The ability to race on the speed is a key to factor to finding the winner of short-course races at most tracks but it is paramount at Muswellbrook.
Punters are well on your way to finding the winner over 900m scampers at Muswellbrook if we concentrate on horses that have the early speed to settle in the first three in running, indeed the statistics reveal that horses that can take up a forward position win over 50 percent of the 900m races and importantly return a profit on turnover of 4.2 percent.
There is little doubt our best bet on Monday will settle top three and has barrier one to boot which can only enhance her chances.
MISS BUNNY HOP (Race 3 No 4)
The Greg McFarlane-trained Miss Bunny Hop fits all the criteria required to win over 900m at Muswellbrook and ranks as the day best bet in the Two River Wines Denman Dash Benchmark 64 Handicap.
A lightly-raced six-year-old daughter of Alert, Miss Bunny Hop has yet to finish worse than second in three 900m runs including a class three win at Scone earlier in the preparation when she led from start to finish winning comfortably by over two-lengths.
Miss Bunny Hop hasn't seen out 1000m in two subsequent runs but will take plenty of catching back in distance on Monday.
I CAN HEAR MUSIC (Race 3 No 5)
Barrier one gives I Can Hear Music from the Paul Perry stable the chance to return to the winner's list in the Upper Hunter Turf Services Class 2 Plate (1280m).
A class one winner over the 1280m at Muswellbrook resuming two starts back, I Can Hear Music was game when runner-up at Scone last start hitting the line strongly lumping 61kg after being disappointed for a run at a vital stage.
Expecting I Can Hear Music to be more forward in running launching from the inside gate peaking third-up and looks excellent value at $7 in early betting.
ANOTHER AAN (Race 6 No 8)
The Les Tilley-trained Another Aan will have the services of champion jockey Robert Thompson in the day's feature, the Coolmore Denman Cup (1280m).
Another Aan has above-average ability and is putting together an excellent record with four wins from his 10 starts to date but in saying that his record could have been substantially better.
Another Aan's last five starts have produced two wins but had genuine excuses in each of the losing runs in that sequence.
"Never saw daylight and looked to have something to offer" was the Racenet video comment for Another Aan's run in the Wyong Provincial Championship Qualifier on February 23 when seventh.
"Slow Away and 3WNC" when sixth in the Newcastle Provincial Championship Qualifier on March 29 and "4WNC" for the entire trip resuming at Wyong on September 1 before finishing less than two-lengths from the winner shouldering 58.5kg.
Another Aan just needs even luck in running to be winning on Monday fitter second-up.