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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a good track.

1. Squeezebox reacted well when a gap came to sprint through and put a gap on his rivals when breaking through at Hawkesbury. Extra ground doesn’t look to be an issue for him and he could easily repeat the dose.

Dangers: 2. Hardpoint was safely held by Squeezebox when they met over 1400m then he led when up to a mile at Wyong and repelled a challenge to score. Runner-up has since won. Imagine he leads again and sure to take running down. 3. Kahraba did quite a big job when scoring her maiden win at Hawkesbury at start 12, getting around a wall of horses before sprinting over the top. Has to repeat but stays in the mix. 5. San Jeronimo hit the line well at Canterbury last week when stepping up from 1400m to 1900m to grab third. That was a maiden but he’s on the up.

How to play it: Squeezebox WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).

Squeezebox wins at Hawkesbury on November 7

4. Offenbach has trialled up nicely on two occasions this month and draws to advantage for a 900m scamper on debut given he’s been on pace. A $650,000 colt by Snitzel, he’s had a good grounding to run well in a race with plenty of question marks.

Dangers: 1. Blitzburg hasn’t been beaten far in both trials. Interestingly, he’s also by Snitzel and was foaled on the same day as Offenbach! Tricky draw but stays under notice. 5. Telling has trialled just once in public earlier this month and was run down late by Good Hotspur. Shouldn’t be too far away from a handy gate and can run well. 8. Sunrise Ridge is another with one trial under her belt and it was a sound enough performance in running second at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago. Each-way.

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

Offenbach runs second in a Warwick Farm trial on November 19

3. Overtook stretched out impressively to win her second trial this time in at Hawkesbury and looks ready to go. Strikes a winnable maiden here, drawn okay and would expect her to be right in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Shropshire Lad has won both his trials in good style, a huge margin in the first back in February and then picked them up easily at Scone a couple of weeks ago. Commands respect on what he’s showing. 5. Miss Piera was placed at Canterbury on debut then lost her form in three subsequent starts. Latest trial back was handy enough and if she can regain the form of her debut a year ago she’d be in the finish. 7. Sheeza Tricka wasn’t disgraced at big odds at her debut back in July on a heavy track. Has trialled okay and could be an improver on a dry track.

How to play it: Overtook WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds).

Overtook wins a trial at Hawkesbury on November 14

3. Good Once is a consistent type who doesn’t win out of turn but looks close to another one after a top third at Wyong third-up. Didn’t have any favours in that run when wide all the way but kept running on. Sure to be around the mark again.

Dangers: 2. Prince Of Sorts comes through the same race where he led them up and held on to run second. Lightly raced and sure to be on the speed again and giving a big sight. 5. Aroha Stone ran well in a maiden here before scoring a popular win at Port Macquarie when up to 1500m. Another lightly raced type open to further improvement. 1. Take Me To Church showed promise winning on debut but was a little disappointing last time in and he’s a market watch after two quiet trials.

How to play it: Good Once EACH-WAY ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Good Once runs third at Wyong on November 9

2. Hiawatha drops sharply in class on his second-up fifth at Rosehill where he was solid in the market. Fair to say he had his chance but blinkers go on, draws well again and form around first-up run is strong. Good chance to show his best.

Dangers: 6. California Grass comes through the same race, she ran second behind Kadavar at Rosehill. Past two runs have been a return to form from her and if she has some luck from that outside gate she can be in the finish. 1. Vaguer won at Warwick Farm three back, tried hard up to 2400m at Kensington after that before coming back 500m and finishing close up at Canterbury. Did make a bit and hit the lead last time but likely outsprinted. Worth another chance. 11. War Ribbon is the up and comer who has raced just five times and comes off an easy win over a similar trip in Class 1 company a moth ago. Led all the way there. Harder but could be up to it.

How to play it: Hiawatha WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hiawatha runs fifth at Rosehill on November 9

14. Star Of Paris has shaped up well in two starts, narrowly beaten here on debut then left it a shade late when running on at Hawkesbury two weeks ago. Might need some luck from a tricky draw but looks close to a win.

Dangers: 13. Missile Charm was a big drifter in betting on debut at Port Macquarie two weeks ago, running on nicely from the back over 1000m. Likely will appreciate the extra ground and trained here, look for her to improve. 5. Swift Gun has been freshened up with a month or so between runs since a sound second at Hawkesbury where he raced on pace and boxed on. Had a tickover trial and is one of the chances. 10. Rubi’s Serve chased Private Harry when third here before set a task from a wide gate at Taree and ran on okay in a forgivable effort. Each-way claims.

How to play it: Star Of Paris WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).

Star Of Paris runs third at Hawkesbury on November 12

4. Art Volant won in this grade at Kensington back in June on a heavy track and was honest in three subsequent runs in the wet before a break. Nice trials leading into this return and is a major player.

Dangers: 6. Merchant Lady had support first-up and wasn’t disgraced at Wyong where she wasn’t able to make an impact from the back. Fitter and extra trip is in her favour. Go well. 5. Lounerse won well at Port Macquarie first-up then dropped in distance, was outsped then charged home late at Scone. Could rebound with the step up to 1250m. 3. O'Ziggy raced honestly over a big further last time in and has won a trial leading into his return. May find it a touch short but could run well fresh.

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

Art Volant runs second in a Rosehill trial on November 14

17. Incantation made a promising debut at Kembla a month ago then had no luck at all when second last there after being badly checked as they got to the outside fence. With even luck here she should be a big improver.

Dangers: 10. Rumbling Night also only beat one home on debut but he was badly blocked for a run and didn’t get a shot at them. He was a firmer in betting there so something was expected from him, up in distance he’s well worth another chance. 8. Omnic has been runner-up in three of his five starts including second-up when narrowly beaten here on November 2. Up 200m and gets another chance. 6. Great White Shark has been gelded since running third behind The Three Hundred at Rosehill almost two months ago. Has trialled, while drawn wide he could have some upside.

How to play it: Incantation EACH-WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Incantation’s last start at Kembla Grange on November 16

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting