half, 1:55.53 last mile) in his most recent outing at Melton when he finished fifth behind Major Blitz. He came from last down the back straight in the big field, and had all the best splits home despite covering the equal most ground in the race. He’s not a brilliant beginner, but if he can do enough to settle in behind the leader, he will take a power of holding out late. FAIRPLAY (9) is first-up since May 2025, has trialled nicely twice in preparation for this and will likely start a warm favourite given he hails from the Emma Stewart barn, MIGHTY JOLT (3) can be a sharp improver drawn off the front here as he might be able to lead, while HITCH TO HIS STAR (7) was a good winner at Wagga latest and looks the next best of the winning hopes.

BACK: THE STEEL DRAGON (1) – 1.5 units (each-way)

OVERVIEW: MISS ARI (7) found the front, handed to favourite Most Exciting and sprinted past him in a slick mile rate of 1:52.9 at Melton a fortnight ago in what was a great win with a huge margin back to third. The first-up run prior was full of merit despite being in an impossible position turning for home, and the lead-up trial before that was outstanding. She’s a very good mare and I’m happily in her corner despite the wide gate. THE LAST TRIP (1) steps out for his first run since January 2025. He’s also first-up for the Emma Stewart stable, and while his trial was sound without being brilliant at Melton recently, you must respect this stable. The team is so good at producing horses like this to win following long breaks. GUNFORHIRE (5) was a hard luck story last time out when he might have won with clear air and his form this campaign is really good, while IN AN IDEAL WORLD (3) has claims but is most likely only a place candidate.

BACK: MISS ARI (7) – 3 units (win)