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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday's Canterbury Park meeting. Selections based on a good to soft track with rain forecast. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Expecting 10. Cinsault, who represents value, to improve sharply here with having the benefit of race experience. The Godolphin galloper trialled well prior to her debut performance at Kensington, where she was well fancied late in the betting but was slow out and raced greenly. However, it was a high-pressure race, and once she got her mind on the job, she closed off well, running fast closing splits. The filly will need luck, but she sets up well from barrier one and has a turn of foot, with the rise in trip being ideal.

Dangers: 1. Excelindeed was honest in defeat last start at this track a fortnight ago after leading at a good-even tempo. He will be fitter and will roll forward. 7. Pick Up The Tab will be running on.

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

Cinsault runs third at Kensington on January 31

Leaning towards 4. Invader Zim, who has trialled well, where he's shown speed and hasn't been extended in two heats. His debut run last prep at Gosford had hidden merit and was much better than the form guide reads. The three-year-old was heavily checked at the start and then had too much to do in a race that rated highly relative to the day. Further, to his credit, he built momentum and blended into it well but then was blocked for a run over the concluding stages. The 1250m tonight is ideal; Nash Rawiller rides for the first time, and expect him to sprint hard.

Dangers: Expecting 3. Gaylord to improve sharply, and he was solid first-up at this track a fortnight ago. The gelding started hard in the market, had every chance in the run, but wanted to find the line, and his last few bounds had merit with the clocking backing up the visuals. 10. Reasonable resumes off a 156-day break and has trialled well enough. She maps to have all favours, and the rain-affected ground is ideal. 5. Kenology, who is a knockout chance, moved well in a recent trial at Kembla and found the line solidly.

How to play it: Invader Zim WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Invader Zim runs second in a trial at Rosehill on February 5

Like 6. Zarrose, who's come back improved this prep and was an impressive winner first-up at Kembla. She was mathematically out of the race second-up at Warwick Farm but knuckled down hard late to finish third and ran some of the meeting's fastest closing splits. The filly has a key fitness edge; Tommy Berry rides for the first time, can handle all surfaces and outsprint her rivals. Hard to beat with even luck.

Dangers: 5. Vieste presents as a knockout chance and has trialled well at Hawkesbury behind Marquess. Further, she travelled well and went through the line full of energy, not extended. The Ben Smith trained galloper contested Group races last campaign albeit SPing big odds. She can sprint fresh from the soft gate. Having had the two trials, 3. Dulcet is another galloper resuming with a solid platform. Market watch. 9. Little Baia will have to stretch out to the 1550m for the first time, but she had no luck last start at this track and will roll forward.

How to play it: Zarrose WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

Zarrose runs third last start at Warwick Farm on January 26

Keen on 5. Wild Botanica, whose return run at Warwick Farm was full of merit in a strong rating race that has since produced a subsequent winner in Shezanalister. The mare was well backed late in the trade, raced wide throughout, wasn't suited to the race shape, but still sprinted hard into second and beat the rest easily. Additionally, she maintained a fast-finishing speed to the line and ran the meeting's second-quickest final 400m. The Joe Pride trained runner is suited up in distance, maps positively and brings the clear best last start figure. Hard to beat with even luck.

Dangers: 2. Elegant Empress was impressive winning at Goulburn last start and producing a career peak figure. The mare showed natural pace, controlled the speed and sprinted away from her rivals, running the fastest last 200m split of the meeting. Nash Rawiller goes on for the first time and maps well here. 7. Field Wiri just missed in a tight-finish last start at Newcastle after having too much to do. She receives a significant barrier change, allowing her to have a more economical run in transit, and the blinkers go on for the first time. 10 Everyone's A Star had excuses last start and 8. Angel Fund can improve on rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Wild Botanica WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wild Botanica runs second at Warwick Farm on January 26

11. Hanau is an improving type who is still learning, and he is open to sharp improvement with the blinkers being applied for the first time. The three-year-old was well fancied last start at Kensington, and his run had merit when just beaten in a tight finish. He wasn't suited to the race shape; sprinted hard but hit the front too early and wanted to float. Further, the blinkers will keep his mind on the job, and the anticipated genuine tempo is ideal. In addition, he has the key asset of acceleration, whereas some of his key rivals are one-paced.

Dangers: 2. Gallant Star should've finished much closer last start at Rosehill in a strong time race won by High Blue Sea. He was checked/blocked at a critical stage, forcing him back into the inferior ground, but he picked up to run one of the fastest final 200m splits. He's 34 days between runs but sets up well here. 6. Demitasse is coming through high-rating races and runs to a consistent figure that'll put him in the finish. He is rock-hard fit and proven on all surfaces. 5. Command Approved has taken a few runs to get fit and is now back in form. Market watch 9. Manwe who has trialled well and won at this track first-up last prep.

How to play it: Hanau WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hanau runs second at Kensington on January 31

Sticking with 3. Bacio Del Mist, who is ready to peak fourth-up with the claim suiting. She was rising sharply in distance last start, wasn't suited to the race shape and loomed but peaked on her run. The mare is now at optimal fitness, handles all surfaces, and races well at this track/distance. Each-way.

Dangers: 3. Parabellum is on an upwards ratings spiral this prep, and all key indicators suggest she can improve again. She maps to have all favours, and the 1900m should pose no issue. 5. Cosmic Lad was heavily backed last start at Newcastle and was a dominant winner. He can step sharply and will relish a rise in distance. 1. McGeehan can bounce back with a gear change and relishes rain-affected ground. Market watch on 11. Zip On By, who is coming out of a fast-time race.

How to play it: Bacio Del Mist WIN ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Bacio Del Mist last start at Canterbury on February 2

10. Arale has a likeable profile for this event, and she was well-ridden to score at Canterbury 14 days ago but ran a solid time relative to the night. The mare is fast becoming a track/distance specialist, having the two starts for two wins. She is rock-hard fit, handles all surfaces and has a positive race setup with Sam Clipperton riding for the first time. In addition, she receives a weight swing against some of her key rivals when lining them up relative to past performances, and she brings a competitive last-start figure. Good Each-way.

Dangers: Happy to forgive 6. Ita's last start at Rosehill, where she travelled in the worst ground and didn't appreciate being crowded for a run. She finds a winnable race and has multiple winning ratings for this assignment. 7. Taraashoq comes through the same race and wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape. Further, he ran hidden closing splits and will be running on. 9. Kokoro was brave in the Moruya Cup.

How to play it: Arale E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Arale wins last start at Canterbury on February 2

4. Oceans One profiles well for this assignment, and he is on the quick backup after a solid performance at this track/distance seven days ago. The track pattern aided the five-year-old, but he always faced the breeze and never shirked his task to the line to finish second. He finds a winnable race under the conditions; his SP profile lines up well, and he handles all surfaces with multiple winning ratings.

Dangers: 2. Liberty Sun has had no luck all campaign, and he finally receives a much more positive race setup. The eight-year-old maps to have a more economical run in transit and can rate to win. 10. Damaged returns off a long break and has trialled well. He can sprint fresh and will be hitting the line hard. Respecting 6. Border Control's SPs in his past few runs and the blinkers go on for the first time. 3. Shines is ready to peak third-up.

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

Oceans One runs second at Canterbury on February 9

Best Bet: Race 3 # 6 - Zarrose

Best Bet: Race 4 # 5 - Wild Botanica

Best Value: Race 7 # 10 - Arale

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Canterbury meeting