Bendigo will play host to Victoria’s major provincial meeting on Wednesday with a solid eight-race card.
Fine conditions are expected with the track rated a Good 4, while the rail remains out 9m across the circuit.
Markdel is one of only a few in this field with any real exposed form to base an opinion on.
The Freedman-trained colt by Snitzel debuted nicely in January for third and was seen giving good chase to just miss out on a place on the Hillside track two weeks ago first-up.
His debut run came over 1100m, so the rise in distance presents no problems.
From a nice low draw with Luke Currie still steering, this looks a nice race for him to breakthrough and win.
Nererure is a genuine each-way chance in this weak maiden contest.
Ciaron Maher’s mare was a complete forgive first-up at the ‘Bool to start the month, facing a wet track where she was wide the whole way and never much of a threat.
The daughter of Justify has made just the four starts to date, her best coming at The Valley last December where she placed over the mile.
She’ll need a touch of luck from out wide again, but with the blinkers off, she could be a likely improver.
Joffrey is an in-form four-year-old out of the Ciaron Maher camp that has really shown improvement in his last two starts.
The son of Raise The Flag has loved racing over these longer staying trips, finishing with half a length of Herrlich two weeks ago at Geelong over a touch shorter.
There was a good gap back to third that day and he just needs luck in running from the wide gate to go one better.
Jarrod Fry sticks, and if the pair can stalk the speed early, they should be strong to the line when it matters most.
Dictionary is one to keep an eye on here at long odds.
John Moloney’s four-year-old was beaten three lengths last-start at Mornington where he was facing a difficult rise in trip from 1400m all the way out to 2020m.
The son of All Too Hard ran some huge races over further during the spring last year, winning twice at Mornington before wrapping things up with a forgive run from out wide at The Valley.
Hard fit now third-up and likely to relish the early tempo, he’ll be tough to hold out if he can get back early in the run.
Quite keen on Light Wish getting back to 1100m in her third career start.
The daughter of Written Tycoon was well-supported on the Heath track at Caulfield last month where she looked home at the 50m mark before Bulletproof wore her down not far from the post.
Winning on debut by five lengths at Cranbourne, she’s obviously worth sticking with, and with 1.5kg off now under Daniel Stackhouse, she should prove just as tough to beat with the right ride from barrier 10.
Hard to ignore the price on offer for Paul Preusker’s mare Xtramagic.
This girl returned in terrific order three weeks ago at Ballarat, overcoming some late traffic problems to dive at the line and win narrowly thanks to a peach of a ride from Declan Bates.
Only lightly-raced for a four-year-old, she still has big room for improvement given she won quite well second-up at Horsham last September.
Falcon Of Malta looks the class runner in this field coming off a runner-up effort at Caulfield over the mile last start.
Michael Moroney’s four-year-old doesn’t win out of turn, but he does look one of the toughest to catch up on the speed now with the added benefit of two runs under his belt.
The son of Fiorente was entitled to weaken in his final few strides off a four-week break last time out, but he should take improvement into this assignment on less of a turnaround.
Blake Shinn has been riding very well of late, and if they can get across early from barrier 8, they’ll be every chance at leading all the way.
Gronkowski looks the safe option in what is probably the most open contest of the afternoon.
Clayton Douglas had this boy revved up two weeks ago at the ‘Bool off a four week break, the son of Starcraft finding the front over the final furlong where he drew clear to win comfortably in the end.
Returning the money in three of his last five starts, this rates another winnable assignment over his preferred trip if Jamie Mott can settle handy to the speed.
Best: Race 5 No. 7 Light Wish
Next Best: Race 7 No. 2 Falcon Of Malta
Value: Race 4 No. 5 Dictionary