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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting. Selections based on a soft track.

2. Mystic Rebel is the horse to beat on the strength of her game debut second at Kensington. Raced handy there and went down narrowly with a gap to third. Up to 1400m, drawn well and should feature prominently.

Dangers: 3. King Of Hearts was unlucky not to win first-up at Canterbury then looked a bit flat when beaten favourite at Newcastle at this trip. Longer gap between runs may suit and is definitely worth another chance. Read trainer Craig Carmody's comments here. 10. Contract Signed drew wide and went back when resuming over 1200m and found the line well enough into fourth. Extra ground a plus and with blinkers on has to be respected. 5. Dundeel Star raced in Victoria last time in for a couple of placing and resumed with a Gosford trial win under her belt. Betting a good guide.

How to play it: Mystic Rebel WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Mystic Rebel runs second at Kensington on July 7

1. Bulls Blood is a well bred colt on debut and is a big query after a nice, but very quiet, trial over 736m over a month ago. Drawn okay and while betting will be a good indicator he has struck a winnable race so is a good chance.

Dangers: 4. Single Tonite didn’t fire at all in two runs back in January but she might be back on track if her trials are any indication. Will need some luck from the outside gate as well but pay to keep safe. 5. Borsalina is racing very well without winning with recent placings at Newcastle and Hawkesbury. Expect her to be competitive again and is an each-way chance at least. 7. Comeback Star had support first-up in a similar race and boxed on okay to finish fifth beaten under four lengths. Fitter and has the inside alley so open to some improvement.

How to play it: Bulls Blood WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Bulls Blood runs fourth in a trial at Randwick on June 8

6. Girl Mania is very close to a win after seconds at this track and trip in both runs back from a spell. Surged late to just miss last time, drawn well in a race with plenty of exposed form she has a good chance.

Dangers: 5. Wine Talks is on debut for Chris Waller and James McDonald so is sure to attract some interest. Latest trial was a cruisy one on the synthetic and while drawn out it’d be no surprise to see him perform well. 7. Loving Angel didn’t do a whole lot in her first two starts back in the late summer but her recent trials have been promising including a second to Larkspur Run in the latest. Probable improver. 3. Fear Index showed improvement from his first to second trials, both on heavy tracks. In top local stable and he’s one to keep an eye on.

How to play it: Girl Mania WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Girl Mania runs second at Kembla on July 7

4. Russian Standard had plenty of excuses for his debut failure so happy to overlook it. He’s yet to be beaten in five barrier trials so from gate one if he brings his trial form to the races he should take plenty of beating.

Dangers: 1. As You Were has only trialled the once and it was quite a nice showing at Canterbury earlier this month as he finished right on their feels in fourth. Has found James McDonald to ride and bears close watching. 5. Camplin was a beaten favourite before a spell at Gosford in March, her first placing in three starts. Latest trials have been pleasing to the eye so she might be worth another look this prep. 9. Smokeshow wasn’t asked for anything serious as she jogged into third in her Canterbury trial. If there’s support it’d be significant.

How to play it: Russian Standard WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Russian Standard wins a trial at Randwick on July 9

3. Noble Soldier looks in for a handy preparation judging by his closing second on a heavy track at Nowra. Drops in weight and tends to improve second-up, if he runs up to his Canterbury effort from February he’ll go close.

Dangers: 2. No Impediment was a popular first-up winner then a drifter in betting here two weeks ago and didn’t get warm until the race was all over, running into fourth. Perhaps the extra 100m will help now and he’s capable of improving. 1. A Magic Zariz is rising nine but rarely runs a bad race and only just missed in a similar event at Newcastle over 1400m. Hard to leave him out of the main hopes. 5. Real Key hasn’t won for a while but his last couple have been handy at this track. Held his ground when third over 1200m two weeks ago and should be thereabouts again.

How to play it: Noble Soldier WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Noble Soldier runs second at Nowra on July 2

1. Mirror One made a promising debut at Newcastle almost a month ago, he kept finding the line there and can only be better for the experience. Draws well and extra 100m looks a plus. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. Kennedy Choice is racing very well but seems to find one or two better lately. Runner-up twice at 1400m then back to 1100m at Canterbury last time and held on okay. Each-way. 3. Carlisle Bay is also going well and doesn’t seem to get the breaks very often. Had a tough run here two starts back but stuck on then out to 1500m and held his form. In the mix again. 11. Verdier is an interesting first starter from the Freedman camp, trialled twice with improvement into the second. Keep safe.

How to play it: Mirror One WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Mirror One runs second at Newcastle on June 26

1. Stoical was a dominant winner first-up then didn’t appreciate leading at Canterbury right up in class. Freshened up and better off back here, drawn well and if he runs up to the Hawkesbury win he should go close.

Dangers: 5. Stormborn wasn’t disgraced second-up at Kensington before a hard fought win at Hawkesbury three weeks ago, the third horse from that race has since won. Sure to be competitive. 11. Charm Offensive has been a little disappointing at his last couple but is always some chance in this sort of race. Strike rate isn’t great but 11 second placings says he can put in now and then. Each-way. 10. Kittyhawk Flyer broke through in good style two starts back before striking a heavy 10 at Gosford and she wasn’t a factor. Draws out but firmer track should assist and placed in both runs here. In the mix.

How to play it: Stoical WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Stoical wins first-up at Hawkesbury on May 20

15. Command King has been right in the market in two runs back and found one better but gets another chance here. Fair to say he had his chance second-up but didn’t give up, draws ideally and expecting a peak run third-up.

Dangers: 10. Super Solar comes through the same race and he hit the line quite nicely late beaten under three lengths. Might have to give away a big start from the wide gate but if he gets the breaks he has a show. 3. So Sneeky has won twice at Nowra this time in and the latest by seven lengths leading all the way. Interesting to see how he measures up here, expect he’ll go forward from the wide gate. 4. Zudin has been sound enough in two runs back to suggest he could be ready to fire with James McDonald riding.

How to play it: Command King WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Command King runs second at Kembla Grange on July 8

11. Joe’s Joy lands one of these races now and then and is a good each-way hope in a wide open race. Just failed here two starts back at this trip, disappointed at Gosford last week but could easily show up.

Dangers: 2. Deadly Impact has been very good in both runs since a break and had plenty of support when runner-up over 1600m here two weeks ago. On form he’s the horse to beat and should run well with even luck. 4. Sepulchre held off Joe’s Joy to win here last start a month ago, her first win on a heavy track so a firmer surface won’t be against her. No reason she can’t be competitive. 5. Duchess Of Windsor is fitter for two runs back and steps up to her preferred distance range now. Boxed on okay at Newcastle to just miss third and is another with each-way claims.

How to play it: Joe’s Joy E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Joe’s Joy runs second at Kembla on June 19

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