Armidale Picks

Hard to imagine top pick being beaten. PENINSULA only able to place as favourite at only start at Tamworth, rates a long way in front. APACHE JACK in the money last start running third at Tamworth and has two placings from three runs this prep, place hope. CHARLIE BALI has three placings from six runs this prep and amongst the placegetters last start running third at Armidale, place claims. HARDASH on a seven day back-up and placed last start at Grafton, place chance.

FINGER BUN coming off a win to break maiden at Armidale and tends to go well on a softer track, has solid claims. SUIT DAY disappointed when placing as favourite last start at Armidale and won once this prep at Moree six runs back, in with a chance. MOON TREATY drawn ideally and has placed three times at Armidale before, not without each-way claims. DESHORENTE has four placings from seven runs this prep and ran 13 lengths back from the winner last start at Toowoomba, in with a chance.

SOLITARIO first starter and won one of three trials, tough to beat. SHARPEN THE KNIVES was narrowly beaten as a favourite last start at Armidale and has eight placings from 11 runs this prep, each-way claims. ANARITA back from 23 week spell, place chance. NORTHERN BOOGIE amongst the placegetters last start running third at Armidale on a soft track when fresh and ran third at Coffs Harbour when last second-up, place only.

Hard to split the top two selections. EXONUMIA has placed in two attempts this campaign but ran as favourite last start and placed at Armidale, commands respect. MAZITA has three placings from eight runs this prep and comes back to race at a country level, if in the finish no surprise. LEICA MODEL won two of four with the sting out of the ground and three wins from six attempts this campaign, each-way claims. RASAY FACTOR resumes after a spell of 18 weeks and goes well on a softer track, needs the breaks.

EZEKEIL first-up after 29 week spell and won three of nine with the sting out of the ground, key chance. MYSTERY LAD winner of last two at Tamworth and Armidale, place best. ENTERPRISE LEGEND only able to place as favourite last start at Armidale on a soft track but rates highly with Chelsea Ings aboard and won once this prep at Bingara four runs back, strong place chance. EPIC RANGER back from long 85 week spell and trialling well, needs the breaks.

WILD FLASH coming off a win to break maiden at Armidale when fresh and won one of three with the sting out of the ground, hard to go past. POWER BEAU goes well on a softer track and two wins from seven attempts this campaign, still in this. ARTIC PANTHER gave nothing else a chance to win last start at Inverell, not without each-way claims. RETHINK IT on a seven day back-up and finished a length back from the leader last start at Grafton, the real danger in the race.

POINT COUNTERPOINT has gone well on a softer track and racing back from metro track, genuine contender. DREAMDEEL winner at Newcastle and placed twice this campaign, could threaten. MACLEAY came on to finish midfield last start at Tamworth and up in distance, looks threatening. VINCENZO in the money last start running third at Narromine and gets the blinkers back on, sneaky chance.

NIGHTS INFERNO looking for a hatrick after winning two in a row at Scone and Muswellbrook, key chance. PURPLE ESPRIT just missed at long odds last start at Tamworth when resuming and won at Armidale in only second-up attempt, place only. LEASE let-up for 11 weeks and ran third at Gilgandra when last first-up, needs the breaks. THE LUPERCAL faded to finish on the winners' heels last start at Tamworth and won once this prep at Moree three runs back, place claims.