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By Ray Hickson

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

3. Hold On Honey bumped into Kallos on debut before a couple of even efforts when hard in the market. Back for his second prep and while it was on the synthetic he has trialled impressively. If he handles the ground he can give a good sight.

Dangers: 1. Auckland has been given plenty of time and his latest trial suggested he’s ready to go. Was niggled a bit late in the trial for a close second a few weeks ago. Worth keeping safe. 5. Verbek is more than capable of winning this if things go his way. Narrowly beaten fresh last prep and while he’s had no public trials that’s never a concern from the Price stable. Expect him to run well. 8. Upgrades won a trial a month ago on a soft 7 then on the synthetic last time raced handy when fourth behind Hold On Honey. Stable is having a good run at the moment and James McDonald rides. Worth including.

How to play it: Hold On Honey WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Hold On Honey wins a trial at Warwick Farm on February 28

2. Waterford would be the most interesting runner all day and is a big market watch. He’s a Northern Hemisphere 3yo who has raced once in England for a third over 1408m and is now with the Waller yard. No public trials but he has had four jump outs down south.

Dangers: 1. Naval Seal had support on debut at Newcastle on a heavy track and was basically beaten by the bob of the head. If anything perhaps he’s looking for a touch further but doesn’t need to improve a lot to go close. 8. To His Credit has run on without threatening in two starts so far over 1300m and Williamsburg has been in both races, so that’s not a bad form reference. Takes on three-year-olds here and is one of the chances. 4. Galactic Angel has had a few chances but comes through the same race as Naval Seal finishing third there, and she did make some ground into that spot. Each-way claims.

How to play it: Waterford WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

6. Ruinart is bursting to win a race and has another good chance here. Run down in the last stride at Newcastle last time but the winner has since run fourth in a Group 3. She’s been favourite in all five starts to date and is entitled to go close.

Dangers: 8. Shooting For Kate could find herself in front here up in distance on her debut second at Canberra. Found herself behind the lead and didn’t get clear until it was all over, the winner Healthy Beauty has confirmed the form since. Good chance. 1. Stalking resumed as favourite at Kembla and surged home along the fence from last to run second, though the winner had her measure on the line. Blinkers off, she showed some quality in the spring running fourth in a Group 2 in Melbourne so is open to improvement. 2. Lukey Luke wasn’t disgraced in the same race as Stalking, holding his ground in fifth. Drawn nicely here and is another with some upside.

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

Ruinart runs second at Newcastle on February 24

3. Akihiro is back onto a wet track and his latest effort in a Provincial-Midway Championships heat was solid, finishing midfield behind Rustic Steel. He’s struck a winnable race on a rain affected track so he’ll have his chance to feature.

Dangers: 4. Momack had his first run for the new stable and was game in defeat at Kembla a few weeks back. Has excellent soft track form, fitter and sure to give a good account up on the pace. 8. Gulf Of Saros is another on pacer and he was a little disappointing when beaten into fourth at Canterbury last time on a heavy track. Comes back in trip, which might be the key, so is worth another chance. 5. Saint Of Katowice is back a notch in class after a fair fourth at Canterbury behind O’Mudgee where he led. Has been effective down to a soft 7 so conditions should be okay for him. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Akihiro WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Akihiro runs seventh at Newcastle on February 24

5. Samoot was ultra impressive at her Australian debut, dashing away for an easy win at Canterbury on a heavy track. Her previous two wins were at 1400m so the extra trip is a plus and she finds another wet surface. Sure to take holding out. Read trainer Kris Lees' comments here.

Dangers: 3. Lunakorn comes out of a Group 3 at her first run for the Lees stable and it wasn’t a bad run considering she clocked the third fastest last 200m of the race and was only a length outside the race’s best last 600m. Distance suits, she could be a big improver. 8. Old Flame is an import for the Snowden stable having his first outing. Wins have been on a good track and on synthetic overseas, ran fourth on heavy at Newbury in October. Trialled quite nicely on synthetic at Warwick Farm. Big query runner. 11. Verona is yet another having their local debut and she’s a Kiwi with Maher/Eustace who has been competitive at Group 2 level over there. No local trials or heavy track form but watch betting.

How to play it: Samoot WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Samoot wins at Canterbury on February 25

10. Ocean Shores is a promising type racing well this time in. Won easily at Canterbury second-up then onto a heavy track there and he wound up strongly late from last into a close third. Drops 3.5kg and with good speed on paper should get his chance to round them up. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. Arnaqueur has the talent and gets blinkers on for the first time here. Beaten favourite at Nowra in a Country Championships race and has since been back to the trials. On his best form he should be in the finish of this. 1. Bethencourt has a wide gate to contend with but goes forward. Too strong scoring on a heavy 10 at Canterbury a few weeks back and was placed at his only attempt at this trip last prep. Honest and has to be respected. 11. Ting Tong is a horse on the way up and was dominant scoring on a heavy track at Tamworth third-up. Won at Gosford fresh and could easily measure up here.

How to play it: Ocean Shores WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Ocean Shores runs third at Canterbury on February 25

6. Fleet Air Arm lost his unbeaten record at Newcastle second-up but he wasn’t disgraced in a 900m scamper on a heavy track with a month between runs. Will appreciate the extra 200m from a soft draw and will be very competitive.

Dangers: 1. Cotehele is back as a gelding this prep and he has an unbeaten record fresh against his name. Granted he’s probably more effective beyond 1200m but he’s very handy and has to be respected. 3. Jerle is fitter for one runs back in the same race as Fleet Air Arm where he finished fifth. Tends to improve with racing so look for him to be somewhere around the mark. 10. Pascal won his first two starts in the spring, including on a soft 7, but didn’t fire at all up in class at Rosehill before a spell. Latest trial was handy and he bears close watching.

How to play it: Fleet Air Arm WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Fleet Air Arm runs fourth at Newcastle on March 4

11. Party For One showed plenty of promise last prep and resumes after a closing fourth at Listed level at Gosford. Caught the eye on heavy tracks at Canterbury in first two runs in that prep and wasn’t asked for a lot in her trial last week. Sure to be hitting the line strongly.

Dangers: 10. Arranmore had her chance first-up behind Ruby Kisses at Canterbury but she didn’t give up the chase and will be fitter for it. Comes back 100m but drawn well and is yet to run a bad race. Respect. 9. Six Again hasn’t done a lot wrong in four starts including a heavy track win. Seems quite versatile so the barrier isn’t too big a deal, fitter for a recent trial and sure to run well again. 4. Switched appreciated the return to a heavy track at Randwick last time out when run down by Mayrose. She might have some friends up on the speed here but if she gets any control she can be hard to catch.

How to play it: Party For One E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Party For One’s trial at Warwick Farm on March 11

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