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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Nowra. Selections based on a good to soft track.

3. Fangela didn’t love the heavy at Rosehill before a spell but was solid when resuming in a Highway at Randwick three weeks back. Both wins are at the shorter course and drawn nicely he should be in the finish.

Dangers: 2. Moore Euros has been tackling stronger races and was forced to sit wide when a fading fourth at Wagga on Australia Day. Rarely too far away and if she has any early luck can pose a threat. 4. Luxurial finished on into second in the same race at Wagga when a big drifter in betting. Fitter for that and while she might need one more to peak she’s in the mix. 5. Maddison's Missile led when resuming at Sapphire Coast and was run down late, as favourite. Fitter and has to be considered in the small field.

How to play it: Fangela WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Fangela runs second at Randwick on January 22

3. Eye Pea Oh struck a heavy track on debut and made some ground late in a promising debut at Kembla last month. Firmer ground might suit and an extra 100m certainly should. Improver who is well worth considering.

Dangers: 2. Why Doubt was a beaten favourite first-up at Newcastle, she made a dash around the 200m along the fence but couldn’t bridge the gap. Fitter for that and has to be included. 10. Sizzle Chic ran a handy race two starts back at Canterbury from the back then a bit plain behind Trifaccia at Warwick Farm. Freshened and did trial well behind Expat last week. Could surprise. 5. Scarlett Shadow is on debut and while her trials haven't been eye-catching it always pays to keep a Waterhouse-Bott first starter safe.

How to play it: Eye Pea Oh E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Eye Pea Oh runs fourth at Kembla on January 22

4. Green Legend is a big market watch first-up on the back of two very impressive trial wins. Gave a sight here before a spell behind Snitzonfire but looks sharper based on his Warwick Farm (led) and Hawkesbury (off pace) trial wins. If he runs up to those he goes close.

Dangers: 2. Unwritten didn’t have the best of luck before a spell when beaten favourite at Newcastle and really his form should read a bit better than it does. Quiet trial leading in and he’s another to keep very safe. 3. Just A Tiff drifted from $1.45 to $2 and couldn’t quite pick them up when third at Newcastle last time. Blinkers go on and if they work some magic he could atone. 8. Thieving is an improver who hit the line well at his third start for a placing at Sapphire Coast two weeks back. Extra 100m a plus and has Tommy Berry to steer from a more favourable gate. Could surprise.

How to play it: Green Legend WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Green Legend wins a trial at Hawkesbury on February 1

10. Regal Pom is a short priced favourite and probably deservedly so. Back to country level after a city placing fresh then a couple of closing efforts at Wyong. Was beaten at $1.70 there last time but kept coming and with even luck here should break through.

Dangers: 12. Sky Ace made some late ground from last when resuming at 1350m at Wyong. Should relish the mile and might be able to settle a bit closer from a kind draw. 6. Densaur has the blinkers on first time after an even effort when right in the market at Sapphire Coast two weeks ago. If the shades do the trick he can be somewhere in the finish. 7. Divine Crescent has placed at his last two at Bathurst, second-up hit the line strongly then not quite as effective at 1400m last time. Extra trip suits and worth another chance.

How to play it: Regal Pom WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Regal Pom runs second at Wyong on January 23

5. Danzadel has a perfect set up for her to find winning form again as it’s now a year since her latest victory at this meeting in 2021 at Goulburn. Drawn poorly at past two Highways and not disgraced in either. Perfect gate, home track, soft draw. Every chance.

Dangers: 6. Hardy is lightly raced and not done a lot wrong. Back in grade after a solid second in the Championship Preview at Goulburn. Wide gate his major worry but tends to go forward so could offset it quickly. Definite chance. 3. Toretto finished like a shot when winning first-up at Goulburn and if he can repeat the performance he can take the next step. Has won up to a mile so the extra trip is in his favour. Keep in mind. 4. Super Helpful is hard to leave out. Won two of his last three and was comfortable in an all the way Sapphire Coast win last time.

How to play it: Danzadel WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Danzadel’s last run at Randwick on February 5

6. Son Of Sangio ran right up to some good support to score easily on debut at Bathurst and shapes as though the extra 100m will be a plus. Obviously it’s never easy to back up a maiden win but drawn nicely and should be very competitive.

Dangers: 11. Timperley has only won two from 27 but is rarely far away and placed all three runs this time in including a very nice finishing second at Newcastle in a BM58. Good each-way hopes. 4. Kelvedon Road drew wide and wasn’t disgraced in a Highway at Kembla before a spell in August. Form before that was sound and he’s trialling well. Will need a bit of luck from the barrier but looms as a big chance. 5. Lohnraki started a well backed favourite first-up at Bathurst and only really warmed up late into third. Fitter for that and wouldn’t surprise if he improves on that run.

How to play it: Son Of Sangio WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Son Of Sangio wins at Bathurst on January 25

13. One Aye has some solid city form against her name and fresh since a closing second at Rosehill when tempo was against her she will be hitting the line hard if the pace is as expected. Very honest mare and good each-way value back to country grade.

Dangers: 7. Arnaqueur was Group 3 placed before a spell and while it wasn’t the strongest at that level he’s always mixed it with some classy three-year-olds. Only two starts out of that sort of company were his two provincial wins. Gelded and a big watch here. 4. Philipsburg was put away after winning a Highway at Kembla in September surely with this race in mind and he can perform fresh as he showed at the start pf his winter prep. Easy trial winner going in and is a definite chance. 2. Testator Silens backs up after a gutsy Highway win at Randwick last week and while he’s drawn wide again he’s used to doing it tough and who knows what the pattern will be come this race. If he gets cover he can still be dangerous.

How to play it: One Aye E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

One Aye runs second at Rosehill on January 8

17. Belleistic Lad is a good chance in a tough finish, he’s consistent and while he did have every hope at Sapphire Coast last time he didn’t give up the fight. Only poor runs recently have been on seriously wet tracks so suited here and can show up.

Dangers: 2. Call Me Artie was favourite when chasing home Room Number at Canberra in January, that’s not bad form for this, then disappointed when again favourite there a few weeks ago. If he performs to his best he’s a big threat. 5. Tornac is an honest type who tried hard when runner-up at Sapphire Coast over 1400m last time for three seconds from his past four starts. Drawn well and should be around the mark again. 14. Rubick Island got the job done to post a maiden win in a Class 1 at Wagga last time. Consistent and no reason she can't be competitive.

How to play it: Belleistic Lad E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Belleistic Lad runs second at Sapphie Coast on January 29

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Nowra meeting