Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Sunday’s Tamworth meeting. Selections based on a good track.

12. Dances With Hooves looked good winning a maiden at Dubbo before starting favourite and hitting the line when it was all over at Mudgee staying at 1400m off a six week break. Did have pre-race issues there so the run was good. Mile suits and should take beating.

Dangers: 2. Boys Cry brought a run of placings to an end and scored a runaway maiden win here a month ago. Has to repeat it but he’s so consistent he’s hard to ignore. 4. Night Patra looked the winner when he swept to the lead at Scone last time only to be swamped in the closing stages. Placed over this course prior and is one of the chances again. 5. Silent Russian was off a two month break when an even third at Wyong over a mile. Had his chance there but will be fitter and back notch to country grade.

How to play it: Dances With Hooves WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Dances With Hooves runs fourth at Mudgee on February 25

1. Luskaire made a promising debut at Newcastle two weeks ago and lands in a wide open maiden here. Raced handy so should take advantage of a good gate to be prominent here and if he takes a step up into start two he should go close.

Dangers: 2. Rockbarton Island ran right up to his market position when steaming home from last to run second at Quirindi and finds a kinder set up for himself in this. Definite chance. 10. Another Gift is a 16 start maiden but has put two good runs together this time in at Walcha and Quirindi and from an ideal draw is an each-way chance. 9. Smart Jazz has started to run into some form and broke into the placings at Newcastle two weeks ago. Every chance to consolidate with the inside alley.

How to play it: Luskaire WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Luskaire runs second at Newcastle on February 26

2. More Szyslak resumed with an eye-catching second over the 1000m at Scone where he pulled a lot of ground off the winner over the short trip. Fitter for that and will get every chance on face value to go one better.

Dangers: 8. Hard Too Impress did a lot wrong at his first outing at Mudgee but claimed second once he straightened up. Looks to have a win in him sooner rather than later and is a danger here. 6. Best Defence kicked away around the home turn and was just run down late when an improved third over 1000m here second-up. Gap before that run so likely fitter here and has some claims. 11. Autofocus is an interesting fily making her debut. Won a trial back in August and not pressured in third in a Scone trial a month ago. Check betting.

How to play it: More Szyslak WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

More Szyslak runs second at Scone on February 27

5. One Beat No Beat has some work to do from the alley but she’s a promising type who is better for a first-up second at Newcastle. While favourite there she’ll relish the added trip and if she’d drawn better she’d be a shorter price. The one to beat.

Dangers: 14. Corpsman by contrast has an ideal barrier after she was left with too much to do off a wide gate and going back at Newcastle second-up. Has her big chance here. 10. Napoli ran a nice race for second in the same event as Corpsman. Hasn’t won for a while so that’s a concern but he’s honest and can run well. 11. Hard To Dismiss doesn’t win out of turn but is often placed and wasn’t far from One Beat No Beat last time out. Big drop in weight and nice draw, has won here, so can’t leave out.

How to play it: One Beat No Beat WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

One Beat No Beat runs second at Newcastle on February 26

3. Hombre absorbed plenty of pressure before kicking away to an easy win over this course five weeks ago. Kept fresh, draws well again and with the claim is in very nicely to stay down in grade. Repeat of latest has him hard to beat.

Dangers: Stablemate 11. Not In Doubt hasn’t raced since a sound maiden win back in September over 1200m. Trialled okay behind a smart horse recently, might need some luck but she’s well worth respecting. 1. Don’tcha Think hasn’t raced since an unplaced Highway run back in September. Lightly raced and form prior was solid, comes off a couple of nice trials and while he has the 62kg he’s not to be overlooked. 8. Gunmetal was a bit disappointing at his latest but efforts prior to that were more than good enough to entertain him as an each-way chance off the inside with a claim.

How to play it: Hombre WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hombre wins at Tamworth on February 3

14. Shine Your Light was in the market at Canterbury last time but never in the hunt. Ignore that and go on Highway third to Atmospheric Rock where she hit the lead and she’s a big chance here. Draws nicely enough so can bounce back.

Dangers: 2. Deion hasn’t done a lot wrong in four starts and was a bit too good for a subsequent winner at Dubbo when resuming. Goes to 1200m for the first time and has to be respected. 1. Bonjour Rupert has the blinkers on and is a big watch here after a forgive run on a heavy track at Muswellbrook. Solid in a good Highway before that and well worth another chance. 5. Shipshape is a former Godolphin galloper having first run for the new stable. No public trials but did run second at Kensington at his last start back in November. Wide gate a minus but keep safe.

How to play it: Shine Your Light EACH-WAY ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Shine Your Light runs third at Randwick on February 10

4. Super Extreme has been strong in two runs back under big weights and attacked the line at Scone in the lead up under 61.5kg. Drawn nicely, has good Highway form around Bandi’s Boy and can only run well given an ideal lead in.

Dangers: 14. Rapbidash won her first three starts and her three Highway runs since have seen her strike more trouble than is ideal for the most part. Battled on well to run third in the latest at Rosehill in what looks a strong race and she’s right in this. 12. Melody Again comes through the same race as Super Extreme and she momentarily looked the winner before being nabbed late. Close to peak now and unbeaten at 1400m. Go well. 5. Demitasse disappointed as favourite in the Preview but effort behind Whinchat prior was good and is better off at the weights so can improve.

How to play it: Super Extreme EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Super Extreme runs third at Scone on February 27

6. Aesthete has been freshened up since a runaway win over 1400m in similar class almost a month ago and only rises 2kg after the claim. Has hit his best now and while coming back in trip is not ideal he should be hard to hold out if he holds his form.

Dangers: 3. Jacenza seemed to have his chance in the Championships Preview at Scone finishing midfield. Was in the market there and form prior was okay so he could show up. 18. Titration was well beaten in the Walcha Cup but had been racing okay prior to that. Down in class and drawn soft he could surprise. 4. Outback Ringer ran well in a Highway two starts back then at Randwick led and faded into the second half. Freshened up and open to improvement back in grade

How to play it: Aesthete WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Aesthete wins at Tamworth on February 16

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth