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By Ray Hickson

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

7. Secret Revolution looks to have learned a bit from his debut effort back in the Kirkham in October where he led and knocked up. Settled off the pace in his recent Wyong trial and while the opposition might not have been A Grade he flowed through the line like a nice horse. Needs to do it on race day now but has every chance. Read co-trainer Peter Snowden's comments here.

Dangers: 2. Fireburn closed off strongly on debut then showed improvement into her second start and strode away late. Back 50m and onto the Kensington are potential negatives but otherwise she’s hard to knock. Read trainer Gary Portelli's comments here. 10. Pantonario has the Coolangatta form from the Gimcrack Stakes and that has to read well. She was safely held late after leading there but given that bit of time and a couple of recent trials she’ll likely be stronger. Read co-trainer Adrian Bott's comments here. 6. London was a $600,000 purchase and comes off one trial, which he won in fairly good style at Canterbury.

How to play it: Secret Revolution WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Secret Revolution wins a trial at Wyong on December 20

Whether it’s the fact she’s in foal or has just come back in great order 9. Diorissima was outstanding in breaking through for a maiden win first-up at Wyong. She’s already proven herself in a Class 3 Highway previously and coming off such a dominant performance she’s a good chance to back it up.

Dangers: 3. Banju has put two very nice runs together this time in and you had to like the way he fought when challenged at Randwick two weeks ago. He just went down but a repeat showing would see him in the finish again. 1. Activation completely blew the start first-up at Wagga so ignore that effort. He’s since been back to the trials and hit the line hard to win at Dubbo. His second-up form is good, the distance suits and he was good enough to make the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final in March. Expect improvement. 2. King’s Trust just can’t be left out despite a tricky gate. Just withstood Banju’s fight to score last time and he has won on the Kensington track which is a plus.

How to play it: Diorissima E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Diorissima wins at Wyong on December 15

He has the form to say he’s the horse to beat and it will come down to how the race is run for 1. Herman Hesse. Carried 60.5kg two starts back and was just collared late then over a month between runs into the Christmas Cup and he gave a bold sight in front only to be run down by the in-form Mightybeel. That’s the best form, he might have company in front here but doesn’t necessarily have to lead at all costs.

Dangers: 7. Comme Bella Fille wasn’t suited by the way the race was run at her first 2400m attempt at Warwick Farm. She started $2 favourite there and while beaten three lengths it wasn’t a bad effort. A more genuine tempo would suit her. 5. Black Queen comes through the same race and tried very hard to just miss. Consistent mare down 2kg here and sure to be around the mark. 2. Born A King is down in class after an even effort behind Huetor at Rosehill two weeks ago. First go at 2400m and might well be looking for it now.

How to play it: Herman Hesse WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Herman Hesse runs second at Randwick on December 11

7. Key Largo is bursting to win a race and might get one run to suit here after seconds in two runs back from a break. Winner had a picnic in front at Canterbury last time but he found the line late when it was all over. He’s the type of horse that will need the breaks at the right time but he has the turn of foot to pick them up if that’s what happens.

Dangers: 6. Budhwar was narrowly beaten in a 1300m Midway three starts back and he’s back to this level after a second at Canterbury two weeks ago where he led and was run down in the last 100m. Sure to give a good account up on the speed. 2. Osamu had 61kg when resuming behind Authentic Jewel at Warwick Farm and he held his ground quite well there. Fitter and drops in weight for this. He may need some early luck finding a spot and is well worth considering. 3. Prince Invincible didn’t settle the best when fourth behind Queen Bellissimo in a Midway last start but he did hold on well to run fourth. More than capable of winning if he does everything right.

How to play it: Key Largo E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Key Largo runs second at Canterbury on December 10

7. Forzanini has come back in a great frame of mind with two tough wins and there’s no reason she can’t make it three on end. Not sure a heavy track is really her go so to win so impressively at Canterbury, beating a handy type, is a great sign. She’s drawn well and an improving surface is in her favour. Sure to be in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Irish Angel had a bit too much to do the way the race was run last start at Randwick but she still found the line from last into third placing. Her real asset is her wet track ability but it was a soft 5 the other day and she was still effective. 4. Celestine is a real query at her first run for Matthew Dale without any public trials. Victorian form was handy including a Group 3 placing last year. Big market watch. 5. Fritz's Factor wasn't disgraced even though she finished last first-up from over a year off behind The Bopper. Likely to be much fitter and her best form is good enough to be competitive.

How to play it: Forzanini WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Forzanini wins at Canterbury on December 10

If 1. Purple Sector can run up to his superb return effort he’ll take some beating. He raced wide and had no right to keep going but was finishing basically as well as anything as he got within half a length of Oscar Zulu. There’s not a lot of speed here and he is versatile so it could work in his favour. Good chance.

Dangers: 5. Bottega was excellent when resuming in the same race despite the form guide saying he ran fifth. He produced some nice sectionals and was beaten under two lengths. Fitter and drawn to be a bit more prominent if desired. He’s the one to fear. 4. Kirwan’s Lane is on the back up after a solid win over Wheelhouse last week at the Randwick mile. Perhaps he’s meeting a notch above that galloper here but he’s hard to knock. 7. Bigboyroy was nothing short of ordinary when a beaten favourite in the Oscar Zulu race last start. He is usually consistent so he can be given another chance with the light weight but he is very costly to follow.

How to play it: Purple Sector WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Purple Sector runs second at Randwick on December 18

4. Dragonstone was taken out of his comfort zone on the pace second-up, there wasn’t any other option given his barrier there, but he also bumped into a smart one when subsequent Gosford Guineas winner Bacchanalia swept past. Back to 1000m in a race that looks to have genuine tempo he can easily bounce back to the form we saw first-up at Kembla. Read trainer Mark Newnham's comments here.

Dangers: 5. Leo was a beaten favourite when resuming over the 1000m two weeks ago and his run behind The Bopper had more merit than it looks on paper. Gets the smother draw this time and he can be expected to be finishing strongly. 3. De Grawin didn’t really come up last time in with just the one placing in four starts. Prior to that she was building a nice record and all four wins have come at 1000m. Nice recent trial to say she’s in order and she has to be respected. 1. Van Giz loomed to win first-up in a huge effort coming from last when runner-up to The Bopper. She might want 1100m or so by now but it’s hard to leave her out of the discussion.

How to play it: Dragonstone WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Dragonstone runs second at Randwick on December 11

1. Toomuchtobear is a real up and comer and you had to be impressed with his last to first win when resuming at Randwick two weeks ago. Ran outstanding sectionals and looked to have something left for later. Can only be fitter and even better suited by the rise in distance. Drawn a lot better here so can race hander, there’s just so much to like. Read jockey Reece Jones's comments here.

Dangers: 6. Speed Legend is very close to a win, he did a great job sitting on speed from a wide gate and only going down narrowly to Francesco Guardi. He’s right at his top now after four runs from a long spell and is a major player. 2. Canasta led them up in the same race and showed a bit more fight this time to run third about half a length away. Also just about ready to produce his best run this prep, he’ll look to lead and give a big sight. 3. For Valour has won three of his last four and led all the way at Canterbury over this trip last time out. Could measure up.

How to play it: Toomuchtobear WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Toomuchtobear wins at Randwick on December 18

2. Snitzonfire just might get a bit more control here than he’s had in his two starts since winning his first three outings. He’s been far from disgraced but at 1200m he hasn’t quickened when not able to find the lead. Beaten half a length in the Wyong Magic Millions last time, draws to find the fence and if that’s still holding up come this race he will take catching.

Dangers: 4. I Am Lethal is a promising horse who knuckled down strongly to deny Rubamos over 1400m on this track four weeks ago. The runner-up has since won. Trialled since then, claim helps and he’s a good chance. 6. Socialist was well supported and got the job done first-up from a break on this track and has also been given some time between runs. Expect she’ll be fitter and should handle the class rise. 8. Kanazawa is straight off a maiden win but it was an impressive one and while the form hasn’t really held up since that December 8 win his effort was still good. Respect.

How to play it: Snitzonfire WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Snitzonfire runs third at Wyong on December 15

3. Rubamos is in career best form and was always on speed when scoring an easy Warwick Farm win just before Christmas. Not really much harder here, especially after the scratchings, he’s drawn okay again and should be in the finish.

Dangers: 5. Queen Bellissimo is hard to leave out, her win in a Midway last time was strong after doing some work on speed. She’ll put herself in the race and is a definite chance. 4 Exotic Ruby was an impressive winner on this track two starts ago then up in class she tried hard behind Snippy Fox. Comes back a notch here, drawn the inside and with the claim gets her chance to be in the finish again. 6. Tanker hit the line quite nicely in a blanket finish in the Wyong Magic Millions and you'd imagine Kensington would be a better course for him. Must be considered.

How to play it: Rubamos WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Rubamos wins at Warwick Farm on December 22

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Kensington