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By Ray Hickson

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

7. Return With Honour has looked the goods in his two recent trial wins, held together in the first at Rosehill then allowed a bit more rein in scoring at Hawkesbury. Expect he’ll look to lead here and in Blondeau's absence should take beating.

Dangers: 6. Major Artie showed improvement into his second trial with a nice win at Randwick. Both trials have been 735m which is a small concern but well drawn and is an each-way hope. 2. Damaged wasn’t asked for everything he’s got in his close second in his only trial two weeks ago. Full brother to Dynamited who showed early ability and should have upside with only the one trial. 4. Lord Of War just had the better of Damaged in that Kembla trial, his second trial hitout, and is well worth considering too.

How to play it: Return With Honour WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Return With Honour wins a trial at Hawkesbury on December 16

13. Saigon is good each-way value onto a big track for the first time. She’s been strong late at both starts and resumed in a great form race at Gosford a month ago hitting the line hard behind Instant Attraction, Electric Girl and Crimlet. She ran a race best last 600m of 34.16 there (Punter's Intelligence). Barrier one, big track, up in trip, go well.

Dangers: 5. Rari is the logical horse to beat with narrow defeats at his last two starts at 1400m after leading. Perhaps coming back 100m is a plus and he will give a good account. 11. Lady Herbert was never in the hunt when favourite at Canterbury at a meeting suiting those on pace. Touched out over this trip prior to that and the form has held up from that race. Entitled to another chance. 10. Celandine had plenty of support at her debut at Hawkesbury and got very close at the finish. Open to improvement and worth including in the many chances here.

How to play it: Saigon E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Saigon runs fifth at Gosford on November 23

4. Aim For Perfection looked very smart winning her first two starts then stepped up in class on wet tracks and wasn’t disgraced behind the likes of Misteed and Notation. Latest trial was excellent and drawn well here. Expecting her to take plenty of holding off late.

Dangers: 5. Adelong strolled home on debut at Wyong then backed it up with a tough on pace win at Kembla recently to earn the step up in class. Should be right on the pace here and could easily measure up. 8. Miss Spiteful is another on pacer who has been freshened up since winning at Canterbury about five weeks ago. Tick over trial since and while drawn wide will press forward and if solid in betting is in the mix. 1. Unguarded wasn't beaten far first-up over this trip but at the same time had her chance, perhaps a little outsprinted when it mattered. Fitter and capable of improvement.

How to play it: Aim For Perfection WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Aim For Perfection wins a trial at Hawkesbury on December 16

1. Nordic comes off a total forgive run at Rosehill when back in trip on his eye-catching Kembla run second-up. Not concerned about the wide gate, he’s well in with the claim and with even luck in running he has the greater depth of form to say he should go close.

Dangers: 3. Continuation has also drawn wide and that suits his style because he’ll have to roll forward and it’s rolling that he needs to bring out his best. Boxed on well over this trip last time and should run well. 10. Kentucky Tornado is eligible for easier races but there was plenty to like about her second-up run at 1900m when running on from last. No issues with the trip and certainly an each-way chance. 7. Dance Away is an up and comer who powered late to win at Wyong over 2100m and the runner-up La Grisa has since won at midweek city level. Well worth including in the hopes.

How to play it: Nordic E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Nordic runs fourth at Kembla Grange on November 23

2. He’s Super Lucky is always a risky prospect because he’s a backmarker but he was huge off a two month break on the Kensington track earlier this month after blowing the start. His last 600m of 32.80 (Punter's Intelligence) was three lengths faster than any of his rivals. Did a big job to run third, course proper suits and the one to beat.

Dangers:7. I Am Capitan hasn’t been disgraced in two runs back from a break and he had a tough run last time in Saturday company beaten three lengths by The Party Girl. Drawn nicely here and he can improve sharply. 5. Playard has come back in good style with a win and a placing at the provincials. Down 2.5kg on a handy second at Hawkesbury and he’s been competitive at this level previously so can show up. 4. He's A Hotshot was a $41 chance when he resumed with a solid third at Newcastle six weeks ago. Under the odds here but a bit less depth so has a show.

How to play it: He’s Super Lucky E/W ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

He’s Super Lucky runs third at Kensington on December 6

6. Live And Free should have his chance now up to 2000m after three runs back. Showed he was close to a win second-up being touched out in the Festival Stakes and his form around this trip is sound. Ignore the Villiers. Drawn to have a nice run and if he’s going to win one this prep it’s now.

Dangers: 3. Luvaluva hasn’t won since April 2018 when she scored over this course but she’s been placed several times in good company. Her three runs this time in have all been excellent and while beaten into sixth in The Gong she didn’t give up on a part of the track that was inferior on the day. Capable of winning. Read comments from trainer John Sargent here. 1. Alward proved once and for all he doesn’t run 2400m when a battling sixth in the Christmas Cup. But he was too strong over 2000m prior to that and he has won seven races at this trip. Wide gate might be sticky but should press forward and must be given another chance. 5. Taikomochi should be ready to peak now after three runs and he led them up and battled on beaten two lengths by Alward last time. Capable of giving a sight.

How to play it: Live And Free E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Live And Free runs second at Rosehill on November 30

1. Seeingisbelieving never runs a bad race and will be much fitter for his sound return when run down by Excellent Proposal. His best form is around a mile and races forward so expect him to be right on the pace and fighting out the finish.

Dangers: 5. Vitesse is one of those horses that is usually around the mark but doesn’t win often. Comes through the same race as Austria where she battled on well to hold third and is an each-way chance again. 7. Showminder held his ground okay last time behind Bandersnatch and form prior to that is good enough to see him competitive here from a nice gate. 8. Zidane is better suited back up in trip after hitting the line well fresh over 1200m behind Adelong. Could surprise.

How to play it: Seeingisbelieving WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Seeingisbelieving runs second at Rosehill on December 11

9. Rover comes off a strong win on debut over 1100m at Rosehill and looks even better suited with the extra distance. Thrown in the deep end somewhat in a handy field but has all the upside and it’ll be a surprise if he’s not competitive at least. Read trainer Anthony Cummings' comments here.

Dangers: 2. Common Purpose will be much fitter for his first-up fifth in a strong race at Rosehill almost four weeks ago. Down in class and the claim helps, drawn out but with any luck is more than capable of featuring. 8. Cock Match drops a couple of kilos and picks up Nash Rawiller after a sound first-up third against his own age off a two month break when leading over this trip at Rosehill. Expect he’ll be prominent again and must be respected. 5. Judge Judi is yet to finish worse than second when resuming from a spell and is fitter for a close second in a Wyong trial two weeks ago. Trip suits fresh and drawn soft so is one to include in the multiples here.

How to play it: Rover E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Rover wins on debut at Rosehill on December 11

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Randwick meeting