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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury Park. The track is rated heavy 9, rail out to 8m. Last meeting (June 6) the rail was at 6m and on pacers were largely favoured.

I was rapt with the latest trial of 3. Jen Rules at Randwick on June 12, so much so that I definitely wanted to be on when she made her debut. Having spoken to Peter Snowden there was some concern about a bottomless track but she's here and that tells me the stable is okay with the ground. Her trial was on heavy ground and the best part of that work was the last 200m as she seemed to glide through it easily to score with plenty in hand. If she lines up you can take it the stable is confident she’ll perform and that’s good enough for me.

Danger: 10. Task And Purpose is the logical danger for mine. She settled near the tail at her first outing and there was plenty to like about the way she worked home into third behind Misteed on a heavy 9. Better for that and she can take a hand in the finish. 1. Age Of War has that heavy track experience as well through her debut at Wyong where she was run down but she was attacked in the lead a fair way from home. It wouldn’t surprise if she finds the front and gives a bit of a sight. First starters 2. Churning and 9. Seles both posted narrow trial wins leading into their debuts and would be worth keeping safe.

How to play it: Jen Rules WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Jen Rules posts and impressive trial win at Randwick on June 12

One of the two most significant gear changes, in my view, is gelding (the other is blinkers first time) and that’s the case with 5. Invincible Lad who returns as a gelding since his last start third in a Listed race at Flemington earlier this year. His two trials back have been sound and different to his races as he’s been able to sit off the pace. Very much liked the way he attacked the line under no pressure at all to run second over 1045m on heavy ground and he’s sure to get the perfect run from a favourable gate. If he brings his trials to race day he’s going to take stopping.

Dangers: 4. Horn looked to do it well leading all the way to win his latest trial at Rosehill on June 8. How much work he’s forced to do to get onto the pace here will probably determine his finishing position. 11. Thinkin' Big showed plenty of improvement into his second trial when run down by Skyray. Unseen in any wet ground but the race has fallen away a bit and he's worth keeping in mind. 1. Bare All bumped into what might be a very smart one in Smart Melody on debut over the 900m at Newcastle and I'd say the extra 200m will be a plus so he's not to be left out.

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

Invincible Lad works home down the outside in his Randwick trial on June 12

It’s hard to tip against the promising 3. Seasons who will likely go around a very short quote after saluting at $1.45 at Warwick Farm three weeks ago where she cruised home in 35.20 for the last 600m (Punters Intel). That followed her luckless second at $1.80 here back on May 2. I don’t think a heavy track will worry her and there appears to be a number of horses that will look to lead so she can land in a striking spot just off them ideally. Given every chance she should finish over the top of them but I wouldn’t want to be taking long odds-on.

Dangers: 7. Ready For Love is yet to tick the heavy track box and any improvement in the going would be to her liking. Returned with a sound effort at the Farm behind Soothing and Nic’s Vendetta so returning to the fillies is a plus. Yet to do anything wrong and if she does relish the ground she’s a contender. 2. Gracefilly handled the heavy ground with style at Newcastle beating older mares on June 9. She’ll push forward and if she can land in a good spot she’s more than capable of giving a sight. 5. Ballet Baby is unknown in seriously wet ground but she finally broke the shackles with a very big six length maiden win at Kembla last start and it could be the making of her. Her dam was okay in the wet and being by Street Cry she’s a decent chance of handling it. Each-way.

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

Seasons proves far too strong scoring at Warwick Farm on May 30

There’s no reason as far as I can see why 2. Bringagem can’t win again after proving far too good under similar conditions two weeks ago. He drops in weight though is still giving away a bit to his main rivals here, however I think that’s outweighed by the fact he’s absolutely flying. I admit to doubting him a little last start though he wasn’t exposed to a heavy track at that stage, he’s proven now and whichever way this race sets up he can handle it.

Dangers: 6. Regine faces a bit of a D-Day fourth-up after running into third over 1550m at the same meeting. She was negatively ridden from a wide gate there but up in trip and drawn the middle of the seven she’s entitled to find a spot a bit closer. While she did enjoy a saloon run along the rails into a place last start she has every chance here. 4. Allcash has a 2.5kg turnaround on Bringagem for their clash a fortnight back where he was left flat footed when they sprinted before picking up into second without ever looking a threat. He did win third-up last prep on a wet track over this course and the weights give him the chance to repeat. 5. Lifeline Princess showed fight to hold them off at Gosford over the 1900m and does meet Bringagem 4.5kg better for their clash on May 31 where she was safely held.

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

Bringagem romps away in the heavy ground at Canterbury on June 6

The last three races appear wide open on paper. Banking on a bit of Saturday form standing up here through 6. Porky Pies who was very brave when third at Randwick over 2000m on a heavy track after not really settling early. After jostling for the lead he no sooner hit the front near the turn than he was swept past but he refused to go away in holding down third. Back 100m and into a race where he can lead if he wants to but, more importantly, has the option to settle just off them as well. I expect him to run another big race.

Dangers: 11. Via Veneto comes through the same race, she made ground from the second half to run into fourth in what was her first run in almost a month. She has tended to race forward previously so that’s an option here and if she runs up to the Randwick effort she’s right in the mix. 5. Ombudsman has no wet form to go on so I’m reluctant to want to rush in and take the punt with him. Via Veneto beat him four starts back and after he broke his maiden at Hawkesbury he bumped into Live And Free in a stronger race than this. So he’s capable but it’s the wet track question that’s the worry for me. 2. Monsieur Sisu is coming off a maiden win up in distance but he scored on a heavy 8 here two weeks ago and looked as strong as anything on the line. Goes forward and can give another good account.

How to play it: Porky Pies E/W ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Porky Pies holds on well for third at Randwick on June 9 with Via Veneto fourth

A throw at the stumps in the toughest race of the day. 6. He’s A Given was on the wrong part of the track when he resumed at Warwick Farm finishing midfield. He is a real heavy tracker who hasn’t seen one in a while and proven at this track and trip. In a race where there could be a reasonable amount of speed it could set up for something sitting off and charging late and that fits him nicely though he is also capable of being closer if there is no pace. Each-way chance with not a heap of confidence.

Dangers: 5. Invicta ran well at big odds fresh then appreciated the sting out to score pulling away at Taree. Can only be closer to his peak now and loves the wet so from the handy gate he’s well worth including in the main chances. 11. Smart As defied a betting drift and went down fighting when a close second in a similar race two weeks ago. With the apprentice claim she drops 1.5kg and it comes down to how many favours he can get on the pace. If able to be rated well she’s a big chance again. 3. King Tomlola is rushing through the grades out of town and notched a hat-trick of provincial wins leading all the way on a heavy at Hawkesbury on June 10. He has to go forward here but may not be able to dictate. If he can then he could take running down again.

How to play it: He’s A Given E/W ($10 TAB Fixed Odds).

He’s A Given is expected to improve on his first-up run at Warwick Farm on May 30

The last has been cut right apart with scratchings. Left with 6. Siam on top and I'm fairly happy with him, he has some wet track form and is a better horse than he displayed at Rosehill when well beaten behind Dawn Dawn. Placing to Savatiano before that is good form and he's worth another chance in a race that is really up for grabs.

Dangers: 10. Royal Fashion won't have any issues in the wet having on a soft track in New Zealand. Her four runs for the Lindsay Park operation have been mixed but with this race falling apart she's looming as a big danger. Two trials in Victoria and finds Kerrin McEvoy to ride. Go well. 6. Mr Tickets is trialling up quite well though not enough exposed heavy track form to be super confident. That said he's consistent and if he handles the ground he'll be thereabouts. 5. Live To Dream is proven in the ground and this is her first run for Brad Widdup (ex-Bjorn Baker). Can't get a great line through her trials but it wouldn't surprise to see her in the finish.

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

Siam running third behind Savatiano at Scone on May 11

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