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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft track with rain forecast. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Keen on 7. Kervette, who has been racing well/consistently all preparation and she finds a winnable race here. The filly always faced the breeze in a good-even tempo last start at Wyong, and she tried hard in defeat, running third. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and the margin to fourth confirmed the quality. She is rock-hard fit, handles all conditions and brings the clear best last start figure. Expect her to take catching.

Dangers: 4. Royal Standard resumed as a gelding first-up at Hawkesbury, and his run had hidden merit. The three-year-old was run to suit, but he was forced to sprint through the inferior ground and clocked some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. Additionally, that form can be trusted with the race since producing two subsequent winners. 2. Blacklist comes through the same race as Kervette, and he SPed shorter in the market. He receives the blinkers for the first time and can improve. Add 8. Lucilago, who will appreciate an anticipated genuine tempo.

How to play it: Kervette WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kervette runs third at Wyong on March 20

Debutant 3. Reigning Captain is a nice type, and he finds a very winnable assignment to kick off his career under the race conditions. The gelding has had two trials and has improved between heats. Further, he moved well and recorded slick time relative to the morning to win a trial at this track. This looks a set play by the stable, and expect him to run well.

Dangers: 7. Dressed in Gray, resumed off a long break at Hawkesbury 16 days ago, and she wasn't suited to the race shape but hit the line hard to run second. Further, she recorded some of the meeting's fastest closing splits and beat the rest easily. Clear second pick. 1. Let's Go Johnny resumes without an official public barrier trial, but he is suited on the rain-affected ground, and the claim for Anna Roper is ideal. Respect the late move in betting for 5. Voigner last start, albeit on the country circuit.

How to play it: Reigning Captain WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Reigning Captain wins a trial at Gosford on March 19

Leaning towards 7. Snatchreilly, who brings a race experience/fitness edge over a few of his key rivals. The colt was brave in defeat first-up at this track after being caught three-wide out on a limb, but to his credit, he never shirked his task to the line and just missed in a tight finish. Further, that race rated solidly against the day, and there has been a subsequent winner to come out of that event. Expecting him to improve and he can roll forward from the awkward draw.

Dangers: Debutant 5. Palikari, coming out of the Waterhouse & Bott yard is wound right up for this event after having two solid hitouts at the trials. He has speed and will take some catching. 6. Physical Graffiti has had 551 days off the scene but has a solid platform leading into this assignment after being ridden out in his latest heat at Randwick. He is a key late-market watch. 3. Money Team resumes for his new trainers, Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr), and he's had two jumpouts at Cranbourne.

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

Snatchreilly runs second at Gosford on March 16

Happy to forgive 5. So Sneeky's last start, where he was 40 days between runs, and he didn't handle the firm ground. Two starts ago, he was brave, winning over this distance after being given no peace, kept responding under pressure to score and repeating that figure can put him in the finish. He has a favourable map; all his peak figures have come on the rain-affected ground, and he represents value.

Dangers: 4. Gulf Of Tomini's last start had sectional merit at Eagle Farm, and the clock backed up his visual late strength. 3. Silent Russian is the only last-start winner engaged and add 2. Commander Bell, who can sustain a long run.

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

So Sneeky two starts ago at Wyong on February 8

Keen on 4. Impulsivity to make it back-to-back wins; she is an improving type with a likeable profile for this assignment. The filly produced a career peak figure at her last start at Newcastle, and she did it with style. Further, she had every chance but savaged the line, recording one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting and running a slick overall time relative to the day. All key indicators suggest she can only step off that performance, and she maps to have all favours. In addition, the break between runs fits her usual pattern; she brings the best last-start figure and expect her to be hard to hold out with even luck.

Dangers: 16. Cinematic Star broke through for her maiden last start at Goulburn and ran the fastest final 200m split of the meeting. She is still lightly raced and open to sharp improvement from a soft draw. Knockout chance. 2. Cross Your Heart, who is a consistent type and handles all conditions. The filly has a strong SP profile, and the claim suits. Expecting 5. Queen Boss to bounce back at her home track, where she is undefeated. 12. Suprina will roll forward and give a sight.

How to play it: Impulsivity WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Impulsivity wins at Newcastle on March 8

Like 6. Dagon, who is ready to peak third-up and he profiles well for this assignment. The lightly raced improver ran time to win first-up and then had excuses last start at Wyong. Further, he got into an awkward spot prior to the turn, having his momentum haltered, but once balancing up, he hit the line hard and recorded one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting whilst being crowded. He has the key attribute of closing speed, and he can improve sharply out to 1200m, where he can build into a more suitable rhythm. Additionally, he has a critical fitness edge and handles all conditions.

Dangers: 2. Rapido, who resumes as a gelding, has had two trials leading into this event, giving him a solid platform. The three-year-old raced well last campaign in time/sectional merit races, going out on a career peak figure before spelling and repeating that effort will make him hard to beat. The Snowden-trained runner maps to have all favours with Tommy Berry riding. 10. Island Legend, who is a knockout chance, can sprint fresh, and he maps well. Market watch 4. Zaru, who draws awkwardly, but he has multiple winning figures for this assignment.

How to play it: Dagon WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Dagon runs fourth last start at Wyong on March 14

8. Gold Lover was honest in defeat last start in a stronger grade. She had all favours leading at a very slow pace, but to her credit, she never shirked her task to the line. Additionally, she is now at optimal fitness, can rate and is a winner on soft ground. Each-way.

Dangers: 13. Rhettara resumes off a 182-day break and has trialled well going through the line full of energy in two heats. She can sprint fresh. Market watch on 2. Sicilian who has multiple winning figures and will roll forward from the inside gate. Add 7. Luna Rocks and 10. Unstopabull to wider exotics.

How to play it: Gold Lover E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Gold Lover runs fourth at Kensington on March 13

Best Bet: Race 5 # 4 - Impulsivity

Next Best: Race 1 # 7 - Kervette

Best Value: Race 6 # 6 - Dagon

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Gosford meeting