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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s meeting at Hawkesbury. Selections based on a good track.

4. Darling Point is a short priced favourite and does appear to have found a nice race first-up. Scratched from Canterbury to run here and she’s trialled nicely. Only start was a narrow defeat in town back in June and she should break through here.

Dangers: 1. War Cabinet had support when he resumed at Newcastle and was right on the heels of the first three at the finish. Fitter and open to some improvement so looks the main threat. 7. Estroverto was safely held by the winner fresh but did make some ground into fourth at Wyong over a trip short of his best. Had a few chances but expect him to lift a bit with the rise in distance. 9. Stellar Blaze was a drifter in betting but battled on okay into a place at Goulburn when resuming. Trained here and a placing wouldn’t shock.

How to play it: Darling Point WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Darling Point wins a trial at Warwick Farm on August 9

3. Acumen made his debut at Bendigo and he raced on the speed off the outside gate and battled on to hold second. Trialled very well at Randwick since, drawn an inside gate and a dry track suits. Expecting him to run well.

Dangers: 1. Leo hasn’t been far away in all three starts and finished strongly to just miss at Kembla last time out. Inside gate suits him and he doesn’t have to improve much to go close. 6. Ranges has finished right alongside Leo in his two starts to date though the stablemate was finishing stronger than him last time. Impossible to leave him out if Leo is a chance. 4. Bigger Than Thorn is locally trained and has been trialling up pretty well. No surprise to see him run a forward race.

How to play it: Acumen WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Acumen wins a trial at Randwick on August 12

Very deep race. 6. Mo’s Crown was a short priced favourite and failed when resuming at Kembla but he had genuine excises. Slowly out and kept punching up on a very windy day and faded out. Much better than that and he can turn it around quickly.

Dangers: 8. Rome has two Group 3 placings against his name and all starts have been in Group company at two. Missed a run at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago when scratched at the barriers but has trialled since. Easiest race he’s contested and he’s a good chance. Read trainer Peter Snowden's comments here. 2. Maggie Miss has been favourite at both starts so far without success but was impressive in winning her second trial at Randwick so it keeps her in the mix. Will press forward from wide out and could give a sight but looks under the odds. 7. Montserrat has won two trials by small margins ahead of his debut for Godolphin. Drawn well and has to be respected.

How to play it: Mo's Crown E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Mo's Crown's first-up run at Kembla Grange on August 8

4. Society should have finished a lot closer than sixth at Kembla last time out after being held up for a fair way in the straight. First two home in that race are progressive and the extra 200m will suit her. Capable of atoning here.

Dangers: 6. Havana Storm has been improving with each run and finished hard to win as an odds-on favourite at Goulburn. Based on that she’s looking for more ground and should run well again. 2. Fast Train is racing consistently without winning and he’ll put in another honest performance here. Just one win in 12 starts is the concern but he’ll be on the pace and giving you a sight. 1. Dambulla was a drifting favourite and dropped right out over this course a few weeks ago which is a small concern but his two prior runs were a win and a second so he’s entitled to another chance and has found Hugh Bowman to ride.

How to play it: Society WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Society finishes an unlucky sixth at Kembla on August 8

4. Parveen would probably be a short priced favourite had she drawn a better gate but she has the form to say she’s the horse to beat. Nosed out in three straight runs then good late at Warwick Farm in a strong form race, running the fastest last 200m in 11.82 (Punter's Intelligence). Just needs luck to go close.

Dangers: 14. Shining Eagle was thrown in the deep end on debut then solid enough back to a maiden at her second start. Fitter for two trials and this race is a suitable target. Each-way. 7. Dhiaga was a beaten favourite in his last two runs before a spell but recorded handy placings. Trial was fair, drawn wide so will go back but no surprise to see him running on. 8. Nuclear Summit has largely raced in much better company than this and he wasn’t disgraced beaten less than three lengths at Eagle Farm in an open two-year-old race last month. Bit of a D-Day but on what he has shown in trials he has some ability.

How to play it: Parveen E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Parveen runs fourth at Warwick Farm on July 31

If 1. Bucephalus runs up to what he showed on debut he’ll take plenty of stopping. Took on much better company in two subsequent starts and looked very good late in his Hawkesbury trial ahead of this race. Drawn perfectly and looks hard to beat.

Dangers: 9. Camp Rifle started very short on debut at Kembla and proved a bit too good without being dominant. Skips a grade here and comes back 100m but prefer to keep him on side. 7. Segalas was placed behind Fasika in town last prep and resumed with a very nice second at Kembla earlier this month taking ground off the winner (who then won by 7 lengths at his next start). Fitter and right in this. 4. Broken Arrows hasn't done a lot wrong in seven starts and resumes off a solid trial win at Rosehill in open company. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Bucephalus E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Bucephalus run second in a Hawkesbury trial on August 12

4. Gaulois proved he’s not just a wet tracker with his outstanding late burst in the Winter Challenge where he drew wide and went back to last. Beaten less than a length in the end. Inside gate and smaller field suits, he can only run well.

Dangers: 7. Supernova is a promising staying type who ran a big race when making his Australian debut last prep, won second-up then far from disgraced at G2 level. Finished well in his trial at the back and he will be running on hard. Can win. 1. Duca Valentinois is a good miler who was also close up in the Winter Challenge with five weeks between runs. Trialled again since then and hard to leave him out. 9. La Chica Bella controlled the race from the front at Randwick last time to post an overdue win. That was on a wet track but she could dictate again here and give a sight.

How to play it: Gaulois WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Gaulois runs fourth at Rosehill on July 27

2. Tenorino has found a nice race and only has to hold his form to go close. Settled back and charged late at Warwick Farm behind the placegetters, running 33.95 for his last 600m (Punter's Intelligence), and has a class drop plus an extra 200m in his favour. Hard to go past for mine.

Dangers: 8. Atomic Sunrise put a flop second-up behind her when showing a nice turn of foot to score easily at Kembla a few weeks back. Expect 1400m will suit her and while up in class could go on with it. 10. Laila De Vega won well here first-up then a little flat at Wyong second-up but not beaten that far. Nicely drawn, Bowman rides, plenty of things to say she will run well. 1. Neruda is going well of late with a close third at Scone and a second when well supported at Wyong. Will need some luck but honest and has to be considered.

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

Tenorino runs a closing fifth at Warwick Farm on August 14

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting