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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday's Wagga meeting. Selections based on a soft to good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

10. Best Intent was well fancied on debut at Canberra, but nothing went right for the filly. The three-year-old got into a tricky spot and was checked at critical stages throughout transit halting her momentum. To her credit, once clear in the straight, she sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting and maintained a solid finishing speed to the line. Additionally, that race rated highly relative to the day and the decisive margins throughout confirmed the quality. She will have benefited from that race experience, the bigger track is ideal, and the extra ground will allow her to settle into a more suitable rhythm. Expect her to be in the finish with even luck.

Dangers: 2. County Kilkenny returns and looks to have come back well with some key gear changes. He races at his home track and is a late market watch. Debutant 1. Bull Sluice sets up well after winning a recent trial and maps well. Add 8. Too Sharp to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Best Intent WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Best Intent runs third at Canberra on April 21

3. Pretty Woman resumes without an official public trial, but that is her usual race pattern. First-up last prep, she was honest in a TAB Highway (1000m) and started a respectable price. The four-year-old is a proven fresh performer and a 1000m specialist. Moreover, she has multiple winning figures and maps to have every chance from the inside draw. Each-way.

Dangers: 8. Forms Of Fear returns as a gelding and is now under the guidance of trainer David Pfieffer. The lightly raced galloper won a recent trial at Warwick Farm in style, and that heat had a fast last section relative to the morning. Expect him to sprint well fresh. 4. Unwritten has a tricky map but is racing well this prep and is rock-hard fit. Market watch 9. Troika, who does mix his form but undoubtedly has the ability/figures to win. Add 2. Broadside Armour to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Pretty Woman E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Pretty Woman first-up last prep at Randwick on November 1

Forgiving of 6. Nic's Hero's first-up run at Canberra, where he had factors against and wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape. The gelding raced wide, was unbalanced at a key stage, but once he got his mind on the job over the final stages, he found the line solidly. Further, he clocked one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits and all indicators suggest he'll improve off this effort. He has a tricky map, but the anticipated genuine tempo should allow him to run on, and he represents value. Knockout chance. Each-way.

Dangers: 1. Wild Irish Rover returns for new trainer Geoff Dureyea and hasn't had an official public trial. He has a tricky gate and a hefty weight but is well suited to this race. 11. Nats Enough wasn't suited first-up and will be fitter. Add 9. Lockup The Kittens, who is coming out of a fast-time race to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Nic's Hero E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Nic's Hero first-up at Canberra on April 21

Keen on 6. Participator who profiles well for this event, and key indicators suggest he is set to run a career peak figure. The gelding was brave in defeat, running second last start in a high-rating race that has since produced two subsequent winners. Further, he showed the key asset of acceleration, sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting, and maintained a strong finishing speed to the line. The locally trained galloper is undefeated at this track/distance and brings an excellent SP profile. In addition, the drying ground is ideal and expect him to be savaging the line with even luck. It's worth noting jockey Danny Beasley has ridden 18 winners out of his past 100 rides at a profit on turnover of 8.1%.

Dangers: 12. Almahero was a strong winner first-up at Canberra after racing wide, albeit in a slow tempo. However, he knuckled down hard late to score and can step off that performance. 11. Private Agent always faced the breeze in a TAB Highway (1200m) and battled on ok. Moreover, the form of that race has since been proven. 9. Louies Legacy drops in grade, and Josh Parr rides. Add 10. Devine Miss to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Participator WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Participator runs second at Wagga on April 2

8. Acceber is coming out of time/sectional merit races this campaign and gets a much more positive race setup for this assignment. He had multiple factors against last start at Wyong, where he raced wide, wasn't suited by the pace of the race and had to make a long-wide sustained run. Further, he had nothing to bring him into the race, but to his credit, he closed off well, clocking one of the quickest final 200m splits of the day. The Kerry Parker trained galloper receives a significant barrier change allowing him to settle closer, and the drying track is ideal where he produces all his peak figures. He can rate to win, and he represents value. Each-way.

Dangers: 3. Diesel stepped sharply up in distance last start in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) and started at a respectable price. He got too far back in the run but was honest in defeat. The lightly raced galloper will be at optimal fitness, can settle closer and will appreciate the anticipated high-pressure event. 1. Clear Choice was 42 days between runs last start at Kensington but had no luck. He can bounce back and is more suited to this race. 5. Long Tycoon resumed at Newcastle 13 days ago and won well after being in a duel the entire straight. He will be fitter for that and will roll forward. 6. Offspring is set to peak and add 11. Duchy Of Cornwall who receives the blinkers for the first time.

How to play it: Acceber E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Acceber runs third at Wyong on April 27

1. Celestial Spirit resumed at Warwick Farm 16 days ago, and she was honest in defeat. Further, she chased a strong tempo throughout and tried hard to the line holding on for third. The filly brings superior form lines to this event relative to her rivals and started respectable prices in Group level races last campaign. She will be fitter for that effort, maps to control the pace and drops significantly in grade. Additionally, she has multiple winning figures and expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 6. In De Summertime, who represents value, resumes without an official public trial but brings a knockout profile. She had no luck first-up last prep but can sprint fresh, and if she gets the breaks at the right time, expect her to be charging late. 12.Miss Faberge is suited to dropping back in distance and is a rock-hard fit. 8. Kappy's Angel has trialled well but will need luck from the draw.

How to play it: Celestial Spirit WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Celestial Spirit runs third at Warwick Farm on April 19

Leaning towards the consistent 19. Iowa, who represents value and is coming off a career peak performance when winning at Doomben last start. The gelding always faced the breeze in a solid tempo, sprinted away from his rivals in style and ran time. He is rock-hard fit, proven at the distance and drops 3.5kg in weight, which will only enhance his key asset of acceleration. Expect him to roll forward; repeating his last start effort/figure can put him in the finish. Each-way.

Dangers: 12. Wicklow is primed to peak here and hasn't been suited in his past two outings. The Waller trained galloper will need some luck from the draw but expect him to be savaging the line. 3. Kukeracha raced flat second-up but has since returned to the trials and won a recent heat at Rosehill well. He can bounce back from a soft draw and must go in all exotics. 2. Great House is ticking over well and has a strong platform. 1. Lion's Roar will appreciate the drying ground and 8. Pink Ivory gets the blinkers back on.

How to play it: Iowa E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Iowa winning first-up at Hawkesbury on March 4

9. Ima Guru was held-up for most of the straight last start at this track, but once clear, he surged to the line and should've finished much closer. The clock backed up the late visual strength, with the gelding clocking one for the fastest final 400m splits of the meeting. Further, all key indicators suggest he'll improve from that outing. The rise in distance is ideal; he races well off freshen-ups and can settle closer from barrier one. Knockout chance. Each-way.

Dangers: Forgiving of 1. Acappella Sun's last start where she struck trouble and didn't recover after it. She must make the jump to 1200m but drops sharply in grade. 13. Danceenuff was wide last start, but her prior effort at this track was full of merit, and she ran time. Can bounce back but will need luck from the draw. 2. Sir Ming resumes and has trialled well enough, albeit being ridden out. He is a market watch and has a gear change. 11. Asgarda is a last-start winner and will be running on hard.

How to play it: Ima Guru E/W ($18 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Ima Guru last start at Wagga on April 2

Best Bet: Race 4 # 6 – Participator

Next Bet: Race 6 # 1 – Celestial Spirit

Best Bet: Race 5 # 8 – Acceber

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Wagga meeting