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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true.

Competitive opener, but home tracker 2. Irish Anthem is terrific value fourth-up with winkers back on. Has been hitting the line well all prep as the distances have slowly risen, especially here three weeks ago charging home from near last to be beaten under two lengths, and the winner of that race then saluted again at the track last Saturday. Gets a 2kg weight drop, and can settle a little closer in the run from a lower draw.

Dangers: Lightly raced filly 6. Literature Tycoon is the immediate threat at her third start from a soft trailing draw. Motored home late to miss by under a length in that same race as the top selection. Must keep safe emerging local mare 4. Shine Like It Does who led until the final strides over a mile at Wyong when coming off a four week break. Another local 5. Torie's Rose is very fit and banging on the door after rushing home to miss narrowly here last time; while 9. Suay Mam'selle heads the rest fourth-up from the inside draw, both coming through the same formline behind Noises.

How to play it: Irish Anthem to win

Lightly raced mare 1. Darling Downs is ready to rock first-up since autumn in only her fourth start. Was right behind the placegetters in two runs against metro opposition last prep, and fitted for this with two improving trials. Drawn to get the right run just off the speed with cover.

Dangers: Big market watch on 3. Rugby who also returns via two trials after an eye-catching and closing debut at Canterbury in early winter. Include in all exotics, 7. Viktor, a colt by superstar Frankel on debut for the Bjorn Baker stable; and 10. Sheriff's Star, improving into his third start.

How to play it: Darling Downs to win

Again not much separates the leading contenders over the shorter trip, but first starter 4. Chiba looks an exciting prospect on debut for the Waterhouse-Bott yard at Randwick. Bolted in a heavy track trial before again showing natural speed over 1045m to lead a handy trial line-up, only collared in the final strides by one who was pushed out. By prolific sprint sire Exceed And Excel, and can start his career with a bang.

Dangers: Debutant four-year-old 2. Istolea Merc by Winning Rupert has shown plenty of natural cruising speed in winning two trials, running a slick final 600m in both, and draws well enough. Another one by Winning Rupert and having his first outing, 5. Dashing Rupert has won both lead-up trials, and draws the fence. Godolphin first starter 7. Motorbike, by Epaulette, won the second of two trials at this track in smart fashion; while 1. Generous Harry can improve second-up with a gear change after a disappointing effort at Wyong when backed from $2.30 into $2.05.

How to play it: Chiba to win

Now the girls' edition, and it shapes beautifully for progressive and lightly raced Godolphin three-year-old 3. Celerity second-up. Hit the line hard into a place when resuming at Warwick Farm, and was considered good enough to start her career in the autumn in black type company. Suited in a set weights race, and has that lovely bloodline mix being by speedster Exceed And Excel out of a mare by super tough Testa Rossa.

Dangers: Watch the betting closely on 6. Fleeting Spirit, by Per Incanto from the Ryan-Alexiou yard, having her first run behind two trials. 8. Gangsta Granny has to overcome a wide draw off a four week freshen-up after an even debut effort on the Kensington track. Gap to the rest headed by another debutant 9. How Rude at big odds who starts in blikers behind two forward trials; while 10. Idolised, by Zoustar, won the second of two recent trials.

How to play it: Celerity to win

Promising four-year-old 2. Copacabana has this at his mercy third-up over a furlong further. Settled just better than midfield at Newcastle before sweeping home for an effortless win as a hot favorite a fortnight ago, and from a nice cover draw off speed again, he should go on his merry way.

Dangers: Progressive stallion 1. Passima finished off well first-up in deeper company at Warwick Farm. Rises in weight, but bred to handle a sharp rise in distance, and beat a handy metro maiden field over this trip in March. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Cristal Clear reloading 18 days after a country maiden win fresh as a hot favourite. Both 3. Last Straw second-up via a quiet trial; and 7. Pleasure Alert off a second start provincial win; can pump value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Copacabana to win

Progressive mare 5. Fakhra can make it two straight over a little more ground. Tracked the speed before sweeping home for a dominant maiden win at Newcastle, and the second place-getter from that race then bolted in his next start in a CL1 at Canberra.

Dangers: Consistent 3. Koning will be hard to hold out on a 12-day back-up and dropping back from deeper metro grade, with key gear changes in play. Drawn to get ideal cover right behind the speed, although yet to run a place from three attempts at this track. 1. Highborn Harry is in the mix third-up over a furlong furter after finishing close-up here against similar opposition; while 2. Majorian and 10. Whisker To Whisker are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Fakhra to win

One of the more open battles on the program; but it shapes best for lightly raced metro mare 11. Opal Fields resuming off two trials. Had four spaced runs earlier in the year, starting with an impressive maiden win, powering home from well back at Newcastle. can settle back off the speed here before driving down the middle late.

Dangers: Improving 7. Explosive Torpido finished best to win his maiden at Newcastle before chasing home a smart one here three weeks back. 2. Oryx will find this more to his liking after a string of inconsistent efforts in deeper city company, and draws to get an economical run just off the speed. Watch for sharp second-up improvement from 3. Boss down 2.5kg in weight from a softer draw. At bigger odds keep safe ex-Kiwi 9. Sunrise who didn't do much first-up for the new provincial stable.

How to play it: Opal Fields to win

Progressive 5. Threatening can make it two wins from his last three with blinkers being added. Was heavily backed before sweeping home from midfield to claim his maiden here before being ridden quieter and finishing off late at Kembla. This is a little tougher, but he has plenty of scope for improvement.

Dangers: Despite the big weight, 1. House Of Cards is a threat third-up from a soft trailing draw, although wouldn't be diving into too short a price, given his lack of conviction when hard in the market. That said, he easily accounted for a similar field here when first-up before only average in a tougher metro grade when backed from $3.20 into $2.70. Honest 7. Carpaccio has been in the placings all three runs this prep, and ready for the rise in trip. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Threatening to win

BEST BETS:
R3 4. CHIBA
R4 3. CELERITY

BEST VALUE:
R6 5. FAKHRA

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