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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Hard to go past 4. Extreme Diva, who brings a race experience edge, and she raced well in her debut preparation around the likes of subsequent Group 1 winners Lady Of Camelot/Manaal. The three-year-old has trialled well in preparation for this assignment, showing speed, and she went through the line full of energy, not extended in her recent heat at Randwick. She has multiple winning figures for this and can sprint fresh first-up over the 900m.

Dangers: Debutante 8. Runranirun has improved between heats and responded well under pressure when challenged to win her latest trial at Hawkesbury. She's suited with the inside draw and can follow the rail. 3. Backward Glance is rock-hard fit and returns to her home track.

How to play it: Extreme Diva WIN ($1.35 TAB Fixed Odds).

Extreme Diva runs second in a trial at Randwick on August 5

8. Turbinado brings strong form lines into this event, and she is ready to peak third-up. The Godolphin galloper always faced the breeze last start at an even tempo and never shirked her task to the line. She'll strip fitter, step back to 900m suits, and she can roll forward from the inside draw.

Dangers: 9. Willingale profiles well for this, and she gets in no weight after the claim. She is proven on rain-affected ground and will only have improved from her last effort at Scone. 4. Reigning King returns as a gelding and looked sharp, winning a recent trial at Wyong. Add 7. Yukan Rose, who is a winner at this track/distance.

How to play it: Turbinado WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Elusive Mission is rock-hard, and although she has been well beaten on rain-affected surfaces in the past, she has had factors against her. She receives a senior rider and will run out a strong 1600m.

Dangers: 1. Kia Ora Gold returns as a gelding and has had the two trials leading into this. Key market watch. Add 3. Ambitious Creek, who is suited back in distance. 10. Supercrisp maps well and can rate to win.

How to play it: Elusive Mission WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Elusive Mission last start at Wyong on August 4

4. Nosferatu is an improving type who was completely unsuited on debut, and he moved well to score last start at Warwick Farm. He travelled well, was bolting on the turn, and once a gap came in the final straight, he showed a turn of foot. Further, he went through the line full of energy doing it easily and recorded the meeting's third-fastest final 200m. All key indicators suggest he can only step off that performance, and the rise to 1850m is ideal third-up.

Dangers: 1. Barazin was brave in defeat after a very fast pace, and he went down fighting to finish second. He has a strong platform and receives a gear change. 5. Start Line ran on well last start at Hawkesbury to finish second with a margin to third.

How to play it: Nosferatu WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Nosferatu wins at Warwick Farm on July 31

10. Tell Me Ma went out on a career peak figure before spelling last prep, and she represents value here. The mare resumes off a 187-day break and has had a quiet recent trial at Wyong where she went to the line not extended. She is suited over more ground but profiles to sprint fresh, and she races at her home track. Can rate to win.

Dangers: 1. Zouripper excelled in a high-pressure race to score last at Canterbury and ran solid time. 7. Rockbarton Icon can hit the line and is suited with the claim. 9. My My Mate Cobber is rock-hard fit and proven on rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Tell Me Ma E/W ($13 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tell Me Ma's latest trial at Wyong on July 29

Keen on 10. Madam Instrife, who resumes, and she has trialled well recently at Rosehill. The Hawkes-trained galloper's first-up run from last campaign was full of merit, and she should've won. The mare was restrained from a wide draw and was checked/blocked for a run, but once clear, she savaged the line, recording the meeting's fastest final 200m split. She has an improver's action, can only have benefited from the race experience and with even luck, she has superior closing speed relative to his rivals. In addition, she brings a dominant last-start figure, and the rain-affected ground should pose no issue.

Dangers: 9. Lady Ichikawa is coming through a high-rating race, and she's ready to peak third-up with a solid profile. 14. Urafiki drops back to the provincial circuit, and the rise to 1200m looks a plus.

How to play it: Madam Instrife WIN ($1.65 TAB Fixed Odds).

Madam Instrife runs third in a recent trial at Rosehill on August 6

6. Crop Duster is in career-best form and is racing to a consistent figure that puts him in the finish of this assignment. The gelding got too far back last start but ran on well and clocked fast closing splits relative to the day. He is rock-hard fit, excels on heavy ground, and may get the track pattern to suit.

Dangers: 5. The New Sinatra went out on a career peak figure before spelling last prep, and he's moved well in two recent heats. Key late market watch. 11. One Kind is an honest type and add locally trained 12. Princess Cruizer.

How to play it: Crop Duster WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Crop Duster runs third at Muswellbrook on July 29

7. Rush Attack has gone to a new level since joining the Nathan Doyle stable, and he ran slick time relative to the day when winning at Kempsey last start. He showed late strength, and the rise to 1600m looks ideal here. Although stepping up in grade, he finds a winnable race and comes in well on figures. Can make it back-to-back wins.

Dangers: 5. Shuri wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape last start and was outpaced up-tempo, but once building momentum, she found the line well. The genuine anticipated tempo will suit her profile. 2. Dreamdeel brings strong SP's for this and will take catching.

How to play it: Rush Attack WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Rush Attack wins at Kempsey on July 30

Best Bet: Race 6 # 10 – Madam Instrife

Best Best: Race 4 # 4 – Nosferatu

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