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Tips by Neil Evans

1. Markdel is a sparingly raced Victorian three-year-old primed to open his account at first run in NSW. Was close-up in handy metro company as a two-year-old before spelling and then disappointing in a one-off run when well in the market last October. Came back as a gelding early last month and hit the line better after being backed from $2.25 into $1.90 favourite. Switching states at the right time over 100m further. The one to beat. 7. Elegant Artist is also knocking on the door third-up after missing by a half length here last time. 8. Major Look peaking third-up with weight relief; heads the rest.

How to play it: Markdel to WIN

7. Tommy Thug is an improving five-year-old, and one of many chances in a wide race. Rates on top after working home nicely in a handy provincial Super Maiden. That was his first outing since last winter when he produced some handy runs over this longer trip, and with greater fitness here, can make a big impact from an ideal draw. 2. Hampden is a big market watch; pushing out in distance after a solid first-up run over a mile. Carries a kilo less, but drawn wide. 5. Lunar Lover is third-up over more ground. Ran home late at Newcastle three weeks back, and the winner is a real value chance at Canberra on Sunday. 14. Tel Aviv is tracking towards a breakthrough win fourth-up in her first prep over further; while 4. Irish Anthem who is trained on the course, and 11. Powerful Prayer at his third start are both capable of running into the minor prize.

How to play it: Tommy Thug to WIN

12. Incantress is a lightly raced and emerging filly well placed returning for her first run since spring. Has taken time to come to hand, but was sound through the line in a recent Scone trial, and from a soft draw, can finally produce her best. 8. Veravino has beaten all but the winner in two solid runs, and reloads again 24 days between runs, but threatens to go around under the odds from a wide draw. 5. Maybe Now is bred to get further, but can run a big race fresh for a leading home track stable behind two improving trials. 1. Backwind is a market watch on debut with gear additions for a local stable behind a handy trial. 3. Royalify resumes after a poor prep, and goes through trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Incantress to WIN

1. Hydrometer is a tough four-year-old who looks to have found the right first-up race off a smart provincial trial win. Was strong in three runs last prep, including a dominant barrier to box CL1 performance at Wyong, and will come to hand in a heartbeat. Despite carrying 62kg fresh, has the class and tenacity to beat what is an ordinary field for this grade. 3. Oryx is drawn to get a soft trail second-up. 4. Hellbent On You has to overcome a wide barrier and poor first-up record, but has been fitted with two trials. 5. Jinsoku second-up over more ground, and 2. Unwritten resuming off a quiet trial; can both add value into wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Hydrometer to WIN

2. Yabby Pump will be very hard to stop here first-up if he doesn't go to a deeper CL2 at Canberra on Sunday. Finished best to win at only his second start at the provincials last winter, and has been fitted with two trials, winning the latest over 1200m at Warwick Farm. Draws to sit right behind the speed. 1. Brutal Bowler is the natural threat resuming as a gelding for the top provincial stable off an easy trial. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Inspired Star who reloads 16 days after a second start Midway maiden win at this track. 8. Emilia Jane draws to get good cover after disappointing in a small field at Kembla second-up. 9. Idolised is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Yabby Pump to WIN

5. Cheergal is well placed here at the weights fourth-up dropping 2kg from a fair effort at Scone a month back. 2. Liberty Park, by Cox Plate winner Ocean Park, resumes as a gelding for his first run on this side of the Tasman for the Chris Waller stable. Won a weak NZ maiden last time out, and fitted with a very quiet trial. 4. Alcabeel, resuming off a long break and two trials for the Waterhouse-Bott stable, and 10. Rose's Legacy also first-up off two improving trials and trained on the course; can both figure in the minor money. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Cheergal to win

3. Sunset Park is a locally-trained mare who can continue on her merry way and make it three straight wins at only her fourth start. Has controlled the race in front at both Kembla over a mile and here over 2000m. Back a furlong in distance this time, but sharpened agan with blinkers added, and she carries only 1kg more after the claim. Bred to thrive in soft or heavy ground if the downgrades come. 14. Sunshine Law is the clear threat from the inside draw and coming off a dominant CL1 win at Canberra deep into the prep. 8. Zucchero is progressive and also shooting for three wins on the bounce stepping up in grade. 5. Koning can improve sharply after a very flat second-up effort at Wyong; while 12. Fiftyfivechevy peaks third-up if he starts here.

How to play it: Sunset Park to WIN

4. Silvanito is a smart and sparingly raced five-year-old resuming off a six week let-up. Strong trial win here over 1200m just 12 days ago is a significant pointer, and this is his best trip. Drawn to get the right trail behind the speed in what is another very open qualifier. 13. Mahogany Girl is a progressive local mare shooting for a third consecutive win at home. Too strong from on speed in back-to-back BM 64s either side of a break, and while this is tougher, she gets right down to the limit weight. 2. Well Timed is well placed from the draw resuming off two forward trials, the latest significantly at this track. Won at metro BM 78 level last spring, has a solid fresh record, and can give this a shake as long as he finds cover. 8. Tartana is a knockout chance after leading all the way in a metro Fillies & Mares BM 72. That came off a month-long freshen, and again the stable follows the same pattern here rolling forward. 12. Imposant comes in on the fresher side behind a soft trial. Best form is always early in her prep and gets down to the limit weight; while 1. Spangler, resuming off two quiet trials, heads the rest.

How to play it: Silvanito to WIN

BEST BETS:

R4 1. HYDROMETER
R5 2. YABBY PUMP

BEST VALUE:

R8 4. SILVANITO

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