OVERVIEW: Difficult and wide-open event to start the night of racing at Melton where not much would surprise. While the gate isn’t ideal, I’ve sided with PRINCESS ARNA (7), who ran a good race in behind the leader at Charlton last time out and was brave from the chair before that. She did work and found the front to win a race back in mid-November, and she looks a fairly reliable way to start the card. ITTAKESLUV (10) won at Horsham in mid-November also and has been competitive of late, KIDWITHAGRIN (2) can be a sharp improver at odds given he has been held up in a host of recent runs and looks a likely leader, while FEEL THE BUZZ (4) heads a stack of other chances in a race where a field ticket wouldn’t be the worst way to start the Early Quaddie.

OVERVIEW: CLARENDEN EXPRESS (10) has recently joined the Adam Stephens stable, and it looks as though a win isn’t too far away. I liked the way he finished off behind Cee Cee Lou in a slick last half at Cranbourne on Saturday night to be beaten 2.2m and he should be running home hard late here. There’s plenty of other winning chances, with MONTANA PRIDE (2) in great form and shaping as a possible early leader, MY LITTLE BO (8) backing up from a win on New Year’s Eve in the Young Guns Series and DEUCE COUPE (5) performing well in some decent events. The chances don’t stop there, however.

OVERVIEW: HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (11) has his quirks, but looks to have plenty of ability and I liked his trial at Melton on Tuesday in preparation for this first-up assignment. He surged around the field from last and probably would have won had he not lugged in turning for home. He caught the eye in his first campaign, and he looks to have enough talent to win this. ROLINGINTHEDEEP (4) was checked and broke on New Year’s Eve, but before that was a good second to Jusjohn at Cranbourne. He beat home Bella Louise there, and she won on Saturday night. ROCKNROLL ROCKET (7) is going well but has an awkward gate, while PET WOLF (2) did plenty wrong on debut in the Young Guns Series and still nearly got the cash. If he shows natural improvement in his second start at the races, he’s a huge factor.

BACK: HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (11) – 1 unit (each-way)

OVERVIEW: Maiden event for the mares here and NORMANS GIRL (5) gets a great chance to crack it for her first win. She’s a maiden after 26 starts and has had a few trainers, but her last couple of runner-up efforts have been full of merit at Geelong and Melton. Four of these horses clashed in a race at Melton last Friday and I thought LOWER WEST SIDE (1) went to the line with plenty in reserve while on debut, beaten just 7.8m. Drawn well here and looks a key contender. HELLO POSSUMS (8) loomed to win on New Year’s Eve but was grabbed late and also ran well first-up at Shepparton, while ILLUMINATE ME (6), JACQUELYN JOY (7) and WHIRILY MAURZ (9) look next best.

BACK: NORMANS GIRL (5) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: BRINGSUSJOY (2) was awfully unlucky last Friday at Melton when locking wheels at the start and then being held up to the line with lots left to give. She produced a cracking run in the Vicbred Silver Final in late November that sticks in my mind. I liked her last week and happy to go again from gate two here. PLATINUM JIVE (8) bolted in by a big margin last time out so will be very hard to deny in another suitable event, ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (1) was actually fantastic on New Year’s Eve after making an unsuccessful mid-race move and still surging through the line to be beaten less than 8m, while FIANO (5) might find the front and prove hard to catch.

BACK: BRINGSUSJOY (2) – 1 unit (win)

OVERVIEW: LAMBRO MACH (8) broke through for a long-awaited victory for new connections when he swooped from last to score on New Year’s Eve, beating GOOD DAY (5) and MAXY BOMBER (1) in the process. He was inconvenienced at the bell there so had to produce a big effort to score. He goes on top again. JUSJOHN (6) has great gate speed and boxed on bravely last Friday night when only beaten late into third by Handler. He can certainly win. MAXY BOMBER (1) gets the nice draw and is a consistent performer, while GOOD DAY (5) was very gutsy from the chair in that aforementioned race when well supported in the market.

BACK: LAMBRO MACH (8) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: LORIMERMAJOR (8) is a wonderful old campaigner who is just in superb form of late. He has won five of his last nine starts and this looks very suitable again. Have to lean his way. JANIEBQUICK (6) is dropping back from the Vicbred Super Series, which she contested competitively and even reached the $100,000 final. This is obviously much easier, but she is only a winner of three of her 23 career starts. CINQUANTA (5) and FLYING SPARKS (7) are going along okay and wouldn’t shock if the breaks came their way.

OVERVIEW: BREATHE EASY (3) has won both his starts since joining the Basil Dooley stable and they’ve been very good efforts for this type of grade. He looks well placed to make it three victories in succession, particularly if he can work over and find the front. JILLIBY SELWOOD (7) is getting back into a winnable contest but does have a sticky gate, YANKEE RAIN (6) looks capable of pinching a race like this if things set up for her, while DEVOLAS LEGACY (8) battled it out with DELTA STARZ (1) and REGAL ROCK (2) last Friday night and they could all help fill the trifecta and First 4 spots.

BACK: BREATHE EASY (3) – 3 units (win)