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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

The late market trade suggested 4. Explosive Torpido would benefit from her first-up run at this track/distance 26 days, but her effort had merit. She raced three wide out on a limb throughout, albeit only around one turn, but she tried hard to the line to finish third. The mare will be fitter for that, has an SP edge over some of her key rivals and draws to have a much more economical run in transit.

Dangers: 2. Toyger resumes off a 194-day break and has had the two trials leading into this assignment. He's run to a consistent figure multiple times, which puts him in the finish. 6. Capital Dancer comes through the same race as Explosive Torpido, and she was honest in defeat after always facing the breeze in a genuine tempo. She is ready to peak third-up. Key late market watch on debutante 7. Ladie's Secret, who maps to have all favours.

How to play it: Explosive Torpido WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Explosive Torpido runs third at Newcastle on July 13

Hard to go past 9. War Ribbon, who is on the quick backup and he was solid in defeat first-up at Hawkesbury seven days ago. Further, he always faced the breeze at a moderate pace and to his credit, he kept responding under pressure when challenged to run third. He can only step off that performance up in distance and expect another positive ride.

Dangers: 7. Lost Illusions is now at optimal fitness, and although run to suit last start at Grafton, she found the line well to finish second with a margin to third. She produced her career peak figure fourth-up last prep, and the claim suits from a soft draw. 4. Blind Date has to transfer her Canberra Acton form to turf but can rate to win. Add 6. First Night who can improve out to 1850m.

How to play it: War Ribbon WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

War Ribbon runs third at Hawkesbury on August 1

Keen on 8. Zousain Bolt, who is coming through time/sectional merit races and he ran slick time to score last start at Wyong. The colt was run to suit but had to make a long-sustained run, exerting all his energy between the 600m-200m, and to his credit, he maintained a solid finish speed to the line. Further, that race rated highly, and all key indicators suggest he can step again off that performance.

Dangers: 2. Hell's Itch showed style when winning first-up and then had excuses when racing in the inferior ground last start. He's looking for the 1500m and can bounce back with more luck here. 9. Media Frenzy had the race shape against first-up and ran fast closing splits. 7. Zale drops in grade and market watch on 1. Chartwell.

How to play it: Zousain Bolt WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Zousain Bolt last start at Wyong on July 25

9. Righteous Legend was heavily backed on debut at Wyong, and although finishing fourth, his effort was full of merit. The colt was posted three-wide out on a limb working at a fast pace throughout, made a long-sustained run and still hit the line well, recording the race's second-fastest final 200m split. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day and he would've only benefited from that experience. The bigger track is ideal; a set of winkers go on for the first time, and 1400m suits.

Dangers: 7. Komodo Dragon comes through the same race as Righteous Legend, and he finished in front of that runner and SPed shorter. He travelled well throughout transit and showed late strength, running one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits, indicating the distance rise will benefit him. First starter 3. Longinus has moved well in two trials and looks a nice type. He can sprint fresh from the soft gate. 1. Maracaibo Sun can bounce back from a flat second-up run and add 8. Promiscuous Girl.

How to play it: Righteous Legend WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Righteous Legend runs second at Wyong on July 25

Everything points towards a peak performance third-up for 9. Mondo and his effort was much better than the form guide reads last start. The five-year-old was suited sitting on the speed at a very slow pace, but he got slightly lost in the straight, and when getting his mind back on the job, he found the line well. The blinkers go back on, a rise in trip suits and expect an aggressive ride early.

Dangers: 3. Oh Golly Gosh can be a sharp improver here getting back onto a drying surface, and she has trialled well between runs. Jason Collett goes on and she has multiple winning figures. 5. Buba ran fast closing splits last start and is ready to peak third-up. Expect 10. Hard Pick to be supported on the 5-day backup.

How to play it: Mondo WIN ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mondo's latest start at Kembla Grange on July 27

11. Bauhinia was well-backed late in the trade on debut at Canterbury, and she flashed home to run second after having genuine excuses. The three-year-old jumped awkwardly, was slightly outpaced in transit and had to make a long sustained sprint. Further, her late visual strength was backed up by the clock, with the filly recording the meeting's fastest final 400m. She will have improved from that experience, with the bigger track being ideal.

Dangers: 2. Copacabana returns as a gelding off a 299-day break and has trialled well enough. He brings strong form lines for this assignment and is a key late market watch. Debutant 8. Maori Chief is a nice type and has been well-educated. He has a solid platform, having had the two trials leading into this, and has gone through the line full of energy, not extended. 5. Spanish Fox is a consistent type, and he tried hard to finish second last start at Wyong with a gap to third.

How to play it: Bauhinia WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bauhinia runs second at Canterbury on July 24

6. Gold Dust profiles to peak third-up, and she is coming through a high-rating proven form reference. She tried hard in defeat last start at Canterbury after having the race shape against, and she hit the line well, running fast closing splits. Further, the eventual winner, Cosmonova, has subsequently won again in a stronger Saturday grade race. She has to get the 1250m, but she brings the best last-start figure and can roll forward.

Dangers: 9. Tender Streak looked sharp in a recent trial and can sprint fresh. 10. Wings Of Desire was well backed when winning on debut at Hawkesbury, and she ran time. She sets up well from the inside gate with Tommy Berry riding. 1. Always In drops back to the provincial circuit and can settle closer with a significant barrier change.

How to play it: Gold Dust WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Gold Dust last start at Canterbury on July 24

Nothing has gone right for 10. Eastern Front this preparation, and he represents value. He wasn't suited on a testing surface first-up and had no luck in the straight last start. Third-up last campaign, he produced a career peak figure that rates to win this event. Expect him to look for cover, find a rhythm and hit the line hard late. Each-way.

Dangers: 13. Fortingall had all favours when winning on debut, but there was plenty of merit in the back end of the clock. He would've benefited from the race experience and gets a favourable setup with Tommy Berry riding. 5. Extreme Spirit is a key late-market watch with his form lines and returns as a gelding. 3. Denman Star is another last-start winner engaged and is suited with the claim.

How to play it: Eastern Front E/W ($14 TAB Fixed Odds).

Eastern Front last start at Wyong on July 25

Best Bet: Race 7 # 6 - Gold Dust

Next Best: Race 5 # 9 - Mondo

Best Value: Race 4 # 9 - Righteous Legend

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