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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting at Randwick. Selections based on a good to soft track.

4. Armatree is worth a look each way on the strength of his eye-catching second trial where he cruised home into third not far off the promising Acrophobic who then won at his debut last week. Will need luck from the barrier but expecting him to be strong late.

Dangers: 2. Fastconi looks to get the ideal run up on the speed and would only have to hold his form from a game debut second at Canterbury, after sitting outside the leader and winner, to be in the finish. Hard to beat. 1. Tommy Gold had some support in the Skyline behind subsequent Golden Slipper runner-up Mamaragan and he had a few excuses there too when beaten four lengths. Worked home nicely in a short trial recently and no shock if he stormed over the top of them. 5. Head Legislator has been trialling up well since he’s been in Sydney and is sure to be in the firing line from the inside gate. Did want to overdo it a bit in winning his second trial but he’s still learning and if he gets it right will likely feature.

How to play it: Armatree E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Armatree runs third in a Randwick trial on May 5

This could be the day for 6. Hulk who strikes a race that could set up perfectly for him with a bit of speed engaged. Due warning he is a 12 start maiden but has form around some nice horses and returns with a trial win under his belt. Drawn to stalk and surge late and has a big chance.

Dangers: 3. Frosty Rocks is fresh off his maiden win and it was a dominant all the way victory at Warwick Farm. Whether we need to see a new side to him here given that potential speed remains to be seen but if he finds the front as easily as he did last time he will be hard to run down. 1. Not Feint Hearted will be better for a sound enough first-up fourth at Canterbury in a race where he had a nice run, was out in time but seemed to be unable to dash. Fitter and if he gets the breaks in running is good enough to win. 9. Invincible Diva is a huge query and betting and the parade will be vital to assessing her. Irish filly now with Chris Waller who hasn’t raced beyond 1006m in her six starts back home but she did it quite well in a recent Rosehill trial. Keep safe.

How to play it: Hulk WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Hulk wins a trial at Rosehill on May 8

9. Spaceboy took 10 starts to break his maiden so there’s still an element of trust involved but he did it so well first-up he may have turned the corner. He should lead them and give a big sight, and now he’s found the line he could go on with it. Read jockey Robbie Dolan's comments here.

Dangers: 10. Private Thoughts looks a big threat and must go into your early quaddie at very least. She put it together last prep with a couple of smart wins, including once on this track, and she’s been buried away in her two recent trials. Any support will be significant and no shock if she returned a winner. 3. Up Trumpz wins once ever seven starts according to his record but he’s a regular placegetter and his form looks pretty good given he chased home Dirty Work over this course last start. Down in grade so up the 5.5kg and likely gets back but will be running on as usual. 5. Dynamited showed a glimmer of a return to form with a handy effort at Canterbury two weeks ago. He was forced to make a wide run when that wasn’t the place to be. Soft draw and Bowman stays on. Each-way.

How to play it: Spaceboy WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Spaceboy wins at Kembla Grange on May 7

Staying with 3. Flinders who has been excellent in two runs at 1900m since his maiden win at a mile. Granted he had a great run last time and couldn’t run the winner down but he’s drawn perfectly, a little less depth here and it’d be a surprise if he doesn’t go close.

Dangers: 4. Money Magic is a progressive filly and she defied a betting drift when resuming with quite a dominant win at Hawkebsury at 1400m. Runner-up at a mile behind Nimalee before a spell which is a good pointer for this race and expecting her to run very well. 9. Viren comes off a maiden win a couple of weeks ago but it was do explosive he might dash through the grades as he gets up to a middle distance. One to keep tabs on for a couple of stays but can be competitive. 1. Ulysses impressed with his first-up win at Newcastle then perhaps a little flat at the Farm but not disgraced last week. Trip suits him now and with a bit of luck from the gate he could bounce back.

How to play it: Flinders WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Flinders runs third at Canterbury on May 6

All eyes on 7. Archanna who hasn’t been seen since easily winning on debut five weeks ago, where she was a big drifter, in a race that has stood up form wise. Hopefully there’s been no issue and she’s just been given a bit of time as she looked exciting first-up and is bred to be good. This is a step she can take.

Dangers: 1. Riva Capri couldn’t have been missed at her first run for Kris Lees at Canterbury two weeks ago. She was well back on a day it was tough to make ground and she charged late into sixth beaten 2.7 lengths. Everything suggests she will appreciate 1400m on a bigger track so she’s one to keep safe. 3. Maggie Miss is an honest mare and she went down fighting as usual at Warwick Farm second-up three weeks ago. Rolls forward and will give a good account again. 4. Earth Song was a little plain last time at Canterbury but she did get a bit further back than what was a good idea on the day. Form prior was sound and if there’s a bit of tempo on, and you can make ground, she’s more than capable of running into the placings.

How to play it: Archanna WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Archanna wins at Warwick Farm on April 13

6. Reformist had excuses for his second-up defeat and has struck a perfect race to atone. Impressive first-up at Kembla in a strong form race then last time was held up until inside the 200m and it was basically game over from there. Just needs to get to the outside and wind up and he will be hard to beat.

Dangers: 7. Rhythmic Pulse continues to race well out of town and was game in defeat at Newcastle after sitting outside the lead from a wide gate. Drawn one here so will be right in the firing line and can give a good sight. 8. Bombasay generally races off the speed but found himself right up there at Newcastle last start and he boxed on strongly to finish a close third. Ran well in a Provincial Championships heat in March and drawn to have every chance. 10. Baanone resumes at a trip short of his best but he generally does sprint okay fresh. Trialled well enough to suggest he could be charging home into the finish somewhere.

How to play it: Reformist WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Reformist wins at Kembla Grange on April 18

15. California Salto started well in the market third-up in Saturday grade and it was a total forgive run as she found herself strung up on the inside when all the action was out wide. Eye-catcher behind Rubisaki before that and, while she will need some luck, is well worth another chance.

Dangers: 9. Itz Lily was hard to miss warming up late first-up behind Rocha Clock on this track in what was a stronger race. She’ll appreciate the extra distance without question and given she’s open to improvement expect her to run a big race again. 6. Spirit Ridge is one of a number of imports first-up here but he’s the one who looks most likely to be playing a role in the finish off his trials. He’s warmed up quite well in both of them at 1200m, check for some market support and if it’s there he should run well. 12. Wild About Her was in the right place and proved too good second-up over this course to win the race in question California Salto comes through. Rarely runs a bad race and while up 5.5kg she’s entitled to plenty of consideration.

How to play it: California Salto E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

California Salto’s last start at Kensington behind Wild About Her on May 2

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