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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Wednesday’s Canterbury Park meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Tricky 2YO race to start with first starters engaged and minimal disclosed heavy track form. 1. Arch Of Titus led at an even tempo last start at this track 14 days ago and was honest in defeat. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and he maintained a strong finishing speed running his final 400m split in 25.12. The two-year-old colt will roll forward to have first use of the track, has a race experience edge on some of his rivals and is proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 8. Never Fails raced wide last start at Randwick 11 days ago and battled on well. He receives a significant barrier change and can settle closer. Market watch on debutant 2. Alberich who won a recent trial at Rosehill and responded well under pressure. Add 4. Charity Gold to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Arch Of Titus WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Arch Of Titus runs second at Canterbury on June 8

5. Gilmore had every chance on debut at Randwick 11 days ago but tried hard in a strong time race. The two-year-old filly trialled well prior to her first-up run and is well placed here down in grade. She maps to get all favours, the step-up in distance suits and gets a key gear change in winkers for the first time. In addition, repeating her last start figure/effort and the prospect of improvement will put her right in the finish. Each-way.

Dangers: 6. Maritima got too far back in a slow tempo last start at Canterbury 14 days ago and made considerable ground to hit the line hard. Further, the filly ran the second-fastest final 400m sectional of the entire meeting in 24.15. Expect her to settle closer and run a bold race. Debutante 4. Fairway Star has trialled well and can feature in the finish if she gets luck from the wide draw. Add 1. Lady Harlem and 3. Dhyani to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Gilmore WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Gilmore runs fifth at Randwick on June 11

10. Wolves returns and has trialled well enough in preparation for this assignment. The three-year-old last campaign raced in group company and a repeat of her first-up figure will make the filly hard to beat. She will have a tactical map advantage on her main danger, maps to lead or box seat and the booking of Hugh Bowman shows intent.

Dangers: 3. Roma Avenue was terrific on debut last preparation after getting too far back and hitting the line hard in a high-rating race. Additionally, four subsequent winners have confirmed the form, and his performance was no fluke. The three-year-old gelding then had no luck second-up and was still only narrowly beaten after being well-backed. He resumes and may have to settle worse than midfield from the draw but expect him to be savaging the line. Market watch 8. Pretes who has trialled well and was honest first-up last prep. 1. Cotton Fingers can improve for his new trainers, Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou and has trialled well enough.

How to play it: Wolves WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Wolves wins a trial at Randwick on June 3

7. Hide Your Heart is ready to win third-up after two solid performances in time/sectional merit races this preparation. The three-year-old filly got too far back when resuming and ran on hard into second place at an unsuitable distance. Her run had hidden merit 11 days ago at Newcastle when beaten by a potential group-class galloper in Frumos, and she ran fast closing sectionals relative to the day. The Bjorn Baker trained galloper’s profile suggests she will step off that performance, maps to get all favours, is on a backup and proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 6. Grecian Lass was not run to suit first-up at Muswellbrook 17 days ago and hit the line hard. The three-year-old filly is suited over further distance and gets a senior rider in Hugh Bowman for the first time. 3. Maralago needs to improve his racing manners but has a strong starting price profile compared to some of his rivals and receives blinkers for the first time. Add 5. Absurd to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Hide Your Heart WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Hide Your Heart runs second at Newcastle on June 11

Tricky/open middle-distance event. Leaning towards 3. Kirkeby who had excuses last start at this track 14 days ago and can bounce back into form. Further, the eventual winner Karlstad has since run well at Rosehill Gardens in a stronger grade last Saturday. The four-year-old gelding has a strong starting price profile, is suited up in distance and has multiple winning figures for this assignment. Each-way.

Dangers: 4. Tidal Creek comes out of the same race and will undoubtedly improve in fitness. The three-year-old colt produced his career peak figure last preparation at this track/distance, and jockey Nash Rawiller jumps back aboard. 7. Sprout Wings is racing well/consistently and maps to have all favours. 6. Reach Beyond was heavily backed $5-$3 late in the trade last start at Scone 8 days ago and won with 61kg on his back. He is on a backup and excels on heavy ground.

How to play it: Kirkeby WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Kirkeby last start at Canterbury on June 8

6. Stormy Rock, representing value, has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. The five-year-old gelding will roll forward and looks to control the pace from a kind draw. Further, he is wound up for this and has past ratings that can put him in the finish. In form, jockey Sam Clipperton has ridden 21 winners out of his last 100 rides for an incredible 34% profit on turnover.

Dangers: 13. Marooniyah broke through for her maiden win at this track last start and ran time with a subsequent winner to confirm the form. Further, she hit the line hard and ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 12.48. The Team Hawkes trained filly has been back to the trials and is proven on rain-affected ground. Market watch 1. Snitzonfire who has strong form lines and add 11. No Laughing Matter to all exotics.

How to play it: Stormy Rock WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Stormy Rock wins a trial at Rosehill on June 7

1. Narrated was suited to sitting outside the leader in a moderate tempo last start at Randwick 25 days ago, but her run had merit, and she beat the rest easily in a fast time race. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors. Additionally, the decisive margins throughout confirmed the quality. The four-year-old got left in front a long way from the finishing line and fought hard in a duel to the line. The mare recorded one of the fastest last 200m splits of the meeting in 12.72 and was strong past the post. Further, her sectional profile suggests she will step off this run, and the step up in distance third-up is ideal. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained galloper maps to lead, is proven on rain-affected ground, brings the best last start figure and receives a senior jockey in Nash Rawiller.

Dangers: 2. Camaguey is racing well/consistently and is rock-hard fit. He maps to get all favours and is on a backup. 10. Kouklara produced her career peak figure at this track/distance last campaign. 3. Chateaux Park and 6. Tags will both get back but will be running on strongly.

How to play it: Narrated WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Narrated runs second at Randwick on May 28

Best Bet: Race 7 # 1 - Narrated

Next Best: Race 4 # 7 - Hide Your Heart

Best Value: Race 6 # 6 - Stormy Rock

Quaddie:

Leg 1: 7,6
Leg 2: 3,4,7,6
Leg 3: 6,13,11,1
Leg 4: 1

Combinations = 32.

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