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By Ray Hickson

Ray Hickson’s tips and insights for Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting. It’s Rowley Mile day and there are eight winners to be found!

The track will be Good and the rail is in the True position.

Tricky race to kick off with, banking on the form through what looks a strong maiden at Scone. Greater Good started favourite in that race and hit the line well to run second, beaten half a length. That was actually her first start outside stakes company and it signaled she should be winning a maiden shortly. There appears to be some speed and she’ll have her chance to finish off.

Danger: Itasca comes out of the Scone race and there was plenty to like about how he finished off into fourth. May want a shade further now but keeping him very safe.

How to play it: Greater Good WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds)

Greater Good running second at Scone

Not loving the short price but with the scratchings we're left with Catesby who was only run down in the last couple of strides at Kembla Grange off a month's break and the winner of that race then went to Canterbury and scored easily. It's not a gimme but he's the one to beat.

Danger: The Avenger drifted in the market at his debut but did hit the front before being run down. There might be some upside there. Delfuego is an interesting runner and he had excuses at Randwick at his only start. A couple of quiet trials and he's worth keeping safe.

How to play it: Catesby WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds)

Catesby's close second to Super Ex at Kembla Grange

Florid was wisely scratched from Warwick Farm to run here. Although he was beaten over the same course back on August 3 he was far from disgraced and expect he’ll be better for having had a run at the track. Can’t see any excuses for him in the six horse field and he has his chance.

Danger: Cosmic Powers has been a costly horse to punters this time in with defeats at $1.70 and $1.50. She stays at the 1000m and does have a small gear change so it’s fair to say this is D-Day for her. Latin Boy was quite impressive breaking through at Newcastle and while he’s skipping a grade this is a winnable race.

How to play it: Florid WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds)

Florid winning at Wyong in July

Betting might sort this race out a bit with so many first starters and resumers. Had to like the trial of Rapid Feet at Randwick earlier this month. No doubt she could have won it and the winner Molten, who was allowed to run home, then came out to win at Kembla Grange first-up. Thinking the barrier is okay if the Waterhouse/Bott runner goes forward.

Danger: Plenty! Misty Lad proved far too quick in his Randwick trial win and his only start was in the Breeders’ Plate so we’ll see what he’s made of this time. Very short after the scratchings, though.

How to play it: Rapid Feet E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds)

Rapid Feet’s close second to Molten in a trial at Randwick on August 8

Interesting race and I was torn between a few before settling on San Marco. He was thrown in the deep end in his first campaign earlier in the year as a colt in the Snowden yard. He wasn’t really a factor in either race but now he’s a gelding he’s something of a clean slate. His trial win for Gary Moore on August 1 was a nice hit out, the runner-up has since won, and we’ll see what’s in the locker here.

Dangers: Milanese Girl raced back and wide first-up behind Alizee in a total forgive run. Her previous three starts were also in good company and it wouldn’t surprise to see her jump out of the ground with a nicer run. Vellor and Teodosio are both showing promise and are capable of winning too.

How to play it: San Marco E/W ($15 TAB Fixed Odds)

San Marco’s trial win at Rosehill on August 1

Not a great deal of confidence in this event but Crafty Tycoon is in great form at the moment and could quite easily keep it going. A bit too strong in the same grade at Wyong earlier this month and while that cost him 2kg it’s definitely no harder. Can race on the pace if needed and should be competitive.

Danger: Hav A Nip attracted a bit of support first-up at Kembla Grange and kept coming to run into third. Is a second-up winner and does shape as though the 1400m will suit him. Have to respect Sassaby who was run down late at Newcastle first-up.

How to play it: Crafty Tycoon WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds)

Crafty Tycoon winning at Wyong on August 4

Impossible to go past Arbeitsam who is flying this time in with three wins and a close second from his last four starts. We know how the race should unfold for him, he will go forward and look to lead, probably roll them along and dare them to run him down. If he is afforded any breathers in the run then he’ll wave them goodbye in the run home. Well in at the weights and is clearly the one they have to beat.

Danger: Pelethronius is another very much in-form galloper and you can’t be too hard on him for his winning streak ending in the Coffs Harbour Cup. He had to come from near last with 61.5kg and was beaten less than two lengths. So a very good effort. Drops to the limit and has to be given another chance.

How to play it: Arbeitsam WIN ($1.55 TAB Fixed Odds)

Arbeitsam winning at Rosehill on August 12

Looks to be a two, or maybe three, horse race on paper. Sugar Dance is a lightly raced four-year-old who might have a bit more upside than most of his opposition. Game in defeat behind Street Pursuit, who has since won twice in town, on this track last month then again fought on well at Scone when up to a mile. The extra 200m might be a question mark on breeding but he has every chance to run it out.

Danger: Mozart’s Work led most of the way to win at Goulburn over a mile and acquitted himself well up to 2000m at Kembla Grange. Probably has to push forward from wide out and if he does make it across into a good spot he’ll be hard to stop. Seeking Affection has blinkers on after failing last start, won well here prior to that and may improve.

How to play it: Sugar Dance WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds)

Sugar Dance running second to Street Pursuit at Hawkesbury in July

All the fields, form and replays at Hawkesbury on Thursday