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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 8 and rail out 2m from 1000m to 600m; 4m to 400m; 2m to the WP & True the remainder:

We start a big meeting with the maiden sprinters on a track expected to stay in heavy range with rain sticking around. Plenty of chances in the opener headed by Sooboog colt 2. Chain Of Gold who resumes for a new metro stable off two handy trials, and has natural speed.

Dangers: Keep a close watch on 6. Where's The Fire who went back to the trials after a fair debut at the provincials. Include Demerit three-year-old 5. Rippin' Ruis on debut; and 7. Vancouver's Crown resuming; in wider exotics.

How to play it: Chain Of Gold to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Staying at the distance, and in a very tough race, keen at the value around Savabeel filly 11. Samurai Dream on debut for a leading metro yard behind two strong & progressive trials. Showed good speed in the latest one before holding on nicely to finish right behind her stablemate who enjoyed the softer run, with a big gap back to third.

Dangers: After two runs into his first proper prep, Godolphin colt 1. Silvanito can strike third-up with blinkers added, although the drop back in trip in these conditions is a little concern. Like the way 4. Take The Kitty closed off at big odds here when fresh behind a smart winner, and blinkers have also been applied.

How to play it: Samurai Dream each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Intriguing battle for the older maidens, and home track five-year-old 6. Phearson is the clear one to beat after sticking on strong here in his first run for six months. Stays at the distance, and being by Exosphere is right at home on rain-affected ground, and his main rival has been withdrawn.

Dangers: Gap to the rest headed by Denman four-year-old 4. Master Right who debuts behind two quiet trials; and 10. Edna who is hard fit and can run into a place from a sound draw.

How to play it: Phearson to win
Odds and Evens: Split

A heavily weakened race with most of the early quality being scratched. That augurs well for improving five-year-old 4. Zedly who can peak fourth-up; and drawn to get to the outside.

Dangers: Metro three-year-old 9. Reisinger improves third-up back to provincial level.

How to play it: Zedly to win
Odds and Evens: Split

If ever an improving provincial galloper is ready to break through, it's Wandjina four-year-old 6. El Bravo supremely placed fourth-up in suitable going. Has attacked the line late in his last couple at Kembla, and gets a nice weight pull over his main rival.

Dangers: Tough and consistent 1. Noble Attack has tactical speed, and has beaten all bar the winner in four runs this prep, the last couple by a whisker. Still has to carry 59kg up a further 200m in trip. Keep safe 11. Mehajir who will drift back from the inside gate third-up, but has a powerful finish given room.

How to play it: El Bravo to win and quinella 1 and 6
Odds and Evens: Evens

Good depth in this. Progressive six-year-old 3. Diamond Diesel has made great progress in his first Australian prep, and draws to strike again. Surged home for consecutive wins at the provincials before tackling tougher Saturday BM 72 Midway grade, finishing well into a place only 12 days ago, and boasts superior wet track credentials.

Dangers: Tough provincial six-year-old 1. Dimaggio has never raced better stepping up in distance. Charged home from the back for a dominant fresh win at Kembla before being ridden much closer here only a week ago, sticking on strong to miss by a nose. Weighted to his best now. Well travelled mare 2. Glamour Fox needs to improve, but will find this a little easier than a metro BM 72 where she did it tough from the wide gate.

How to play it: Diamond Diesel to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Not much separates the top few in this competitive dash, although hard to go past exciting four-year-old 2. Shines resuming for only his third start and first in NSW. Cruised home on debut back in autumn as an odds-on fancy at Geelong, and his open class trial win 23 days ago when he came home in one of the quicker last 600m times of the morning, smacked of one ready to go. Bred to relish rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Honest metro filly 4. Acappella Sun is on the quick back-up after fighting hard into a close placing here in BM 64 grade; while both 1. Oxford Vision behind a tough first-up provincial win when backed into a short-priced favourite; and 8. Sinaloa returning behind two smart trial wins; are well in the mix.

How to play it: Shines to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Some talented ones here. Exciting three-year-old 10. Estilette bolted in a country maiden from the front at her second start, and can measure right up to this level.

Dangers: Capable four-year-old 3. Camino Real is the clear threat returning off two controlled trials. Progressed nicely through last pep, and should enjoy a charmed run around midfield with cover from this draw. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Estilete to win and quinella 3 and 10
Odds and Evens: Split

The boys' edition caps off a big meeting, and again there's very little between the leading contenders. Like improving stallion 3. Garmish at the value third-up and back in grade from a handy closing run in deeper metro class. Naturally back up in weight, but ridden quietly from the wide draw, he can thunder over the top of these.

Dangers: Keep safe lightly raced 6. Persevere who jumped to the front and gave nothing else a chance in a country maiden 20 days ago, and bred to relish the wet. Lightly raced four-year-old 5. Fuller is a big watch second-up returning for her first outing in NSW. Disappointed in a metro BM 70 in Victoria, and climbs sharply in weight for this weaker grade. Include in all exotics 9. Union Army who stormed home for a dominant third-up maiden win.

How to play it: Garmish to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R1 2. CHAIN OF GOLD
R8 10. ESTILETE

BEST VALUE
R5 6. EL BRAVO

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