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By Nick Berney.

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Saturday’s Gosford meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

8. Rapid Response looks to have come back improved after trialling impressively and ready to run well first-up. The three-year-old filly debuted at Wyong last preparation with no luck and was immediately spelled. She was checked/blocked at a critical stage, losing momentum and should’ve been in the finish. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when comparing time, class and additional factors historically. Her debut figure is dominant relative to her rivals, and expect an aggressive ride from the in-form Dylan Gibbons, who has ridden 21 winners out of his last 100 rides for a profit on turnover of 16.2%.

Dangers: 4. So Sassy looms as the main threat and represents value. The four-year-old mare is rock-hard fit and is coming out of a fast time race last start at Wyong. Late market watch. 5. Adelinda is consistent and raced well last preparation. She has trialled well in preparation for this event. 1. Propel Motion is a first starter who has been solid at the trials when being ridden out on both occasions. 6. Hinchinjive is a knockout hope.

How to play it: Rapid Response WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Rapid Response’s trial at Wyong on February 25

5. Omni Man was locked in a speed duel when winning at this track 21 days ago and ran quick time. The three-year-old colt sat outside the leader in a fast pace and ran his rivals into the ground. That race rated highly in relation to the day, and there were decisive margins throughout to confirm the form with a subsequent winner since. He must step to Benchmark grade, but James Inness sticks with the ride, and he’ll take some catching again.

Dangers: 2. Belladeel was not suited first-up at Newcastle and ran the fastest final 600m sectional of the entire meeting in 33.32. The six-year-old gelding was every chance when sitting outside the leader last start at this track and battled on well. The prospect of an anticipated even/fast pace suits where Rory Hutchings can ride for cover and unleash his late sprint. 1. Go Gazza and 3. Chasing Comets come out of the same race at Newcastle over 900m a fortnight ago. The two geldings both ran on well, albeit run to suit, but the step up in distance suits.

How to play it: Omni Man WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Omni Man wins first-up at Gosford on February 19

Tricky 2YO event with multiple first starters and minimal disclosed heavy track form. 13. Pretty Shamrock is a first starter for John O'Shea, who has trialled well. She is immature and tends to get on the wrong leg but has raw ability. When being asked for an effort in her trials, she has responded well under pressure to accelerate and has won a heat on heavy going. The filly will need luck from the draw, but if the breaks come her way, she is sure to be running on well.

Dangers: The two debutantes 1. Acquaro and 4. Insurrection will be ridden for speed and are both well educated. 15. Nominator has been gelded and ridden out in his trial. He was sound on debut at Flemington last preparation. 10. Florida Sky may have the last shot.

How to play it: Pretty Shamrock WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Pretty Shamrock's latest trial at Randwick on March 3

17. Thalassophile is a nice type and has trialled well. She hit the line strongly, winning on debut, and ran the equal second-best last 400m of the entire meeting in 23.48. The three-year-old filly then just had too much to do at Rosehill second-up and her run had hidden merit. She had the pace/bias against her and ran the second-fastest last 600m of the meeting in 33.25. The filly was then immediately spelled. The small field suits and expect her to be running on strongly

Dangers: 12. Dual Escape was wide in a fast pace at Canterbury last start and stuck on well. She is down in grade and rock-hard fit. 7. Sliders resumes after trialling well on the Polytrack. She has strong form-lines and should control the speed with an anticipated moderate pace. 9. Shotgun Alli is now trained by R & M Freedman and has been solid at the trials.

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

Thalassophile's latest trial at Warwick Farm on February 28

1. Ticket To Anywhere was ridden up to lead first-up at Newcastle and sprinted well when running second with a big gap to third. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors. The three-year-old gelding has always shown promise, and she can roll forward again to lead, with the tight-turning track being an advantage. He'll be hard to catch if he can repeat his last start figure and is proven on wet ground.

Dangers: 9. Smart Little Miss’s sixth placing last start at Warwick Farm had merit after she raced wide without cover throughout in a solid pace and sprinted the second-fastest 400m-200m split of the entire meeting in 11.10 before the tough run took its toll over the final furlong. To her credit, the three-year-old filly stuck on ok, and that race rated strongly. Further, there has been two subsequent winners and four placegetters since. She is ready to peak third-up with a significant barrier change and maps well. 2. Boss had no luck on debut at Newcastle after racing wide but still closed off strongly in a fast time race. He has a tricky draw again but will be running on. 7. Salizada is a first-starter who has had two quiet trials and has drawn to have a favourable run-in transit. Market watch 8. Tonquani who has a knockout profile for new trainer Tony Newing.

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

Ticket To Anywhere first-up at Newcastle on February 26

4. Aspen Chase has come back well after producing a career peak figure first-up at Newcastle that lines up well relative to his opposition. The three-year-old gelding tried hard and sprinted the fastest last 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 11.40. He looks a real improver this preparation and expect him to roll forward out to the 1200m.

Dangers: 5. Highly Ambitious was not suited last start at Canterbury and got too far back in the slow pace. The three-year-old filly sprinted the fastest 400m-200m of the entire meeting in 11.3 and the form out of that race has been solid. She will have to overcome the tricky draw but is ready to peak third-up and run on strongly. 2. Why Big Bry had all favours winning at this track/distance first-up for his new trainer Nathan Doyle and was dominant, winning by a monster five lengths. 1. Game Theory is fitter and proven on heavy ground.

How to play it: Aspen Chase WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Highly Ambitious WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Aspen Chase winning first-up at Newcastle on February 26

3. Great News returns to the scene of the crime where she won the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Gosford heat in dominant style 12 months ago. She is a fantastic fresh performer with three wins, two seconds from five attempts and has trialled well in preparation for her first-up assault. The five-year-old mare resumed in Group 3 company at Randwick last preparation, where she produced a career peak figure after sitting four-wide without cover and was brave in defeat. She is well treated at the weights under the race conditions, wet ground suits, and has a strong starting price profile. The mare has drawn wide, but there is the possibility this could be advantageous coming into the last race, and Andrew Gibbons will have options to ride for the superior ground.

Dangers: 4. Majestic Shot has an outstanding record and is wound-up ready to run well after trialling impressively. The four-year-old mare has a positive map advantage and will look the winner at some stage. 6. Kinloch has a habit of missing the start on race day, but he has been gelded and may have the last shot. 8. Harvey’s Way is more suited over further distance but will be running on strongly after improving each run throughout his last preparation.

How to play it: Great News WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Great News runs second in a trial at Wyong on February 25

BEST BET: Race 5 # 1 – Ticket To Anywhere

NEXT BEST: Race 1 # 8 – Rapid Response

QUADDIE

Leg 1: 7,12,17
Leg 2: 1,4
Leg 3: 1,4,5
Leg 4: 3,4,6,8

Combinations = 72.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Gosford meeting