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By Ray Hickson

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

1. Belle Espoir was able to lead all the way to a game win at Gosford last time out and looks to get some control again. Consistent mare and expect her to hold her form. Should take running down.

Dangers: 4. Too Much Class won nicely at Scone off a six week break then just battled a bit at Newcastle last start. Can mix her form a bit so it wouldn’t surprise if she bounces back, and she was scratched from Rosehill to run here. 7. Classic Train has been behind the placings in all three runs this time in and hasn’t been disgraced in each of them. Does need to find a couple of lengths to beat Belle Espoir on their Gosford clash. 5. Borsalina was a drifter in betting and boxed on fairly to be beaten just over a length by Yumi here last time. Upset maiden winner at this track prior and has an each-way chance.

How to play it: Belle Espoir WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Belle Espoir wins at Gosford on November 9

9. Petulant makes her debut in a Class 1 so that suggests there’s an opinion of her. Looked smart winning her only trial this time around a few weeks ago and if she runs up to that effort then she should be very competitive here.

Dangers: 3. Quatenus showed promise in her first preparation in April with a debut second and a Kembla win. Fitter for two trials, drawn okay and she appears a major player. 2. Monte Di Fiore is enjoying a consistent preparation and while this is a little tougher than his last few he’ll race on the pace and is worth including in the multiples. 6. Shocking Force scored a strong first-up maiden win at Gosford and had some specking at odds there. Could go on with it.

How to play it: Petulant WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Petulant wins a trial at Rosehill on October 22

9. Brent Street is an interesting first starter who has found a winnable maiden for his debut. Smooth trial win here a month ago then went to Rosehill and was carted off the track. Any support would be significant but has a show.

Dangers: 4. Critical Time held his ground okay on debut here over 1100m and might appreciate the extra ground. Draws okay and a likely improver. 3. Ricky Bobby didn’t seem to come up in two runs earlier this year but his form in his first prep was very handy and he worked home well late in his second trial. Has a chance if he finds his best. 8. Minneapolis Miss started big odds but did a good job first-up to place behind Zohan here on a deteriorating surface. Fitter and while she’s had a few chances to win one another placing won’t shock.

How to play it: Brent Street E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Brent Street wins a trial at Hawkesbury on October 13

11. Aureus Angel caught the eye on debut at Gosford charging into a close second and you’d imagine the longer straight on her home track would suit. If she’s come on from that handy showing then she’s a good each-way chance here.

Dangers: 7. Pizarro has the wide gate to contend with but he’s trialling nicely and won his latest on the synthetic at Randwick. Watch market for any confidence. Keep safe. 5. Clemenceau struck a heavy track for his only start to date back in June and ran an even third as favourite. Suggest the dry track here might suit and with gate one will have every chance. 10. Star Patrol is a new addition to the Newnham stable and his recent trial was a very handy one. Form in Queensland was promising enough and he’s another betting watch first-up.

How to play it: Aureus Angel E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Aureus Angel runs second at Gosford on October 28

4. Merlinite hasn’t won for a while but this is just about as good a chance as she’ll get coming right back in grade from some respectable runs in town. On her placing two runs back at this trip at Randwick she’s entitled to go close.

Dangers: 1. Don Arcangelo wasn’t a factor at all when he resumed at a mile at Kembla beating just one home. He’s better than that and with the run and the extra trip he’s going to improve sharply. 6. Etheridge had her chance here second-up but she stayed on well for third on a soft 7 track. That was encouraging as she didn’t come up last time in and now she’s on the right track she could lift again. 3. Marakopa ran a handy race here first-up before finishing on late into third in the Cessnock Cup on the Beaumont track. Only has to hold his form to be somewhere in the finish.

How to play it: Merlinite WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Merlinite runs third at Randwick on November 2

4. Russian Ruble did enough first-up in a handy maiden at Randwick to suggest he can improve into the finish. Settled well back off a wide gate and made some ground so with a kinder gate this time he’s worth another chance.

Dangers: 11. Shay was quite game up on the pace second-up at Kembla and only went down narrowly. Wasn’t fancied there so check betting but from a nice gate should enjoy a similar sort of run near the speed. Each-way. 7. Super Twenty Three has trialled okay without starring on two occasions recently. Be guided by the market with his chances but well worth keeping him safe. 17. Ribeauville is trialling quite well for a handy first-up run. He's recorded a couple of wet track placings so that might be a query but keep safe.

How to play it: Russian Ruble E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Russian Ruble runs fifth at Randwick on November 2

9. This’llbetheone showed a lot of fight to stave off the challengers on debut at Kembla and that’s a promising sign. Natural progression here and an extra 100m shouldn’t harm his chances. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 11. King Of Spades was expected to win first-up at Goulburn as a $1.35 favourite but gave away too much start in a small field and could only run into second. Likely better for the run and wouldn’t be too hard on him. Expect him to run well. 3. Spaltet was in the market at his first outing and while he had his chance he made ground into third on a heavy track. Like to see him on a good track and it wouldn’t surprise if he improves a length or two. 10. Butch’n’bugs was an upset winner here three weeks ago over 1300m. Didn’t seem to be any fluke about it, has placed at this trip previously and could show up again.

How to play it: This’llbetheone WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

This’llbetheone wins at Kembla Grange on November 2

7. Yumi appears to have things made to order again to make it three straight. Won well over this track and trip last time out. Drawn nicely, should enjoy an easy run just off the speed and with even luck goes close again.

Dangers: 6. Remus showed promise last time in with a win over a mile at this track. Trials have been inconclusive to the eye and may need a bit more sting out of the ground but keeping him safe. 2. Bet Red appreciated a solid tempo and finished over the top to win first-up on a heavy track at Goulburn with 61kg. Stays at the 1300m but right down in weight and is one to keep an eye on. Read trainer Pat Murphy's comments here. 9. Nicochet has put a couple of honest runs together and went down in a close finish in a 1400m event here last time out. Only four in the win column from 53 so he’s always an each-way proposition.

How to play it: Yumi WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Yumi wins at Hawkesbury on October 26

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