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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Lismore meeting. Selections based on a good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

1. Bent On Impact, who represents value, has a strong platform and is ready to peak third-up. The four-year-old was honest when running third at Grafton last start after racing in the inferior ground. Key indicators suggest he will step off that performance; he is now at optimal fitness and receives a senior rider for the first time this prep. Additionally, expect him to roll forward, and he may get the track pattern to suit. Each-way.

Dangers: 2. Golden Garden got too far back last start at this track in a slow pace and had too much to do. To his credit, he made significant ground and hit the line hard, running some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. The gelding will appreciate the rise in trip and look to have the last shot. 10. Shadesofmidnight comes through the same race as Golden Garden, and she SPed shorter than him. 12. Shukkas can roll forward and give a sight.

How to play it: Bent On Impact E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bent On Impact runs third at Grafton on September 2

With the late scratching of Centre Bounce, Belle Tycoon goes on top. She is in career-best form, having won her past two starts and can control the speed here.

Dangers: 4. Volfoni had the pace/bias against him last start at Coffs Harbour and ran on well. He can settle closer and will appreciate the step in distance. 6. Bad Boy Darby was 33 days between runs last start and wasn't suited over the 1000m. He can improve here and can be added to wider exotics.

How to play it: Belle Tycoon WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Inquest is primed to peak here with a favourable race setup and is now at optimal fitness. The lightly raced galloper raced well last start on the Gold Coast Polytrack and built through his gears strongly to finish third. Prior to that start, he hit the line hard, running one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting over an unsuitable distance at Ipswich. He has a positive map here, will relish being back on turf and has multiple winning figures.

Dangers: 1. Supairo is an improving type, and he broke through for his maiden win in style last start at this track when SPing $1.50. He can make the step in grade, and the rise in trip is ideal. 2. Rocky Rogue is consistent and is rock-hard fit. 6. Astelena is an honest on-pace type.

How to play it: Inquest WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

12. Bertinelli has raced well this preparation and brings a superior profile to this event relative to her rivals. The filly is an improving type, with both of her runs this campaign having sectional merit, and her ratings suggest she is ready to peak third-up. She will appreciate the rise in trip, and the wide draw is of little concern as she has the early speed to cross her opposition. Further, she may get the track pattern to suit and expect her to be hard to run down.

Dangers: 9. Rich Again resumes and has trialled well enough in a recent heat at Doomben. He was honest in his debut performance last prep when running second and forgive his next start when striking a testing track. He maps to stalk the speed and can be in the finish. 7. Gregarious returned as a gelding at this track 14 days ago, and he hit the line hard to finish second. The three-year-old has a tricky setup, but if they overdo it, he can swoop over the top late. 1. Apple Cider comes through a recent Deagon trial and is ready to run well here.

How to play it: Bertinelli WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bertinelli runs second at Lismore on September 7

Hard to get away from 3. Bean Foggy, who has a positive race setup, and he ran an honest third last start in the Murwillumbah Cup (1550m). His figures/recent form line up well in this event, and he has been a consistent enough type throughout his career. Expect him to be in a forward position smothered away, and he will be hard to hold out with even luck.

Dangers: 6. Ambridge now has a strong platform, and he maps to get complete control of the pace here. He had all favours last start at Grafton, leading at a slow tempo, but he drops 7kg, and the rise in trip is ideal. He can rate to win and is a victor at this track. 10. Silver Canvas beat home Ambridge last start, albeit starting a much longer price, but produced one of his career peak figures. 7. Beef Week Princess is rock-hard fit and receives a gear change. Add 2. Intuition who drops in grade.

How to play it: Bean Foggy WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bean Foggy runs third at Murwillumbah on August 25

2. At Witz End wasn't suited first up in the Murwillumbah Cup when starting a respectable $8.50. The gelding was caught three-wide out on a limb, working in a fast pace, but he still ran on well. Moreover, he ran solid closing splits relative to the meeting and gave the impression he could only improve. He receives a significant barrier change, allowing him to settle closer, and represents value. Each-way.

Dangers: 8. Maximum Vortex was 35 days between runs, always faced the breeze and failed last start. However, prior to that, he was racing well and can bounce back here. 5. Clifton Springs is the only last-start winner engaged but jumps in grade. Nine-year-old 1. Greyworm maps well and is more suited to 1210m.

How to play it: At Witz End E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

At Witz End last start at Murwillumbah on August 25

2. Holstein profiles well for this event and has raced well this preparation at the metropolitan level. He was honest last start at Eagle Farm after being well fancied late in the trade and was 24 days between runs. Before that start, he had won two in a row and repeating either of those performances/figures would make him hard to hold out. Additionally, he maps to have all the favours and is rock-hard fit.

Dangers: 1. Savvy Lad led and easily won last start at this track/distance. The seven-year-old is in form and racing consistently, which can put him in the finish here. He is proven at the distance and will take some catching. 3. Scarlet Tufty, who resumes, is an interesting runner with strong form lines and a key late market watch. 4. Without Revenge has a solid platform and is ready to peak fourth-up. Add 7. Full Press to wider exotics.

How to play it: Holstein WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Holstein winning at Rosehill three starts ago on August 5

5. Jiggler wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape first-up at Grafton over an unsuitable distance, but he ran hidden late closing sectionals. Further, he was an alarming drifter late in the trade, suggesting he would improve from the run. Some query second-up off a long break, but he'll appreciate the rise in distance, and a senior rider in Andrew Mallyon goes on. Expect him to be ridden positively from the wide draw and give a sight. Each-way.

Dangers: 1. Hollywood Park brings strong form lines/figures for this event and is a key late market watch after having 46 days off the scene. 4. Rock Together is the only last-start winner engaged, bringing a fitness edge over some key rivals. Add 6. Allay to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Jiggler E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Jiggler first-up at Grafton on September 2

Best Bet: Race 4 # 12 - Bertinelli

Next Best: Race 3 # 3 - Inquest

Best Value: Race 1 # 1 - Bent On Impact

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Lismore meeting