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By Ray Hickson

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

5. Pure Alpha wasn’t exposed at all in his trial behind Chrysaor earlier this month. He was a late scratching from Warwick Farm last week and lands in a nice race to kick off from a good gate. Market will be significant but is set to run well.

Dangers: 4. Le Chocolat returns as a gelding after three runs in his first campaign in the winter. Best effort of those runs was when out in distance so the 1400m fresh suits. Good chance. 7. Listentozou is another resuming as a gelding and he’s a big watch given he’s yet to race beyond 1200m and attacks this trip fresh. Sound trial a month ago and may to keep safe. 2. Franz Josef was put into the trial at Rosehill last week and led all the way over the 1030m. Expect he will roll forward here and could give a sight.

How to play it: Pure Alpha WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Pure Alpha’s trial at Rosehill on December 5

7. Il Tevere is a very well bred colt who should relish the mile after two runs back including a nice second to Zouphoria, who has won again since, at Kensington a few weeks ago. Looks to handle all conditions and entitled to be in the finish of this.

Dangers: 9. Northern Eyes sat right on the speed and had his chance to run down Ekeler at Canterbury when an odds-on favourite. Was a month between runs so perhaps fitter for this and entitled to another chance, though needs some luck from the gate. 1. Booster Shot didn’t get interested until the race was all over in the same event. He was a drifter in betting there but gets blinkers on and no surprise if he’s a sharp improver. 12. Denote finished just ahead of Booster Shot in that race in an improved effort from her first-up showing. Each-way claims.

How to play it: Il Tevere WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Il Tevere runs second at Kensington on December 1

10. Xidaki has some work to do from the gate but is showing plenty of promise. Favourite on debut and ran well at Wyong in September then looked to have come back better on the evidence of his very easy trial win recently. Slightly tricky draw but hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Not So Common debuted at Ipswich in May and ran third on a heavy track as favourite. Fitter for two trials and the latest he split a couple of handy enough types. Can give a sight. 3. Hanau hasn’t raced since going under as favourite at Kembla in August, to be fair to him he split two nice horses. Ran fourth in Xidaki’s trial and stays under notice first-up as a gelding. 15. Iced Chocolate led them up and boxed fairly when runner-up to Dazzle Legend. Should land on the speed here and if she handles the extra sting out of the track is in the mix.

How to play it: Xidaki WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Xidaki wins a Hawkesbury trial on December 12

4. Miss Faberge has been racing well of late and only needs to hold her form to be competitive in this. Good effort from the back two starts ago at Rosehill then hit the lead a long way out only to be run down late at Kensington over this trip. Draws ideally and entitled to be in the finish.

Dangers: 6. Star Impact resumed with a nice second at Wyong where she responded to being under pressure before the turn. Fitter for it and she has been around the mark in this class previously. Each-way. 10. Very Sewreel comes up from a game soft track maiden win at Kensington at the start of the month so it’s up to her to measure up to this level. Will go forward and put herself on the pace so will have her chance. 2. Celestial Spirit had a little support when she resumed with an even fourth on the Kensington track. Better for it and soft track suits. Improver.

How to play it: Miss Faberge E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Miss Faberge runs second at Kensington on December 1

2. Tympanist has put two very good runs together and is adept in all ground so he’s likely to be a major player again. Too strong at Kensington two back then on the main track almost ran down Vegas Outlaw in a Midway. No harder here and should go well.

Dangers: 6. Monfelicity was just getting warm at the finish of 1400m behind Zouphoria in a blanket finish here first-up. Blew the start there too. Only an extra 100m here but if it’s a testing race she’ll be hard to hold out. 8. Sumo Star is one from 15 but could well get control in front and that will give him every chance. Racing well without winning of late and has the right set up to break through. 7. Atlantic Ocean found his best form with an overdue win at Warwick Farm a month ago. Overall form is still patchy and query if it’s quite wet but couldn’t leave out.

How to play it: Tympanist WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tympanist runs second at Randwick on December 16

4. Border Control is an honest sprinter who was beaten by the bob of the head at Canterbury third-up after looking the winner at the 200m. Handles all ground and well suited under the conditions of this race. Can expect him to run another big race.

Dangers: 3. Prince Invincible ran third in the same event and he might be open to some more improvement here given he loomed then levelled out late. Another who handles all ground and while coming back 100m may not suit he’s in the mix. 9. Mr Kennedy is a still a Class 1 horse but he’s a model of consistency and measured up to this grade before a spell with a close second at Canterbury. Fitter for two trials and can run well. 5. Temple Run could be in for a handy prep after posting his first win fresh when scoring at Gosford over this trip. In the top three in 10 of 13 starts at the 1000m and has a case.

How to play it: Border Control WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Border Control runs second at Canterbury on December 8

5. Lion’s Roar hasn’t won for some time but he’s arguably never raced better with placings in the Little Dance and The Ingham at his last two. Proven at this trip, draws well, goes in any ground and smaller field will also suit. Won’t find a better set up to break through.

Dangers: 2. Stockman won the Christmas Cup two starts ago at 2400m then dropped to the mile and wasn’t disgraced behind Grebeni last Saturday week. Much better suited at this trip and he’s very dangerous in anything when he strikes soft ground. Respect. 1. Huetor won the Group 1 Doomben Cup five starts ago but since then he’s been a bit mixed in various grades. Obviously find this easier than last time and if he does discover his best then he’s a major player but take on trust. 3. Luncies looked quite sharp winning a 1200m trial having been freshened up since the Queen Elizabeth at Flemington. Form before that was solid and he stays under notice.

How to play it: Lion’s Roar WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Lion’s Roar runs third at Randwick on December 9

7. Capital Heart won a maiden first-up last prep then progressed to this grade nicely with a couple of placings in BM72s before a spell. Fitter for two trials and the latest was quite eye-catching. Has a good record and if he runs up to his trial will be in the finish.

Dangers: 17. Spring Lee looks a promising filly and she made light work of her first-up assignment at Kembla albeit in easier grade. Has to go to 1200m now but draws well and she looks to have a deal of upside. Must respect. 4. Accredited won well when resuming then up in grade he settled back and ran on well behind Boston Rocks in what looks a deeper race than this. Wide gate a big blow but a soft track would be ideal. Keep in mind. 3. Tannenburg was scratched from Warwick Farm last week and is now a month since his maiden win at Canterbury where he hit the line nicely. Might just want 1400m now but worth including in the chances.

How to play it: Capital Heart E/W ($12 TAB Fixed Odds).

Capital Heart runs third in a Randwick trial on December 11

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