Indeed, there’s a number of city-trained runners landing at Towac Park too after the meeting received a massive number of nominations and as a result, acceptors.

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The likes of Gary Portelli and Bjorn Baker will be sending a plethora of chances from their stables, while Towac-based trainers Lee Van Den Bos, Michael Plummer, Brian Gentle, Alison Smith and Brad Draper have all accepted too.

After flicking through the fields and form and looking at the conditions – Towac’s rated a good 3 leading in, last week’s rain doing the track a world of good – here’s my best tips for the afternoon’s racing, a little bit of extra content that’ll come before every meeting at the Orange track this year.

As always, if you are having a punt, please gamble responsibly.

RACE 1: McSigns Maiden Plate (1000 metres) | $22,000 | 1.20pm

BEST BET: Miracleofmiracles (T: Bjorn Baker; J: Jean Van Overmeire) | $5.50

Sitting near the top of the field at $5.50 leading in, this filly’s trialled well in the city leading in, picking up a win at Warwick Farm and then finishing fourth in a strong field at Rosehill. Has Jean Van Overmeire on board from gate five, and Bjorn Baker’s known for bringing some of his best up-and-comers to the Orange track, so must be considered a major player here.

RACE 2: Train 365 Maiden Handicap (1300m) | $22,000 | 1.55pm

BEST BET: Another Shadow (T: Garry White; J: Adrian Robinson) | $4.20

Was just edged out by Humboldt at Hawkesbury two starts ago and was far from disgraced in running fifth of 10 at the same track last start. The second of those was a soft track, which worked against the four-year-old. Has only had two starts over the distance for no results, but is worth another look at $4.20. Banjo’s Voice must be considered too.

RACE 3: Nagle Transport Maiden Handicap (1600m) | $22,000 | 2.35pm

BEST BET: Ellie Beach (T: Wayne Austin; J: Rachael Murray) | $4.60

Bjorn Baker’s Seven Falls sits at a short-priced $2 leading in after a trial win and looks the goods, but I prefer Wayne Austin’s six-year-old. She’s had plenty of chances to win on in a nine-start career, but returned from a spell with a placing 1400 in Bathurst and closed intently in that run. Moving out to the mile is a plus, and she’ll be fitter for that run. Sitting at $4.60.

RACE 4: Lion Nathan Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2100m) | $22,000 | 3.10pm

BEST BET: Orokonui (T: Terry Croft; J: Grant Buckley) | $1.28

Look, as a $1.28 favourite he probably isn’t the best bet in terms of value but he’s impossible to go past as a tip in this field. Won on debut at Hawkesbury and finished well to place at Warwick Farm last start in a benchmark 70. He’s dropping in grade and is ready to win again.

RACE 5: Orange Vet Hospital CL3 Handicap Heat of the Rising Star (1280m) | $22,000 | 3.45pm

BEST BET: Funky Music (T: Matthew Smith; J: Rebeka Prest) | $5.50

There’s a number of runners here that have big claims, including Alison Smith’s Panuara, Lee Van Den Bos’ Loves A Hassle and, as always, Bjorn Baker’s Tony’s Reward. Funky Music has been as consistent as you could hope this preparation though and I see plenty of value at $5.50 odds. He’s a last-start winner at Canberra, and he picked up another win and three more seconds in his four runs prior to that. 

RACE 6: Kennards Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) | $22,000 | 4.20pm

BEST BET: Lily’s Little Girl (T: Michael Plummer; J: Jeff Penza) | $8.50

Rick Worthington’s Not A Sound is another with real value at $6.50 and strips fitter after tiring at Bathurst last start, but I like Plummer’s mare here despite a pretty ordinary effort at Rosehill the last time she jumped. That was in a Highway Handicap though, and she’ll find this much easier. Knows the track as a Towac-trained horse and likes the 1400 trip. At $8.50 she may be a better each-way bet, but I think she’s good to go here.

RACE 7: Epiroc Class 1 Handicap (1000m) | $22,000 | 4.55pm

BEST BET: Meraki Miss (T: Cameron Crockett; J: Mathew Cahill) | $3

I’ve got a lot of time for all of Crockett’s horses, and having Mathew Cahill on board is a big plus too. Gets an awkward draw out of barrier 11 but the move back to 1000 from 1100 last start suits. She was unlucky not to get the job done at Bathurst in that run, finishing second, and this isn’t any tougher. One of the harder races to tip, you could do worse than backing Alison Smith’s Artic Warrior, Adam Wadick’s Royal Casino or Gayna Williams’ Baker’s Image.

RACE 8: Kitchens & Cabinets Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) | $22,000 | 5.35pm

BEST BETS: Showgals (T: Gary Portelli; J: Greg Ryan); Missy Rhythmos (T: Alison Smith; J: Kacie Adams) | $2.90; $13

The former Orange trainer’s filly heads the market by some way and with good reason. She might have drawn barrier 10, but has form over this distance with two wins from four starts one of those was in her only run at Towac Park. That win came in last year’s Silver Apple. Has Greg Ryan on board too, which makes her tough to resist.

I can’t not include Missy Rhythmos though, even if it means I sit on the fence a bit. She battled at Hawkesbury last start but this is slightly easier and her record at Orange is formidable, with three wins from five starts and two of those coming over this distance. She’s drawn well too in the inside lane, and is juicy at $13.