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By Ray Hickson

Ray Hickson’s tips and insights for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting. Looks to be another competitive midweek program.

The track will be Good and the rail is out 3m.

The first starters have this race covered though there might not be a lot between the four newcomers. 4. Isaurian is a full brother to former smart filly Ottoman and has won both his trials in good style. The margin wasn’t great in the latest, and it was a blanket finish, but he was doing it easily and while a bit short for my liking looks very hard to beat.

Dangers: 3. Highly Influential has trialled nicely on two occasions leading into his debut, looks a professional type and has drawn to get every chance. 1. Eleazar and 2. Enfield Opp come through the same trial, the former winning it and seemingly travelling the better. While the Godolphin colt is the one to beat any of this trio could upset him.

How to play it: Isaurian WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Isaurian winning his Warwick Farm trial – September 22

1. Savatiano was thrown in the deep end in her first preparation and performed well against the likes of Invader, Teaspoon and One More Honey. She actually started favourite in the Sweet Embrace in February and made up ground though was never a winning chance. Her trial recently at Warwick Farm was sound and right back to a maiden gets a good chance to break through.

Dangers: 9. Ballet Baby was hard in the market on debut back in July and failed but has trialled well since and no surprise to see improvement from her. 2. Boorooj hasn't been beaten far in her three starts and is worth keeping in mind.

How to play it: Savatiano WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Savatiano’s trial at Warwick Farm – September 22

While it might be dangerous tipping a horse 10th up in a preparation and coming off a win I see no reason why 4. Know How can’t win again so long as he runs out the trip. He rounded up most of the main dangers over 1900m at Rosehill two weeks ago and was running away on the line. Stays down in the weights and will have to do no work in the run so with even luck he should be in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Thewayweare showed a return to form in a similar race on the public holiday meeting here, leading and giving a good kick when challenged by Olympic Academy. Probably a little less depth in this race and he can take running down. 5. Ready For Success raced right on the speed when run down by Know How at Rosehill. He’s consistent and will be thereabouts.

How to play it: Know How E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Know How finishes strongly to win at Rosehill – September 27

I want to keep 7. So Splendid very safe here first-up on the back of an excellent trial at Rosehill last week though the scratching of Alliterate is a concern. She ran fourth, under a grip, behind Chetwood with Firsthand just claiming her late for third. He of course ran well first-up in Saturday company. This mare has a consistent record and while her win was at 1850m with just the one trial she should be fresh enough to run well. She ran a close second over 1400m at Randwick on Anzac Day early in last prep.

Dangers: 4. O’Reilly Cyrus appears to be getting close to a win. She beat one home at Canterbury when resuming but had no luck, then kept coming into third here three weeks ago. She might be looking for the extra distance now and is worth plenty of thought. 2. Cambage has a decent weight to lump but finds this a bit easier than last start third at Rosehill in Saturday grade. Hasn’t raced for a month but blinkers go on and she is hard to ignore.

How to play it: So Splendid E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

So Splendid runs fourth behind Chetwood in a Rosehill trial – October 3

If the speed on paper transfers to the turf then 6. Charming Lad is more than capable of winning again. He comes off a confidence boosting win at Kembla Grange where he sat back and sailed down the outside to score easily over the 1400m. He’s generally around the mark in town and with the wide gate at the 1400m start he’ll be able to sit there unimpeded and come with one run at them. That’s the theory anyway.

Dangers: 8. Cellarman ran an even race first-up since that Gosford disqualification and he also might appreciate a bit of tempo on. It’s a bit of a D-Day for him but gets his chance to show something with the 54kg. 9. Masterati is an up and comer who has put together two easy wins at the provincials. He’ll be up on the speed and if he gets any breathers he could easily measure up. 5. Art Of Excellence has been freshened since that amazing win over a mile where he opened up a massive lead and just held on. Have to include him too.

How to play it: Charming Lad E/W ($15 TAB Fixed Odds)

Charming Lad’s easy Kembla Grange win – September 30

2. To Excess found himself way too far back at this track second-up but motored home when it was all over to run an eye-catching second. Surely the extra 100m will help and he’ll be close to his peak now after the two runs back from a year’s absence. He’s barely put a foot wrong and hopefully he doesn’t get buried back in the field again here. Hard to hold out.

Dangers: 10. Beacon was scratched from a winnable race last week to run in this, seemingly tougher, event. He led all the way to an easy win at Canterbury at his third start beating a pretty handy filly in Workdrinks. Has Hugh Bowman and the soft draw and is the logical danger. 11. Radiant Choice has been gelded this preparation and has shown plenty of promise in his two barrier trials this time in, including a second to In Her Time before winning his latest. A bit hard to line up given his only win is a 2yo maiden but well worth keeping safe.

How to play it: To Excess E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds); quinella with Beacon.

To Excess flashes into second place at Warwick Farm – October 2

Chris Waller seems to have this race covered, just picking the right one is the challenge. 10. Tumultuous has been a bit hard to catch at times and perhaps his fast finishing third when resuming at Rosehill two weeks ago behind Mapmaker, who has since run well in tougher grade. Significant rider change to Hugh Bowman and he has won second-up. If he gets an evenly run race at least he should have his chance to finish off. Punter’s Intel: Tumultuous ran the race-fastest last 600m of 33.41 at Rosehill last start including a 10.83 split (400m-200m).

Dangers: 1. Fortensky doesn’t know how to run a bad race though does tend to find one or two better. He led them up in the Mapmaker race at Rosehill and ran fourth but did get the job done at Canterbury prior. He will be on the speed again and will give a sight. 7. Pianissimo made some ground when resuming at Rosehill behind stablemate Invincibella and will find the mile much more appealing. Each-way chance. I have to include 5. Obsidian who was close up behind Mapmaker when resuming and tends to improve with the run.

How to play it: Tumultuous WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tumultuous runs third at Rosehill – September 27

Last week Les Bridge took out the final event with a promising mare resuming off an easy trial win and it’s déjà vu as 11. Zonk has her chance after being scratched from that event in favour of stablemate Slow Burn. She trialled on the same morning as Slow Burn and ran faster time but didn’t do it quite as easily. She hasn’t raced since a second to White Moss, which is good form, back in May and this looks a nice one for her. Not as confident as with Slow Burn but very hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. It’s Time For Magic is up from the Waller stable in Melbourne and there has been merit in a couple of her three runs for the team. Beaten in a close finish at Mornington last time after being just off the speed and should be afforded a similar passage here. Appears the major threat. 1. Knit 'N' Purl always tends to have a flashing light on with a strong late finish. She's first-up with a soft gate and could get into the placings at least.

How to play it: Zonk WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Zonk’s easy trial win at Randwick - September 25

All the fields, form and replays at Warwick Farm on Wednesday