Programmed as races seven and eight; two $10,000 Menangle Country Series Heats will highlight this afternoon’s eight race card.

With visiting trainers looking to have the upper hand for most of the day’s racing, the same cannot be said for the two feature races with local trainers looking to dominate.

The Hewitt stable, which has been having another tremendous season, will send out Hez A Dude as a strong favourite in race seven, the Goulburn Soldiers Club AGL Energy Tabcorp Menangle Country Series heat for C3 to C4 horses.

The lightly raced four year old will be backing up quickly from his engagement in the $50,000 Carousel Final at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night.

Whilst the result was unknown at the time of print, Hez A Dude earned a start in the rich race following an impressive heat win at Menangle last Tuesday. 

On that occasion he led throughout and was too strong for a good class field.

The Hewitt stable also has a strong lineup in race eight, the Glenferrie Farm AGL Energy Tabcorp Menangle Country Series heat for C1 horses, where they are represented by Monterey Jack, Keilor Misty and Miss Nickels.

Following an impressive first up win at Canberra a fortnight ago, the mare Keilor Misty looks very well placed from barrier five and will prove very hard to beat with the services of reinsman Brad Hewitt.

With race 1 scheduled to start at 12.12 pm, gates to the course will be open from 11.30 am and the club encourages all to come out for a great afternoon of competitive and interesting racing, and to experience the wonderful facilities of the Grace Millson Function Centre. 

Enjoy quality food and a wide range of cold alcoholic and soft drinks whilst watching all the racing action in air conditioned comfort.

Goulburn harness racing is brought to fans by the support of Tabcorp, Goulburn Soldiers Club, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Glenferrie Farm, Hollingworth Crane Hire, Maddens Stable Bedding and RSM Accountants.

The Goulburn club will finish off this season with racing on Monday May 16 and May 30 before resuming on Sunday, November, 6.

In a move designed to reach out to more fans, next season the club will race predominantly on Sunday afternoons.

For all the latest Goulburn harness racing news visit the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au.

Form analysis and tips

Race 1 Top Water Carters Crookwell Three Year Old Pace: 3CO only pace with seven runners; Crookwell owned and trained Boobalaga Road has been in great form recently winning two of his last three starts at Canberra. 

Drawn a little wide but should be a strong chance. 

Hell Bent is yet to win but his last two starts have been full of merit. 

Was resuming when second at Menangle and then close up when fourth to Arma The Gun in fast time of 1.53.2 at Menangle, he appeals as a strong chance.

Hilly is another winless visitor but should be at his top following three runs from a spell. 

The well-bred youngster battled on ok when a recent third at Newcastle.

Light Up The Stars has trialed well for the strong Shane Tritton stable and whilst first up looks hard to beat. 

Kenfury Lass has won one from 18 starts but is drawn well in barrier two and could fill a place at good odds.

TIPS: 7 Hell Bent, 6 Boobalaga Road, 4 Hilly, 2 Kenfury Lass

Race 2 Glen Mia/Ranvet Maiden Pace: C0 pace with eight runners; Fire Up Rocket gets his chance to break through here following some handy efforts at his last four starts.

Most recently he finished second behind the smart Dancing With Miley and though drawn wide he does look the best in this field. 

Our Bodacious is winless after eight starts but has drawn the 1 two starts back was an ok third at Canberra when Fire Up Rocket finished second. 

Coffee Bay has not won in 51 starts but comes out of the three gate and has recently been in the first three at Bathurst; unlikely to win here but a place chance. 

Mah Koo Loo Queen was fourth at Canberra behind Dancing With Miley and a repeat could see her run into a place position.

TIPS: 8 Fire Up Rocket, 1 Our Bodacious, 3 Coffee Bay, 4 Mah Koo Loo Queen.

Race 3 RSM Accountants Claiming Pace: Claiming pace with 6 runners; Greenmans Valley has been racing very well in this class having won two of his last three. 

He won his last start at Penrith and looks the winner in this event. 

Cogeday won at Penrith before his last start third at the same track behind Greenmans Valley. 

On that occasion he was only a neck and will be one of the main chances in this. 

Major Megs and Rockstar Ruler are others that have competed well enough in this class and with luck can be competitive.

TIPS: 6 Greenmans Valley, 4 Cogeday, 2 Major Megs, 3 Rockstar Ruler

Race 4 Goulburn First National Real Estate Pace: C0 to C1 pace with nine runners; Double Effect has drawn very well in the one gate. 

He has the speed to take up a forward position and looks hard to beat after galloping and being beaten as favourite at Canberra last start. 

His only win in 15 starts has been at this track.

Meadow Art is from the Shane Tritton stable and should be improved on her first up fifth at Bankstown. 

Red Onahi will appreciate the distance and her recent form has been sound. 

She had no luck last start when an 8 metre eighth and previously finished third to Modern Dancer at Menangle.

Warner is a consistent horse and now with Wayne Dimech stable. 

Look for him to figure prominently following a good third at Bankstown recently. 

The 3yo’s Little Change and Ma Koo Loo Hambo have ability and look well placed in this event.

TIPS: 1 Double Effect, 8 Red Onahi, 6 Warner, 4 Ma Koo Loo Hambo

Race 5 Maddens Stable Bedding Pace: C4 to C6 pace with seven runners; Bettormore has been racing very consistently and from the two gate looks very hard to beat. 

Last start he was a solid second in a mile rate of 1:58.7 over the 2260 metre distance, and with the speed to take up a prominent position he appeals as a strong chance.

Fellas R Trouble has been placed at his last two and whilst he has drawn gate one, this is a step up in grade.

Hard To Hear was a Bathurst winner during March and since then has raced consistently.

The 5yo was not beaten far when fourth to Mouse In The House at Bathurst last week. 

Desdon Murruffy has finished closer to last than first in recent starts but this will be a huge drop in class. 

Most recently he was beaten 12 metres behind Alta Jerome at Menangle whilst in earlier starts he has raced cup class horses.

Ohoka Royal will be improved by his fifth to quality mare Makes Every Scents at Menangle earlier this month. 

Has drawn gate 5 and is capable enough to fill a place position.

TIPS: 6 Desdon Murruffy, 2 Bettormore, 1 Fellas R Trouble, 5 Hard To Hear

Race 6 Landmark Goulburn Pace: C1 to C3 pace with nine runners; Merrywood Ruby is a classy 3yo filly who has won her only two starts at this track.

Has drawn gate 3 and will look to work her way to the front where she will prove very hard to beat. 

Emerging Art has drawn gate eight however is improving following a win at Fairfield and a solid effort at Newcastle.

Rambo King is the sole runner on the second line and was a winner at this track in March, since then he has raced only fairly but can improve with a soft run. 

Lurah was a winner back in January but in three runs since has finished third once. 

Those runs were at Menangle and this should be a drop in class for the mare. 

Franco Hammond is a former New Zealander but disappointed for the Hewitt stable when a well beaten ninth at Menangle at his first Australian start. 

Look for improvement in this field.

TIPS: 3 Merrywood Ruby, 5 Franco Hammond, 7 Lurah, 8 Emerging Art

Race 7 Goulburn Soldiers Club Pace AGL Energy Tabcorp Park Menangle Country Series Heat: C3/4 pace with 8 runners; Hez A Dude has strongly since resuming having won three of his only four starts.

Strong winner in 1:56.8 at Menangle over the 2300 metre distance and qualified for Saturday night’s $50,000 Carousel Final. 

The 4 year old is backing up quickly but looks too strong for this field. 

Outlaw Fella has drawn gate 1 which should see him settling at the front end. 

Led throughout when a good winner at this track during March and once again looks competitive.

Modern Dancer has been racing strongly for Sam Hewitt and in the small field looks well placed to finish in the top three. 

Last start was not beaten far when the winner went a mile in 1:52.1 at Menangle. 

Poco Aces has competed in a country cups his last three starts and while not winning has been very competitive. 

Drawn a little wide but is a definite chance for a place in this field.

Seashellsinthesand was a good winner at Canberra last start and from gate three has a chance.

TIPS: 2 Hez A Dude, 1 Outlaw Fella, 5 Modern Dancer, 6 Poco Aces

Race 8 Glenferrie Farm AGL Energy Tabcorp Park Menangle Country Series Heat: C1 only pace with 11 runners; Keilor Misty was a first up winner at Canberra last fortnight in the fast time of 1:57.8 and she should only be further improved. 

The mare has drawn the five gate but has the speed to cross should they so desire. 

En Bates has been racing very consistently in the western and Riverina tracks. 

Drawn in gate 4, the 5yo gelding looks well placed to finish top three. 

The Bathurst trained Soeur De Lyse was a last start second at Bathurst and from the number three gate will be pressing forward. 

She is another with a good chance.

Monterey Jack is the second of the three Hewitt runners who was a first up second at Canberra last week. 

Likely to gain much improvement from that run, the 4 year old gelding has drawn well in gate two and is yet another with a strong chance.

In an event with many winning chances, the three on the second row all have realistic winning hopes however will require luck given their draws.

TIPS: 5 Keilor Misty, 4 En Bates, 3 Soeur De Lyse, 2 Monterey Jack