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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Tuncurry meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

3. Socrates raced wide throughout in a strong tempo and had the bias against him in a TAB Highway (1400m) at Rosehill last start. Further, he battled on well, and his profile suggests he is ready to improve third-up. The James Ponsonby galloper rises sharply in distance but maps well, is proven on the rain-affected ground and has multiple winning figures for this event.

Dangers: 1. Byakko got too far back in a slow-paced race and ran on well last start at Lismore. He brings a fitness edge, a competitive last start figure and is proven at the distance. 4. Milka wasn’t suited to a sit and sprint tempo last start at Newcastle but tired hard in defeat. The step up in distance is ideal and will roll forward. 2. So And So meets tougher opposition but has been honest all prep.

How to play it: Socrates WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Socrates last start at Rosehill on August 27

10. Discreet Lady, who represents value, first-up run had merit at Newcastle in a high-rating race. The three-year-old was unsuited to settling at the rear of the field in an even tempo and had to make her run through the inferior ground. However, to her credit, she still sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting in 11.24 and maintained a strong finishing speed to the line. The Tom Higgins trained galloper will get back from the draw but expect her to be hitting the line well. Each-way.

Dangers: 5. De Lovely Lad resumes without an official trial but was outstanding in defeat prior to spelling last prep. He sets up well here with a favourable map and finds a winnable race. 4. Vilified gets the blinkers back on and can sprint fresh. He is a key late market watch. Add 9. Delightful Dream to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Discreet Lady E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Discreet Lady last start at Newcastle on August 20

7. Rubigal, who is well-placed, is coming out of time/sectional merit races throughout her career and drops back to country grade here. The four-year-old was honest first-up in a high-rating race at Wyong and ran on well. Further, she clocked some of the fastest final 400m/200m splits of the entire meeting in 23.49/11.89. She will have to overcome the tricky draw but expect an aggressive ride, and a repeat of her last start figure will make her hard to beat.

Dangers: 9. Waipio is a consistent type and rock-hard fit. She has a solid starting price profile and will roll forward. 11. He’s A Copy Boy ran on ok last start at Taree 14 days ago. The gelding is lightly raced and brings strong form lines. Add 4. Red Lantern to all exotics who is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Rubigal WIN ($1.75 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Rubigal runs third at Wyong on August 28

12. Point Break was 29 days between runs last start at Scone and raced well in a strong time race. The three-year-old was backed $4.8-$4.2 late in the trade and chased a fast tempo throughout before looming to win, but fitness told late. Moreover, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjusting for age, class, track condition and additional factors with multiple subsequent placegetters to confirm the form. The Kris Lees trained galloper is coming out of time/sectional merit races all prep, has a dominant ratings profile relative to his rivals and receives a significant barrier change that will allow him to roll forward and control the pace. In addition, he is hard to beat with even luck and ready to peak fourth-up.

Dangers: Key market watch on NZ import 3. The Orphan who hasn’t had an official public trial but brings metropolitan form lines. He was solid first-up at Cambridge, albeit on a synthetic track. 2. Little Red Power got too far back last start and hit the line well. 10. Wave can rate to win but will need to improve off his first-up effort at Muswellbrook. Add 5. Asterns Girl to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Point Break WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Point Break runs fourth at on December 17

Forget 2. Strobing’s last start at Newcastle, where he was four wide in a fast pace/time race. Prior to that start, he was brave in defeat to run third in a proven form race that has produced a subsequent winner. The three-year-old gelding is ready to peak third-up, will roll forward and receives a senior rider for the first time this prep in Grant Buckley.

Dangers: 10. Ocean Flyer started a well fancied $1.70 favourite at Port Macquarie last start but raced flat. She can bounce back here, brings multiple winning ratings and maps to have all favours. Definite chance. 14. Star Of Yamba wasn’t suited at Newcastle last start and hit the line well. Expect her to settle worse than midfield and savage the line. The Kris Lees trained duo 3. Star Impact and 7. Kirameki are both improving and are key late market watches.

How to play it: Strobing WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Ocean Flyer WIN ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Strobing last start at Newcastle on August 30

4. Hombre Grande resumed for his new trainer Mark Stewart and won well with the blinkers back on. Further, although the gelding had every chance, he produced a career peak figure and has come back improved. He maps to control the pace, is proven on the rain-affected ground and will give a sight.

Dangers: 2. Cool Amigo was perfectly ridden to run second last start at Murwillumbah and tried hard. The blinkers come off, and he brings strong form lines to this event. 6. That’s Molly had too much to do last start and hit the line well. Expect her to get back again but will look to have the last shot. 3. Steady Jam is ticking over ok and is fit.

How to play it: Hombre Grande WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Hombre Grande wins at Taree on August 26

3. Sound And Vision raced flat second-up and raced on his non-preferred surface at Newcastle 20 days ago. Prior to that start, he got too far back at Coffs Harbour and ran on well. Further, he clocked 36.20 for his final 600m sectional, a strong split relative to other runners across the day. The six-year-old gelding profiles well for this event, being third-up, rising in distance and can settle closer from the soft draw. In addition, he drops significantly in grade and has multiple winning ratings. Each-way.

Dangers: 10. Forever Jude was slowly away last start and wasn’t suited to a moderate tempo. Moreover, he hit the line hard in a high-rating last sectional race, indicating that the step-up to 1600m is ideal. 6. Millennium Jewel is a consistent type and drops in grade. She will roll forward from the tricky draw and give a sight. Add 5. Dissenter to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Sound And Vision E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sound And Vision last start at Newcastle on August 20

6. Oakfield Pinto was checked/blocked at a critical stage and couldn’t build momentum when the sprint went on last start at Wyong. Further, once clear, he ran on well into fourth behind some progressive types. The five-year-old gelding is on an upwards ratings spiral this prep, maps well and brings the best last start figure.

Dangers: 3. Casirina, who profiles well for this race, is rock-hard fit and proven at the distance. Expect her to be fighting out the finish, and he will handle the testing conditions. 2. Alloway comes through the same race as Oakfield Pinto, albeit starting longer in the market, and he can give a sight. Add 1. Ambitious Prince to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Oakfield Pinto WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Oakfield Pinto runs fourth at Wyong on August 28

9. Sir Ravanelli sat outside the leader in a slow tempo last start at Rosehill in a TAB Highway (1200m) and tried hard in defeat. He is a consistent type, receives a gear change and will benefit from having a freshen-up. In addition, all his career peak figures have come on rain-affected ground and expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 2. Annulus is in career best form and on an upwards ratings spiral this prep. Moreover, he will need some luck from the draw but is rock-hard fit and brings the best last start figure. Market watch 7. Leeside who drops in grade. Add 3. Time For Victory to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Sir Ravanelli WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sir Ravanelli runs third at Rosehill on July 30

Best Bet: Race 4 # 12 – Point Break

Next Best: Race 3 # 7 - Rubigal

Best Value: Race 5 # 2 – Strobing & # 10 – Ocean Flyer

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Tuncurry meeting