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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Wyong meeting. Selections based on a soft to good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

4. Epicus, now in the hands of trainer Kristen Buchanan is ready to peak third-up and profiles well for this event. The gelding had all favours last start at Newcastle, but he sprinted hard and went down fighting to hold onto third behind Lyrical Gangster, who has subsequently placed in a stronger grade. He is still lightly raced and has improved each run this prep from a ratings perspective. In addition, he brings a fitness edge and maps to have all favours.

Dangers: 3. Always In resumes and has trialled well enough in preparation for this assignment. First-up last prep, she had too much to do but flashed home and ran slick closing splits relative to the day. First starter 5. Never Bird won a recent trial at Newcastle and can roll forward from the soft draw. 2. Jo Jo Sun is a rock-hard fit and receives blinkers for the first time.

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

Epicus runs third at Newcastle on April 22

Leaning towards 8. Agnodice, who hasn't been suited in both runs this preparation and expecting rapid improvement from her third-up. Further, her historical ratings/sectional profile supports this, and she finally gets out on a more suitable trip. The three-year-old receives blinkers for the first time, allowing her to build into a rhythm and expect her to be charging to the line. Each-way.

Dangers: Forgiving of 3. Commando Jack's last start when racing keenly, and he struggled in the testing conditions. He gets key factors in his favour here and receives multiple gear changes. Additionally, he maps to have all favours and brings strong metropolitan form lines to this event. 5. Little Cointreau was solid, running third when resuming at Kembla and second-up last prep; he improved significantly. Expect him to be near the finish. 4. Dishin N Dancin is consistent and 1. Believe The Hype can sprint fresh.

How to play it: Agnodice E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Agnodice last start at Wyong on April 20

Tricky race with multiple first starters engaged. 13. Kovanos, who represents value, improved between trials and is wound up to run well here. The filly was lightly ridden to win a recent heat at Kembla, and she found the line solidly. She looks a real trier, maps well, and the anticipated genuine tempo will suit. Each-way.

Dangers: Debutant 2. Atoyo maps to get a long way back, but he looks to have a strong closing speed and may have the last shot. Add 1. Absolute Power and 10. Figment to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Kovanos E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Kovanos wins a trial at Kembla on May 3

13. Salaasel started a drifting $2.90 favourite first-up at Newcastle off a long break and ran an even race. The filly did have to race in the slightly inferior ground and battled on to hold fourth. Further, the late market trade suggested she would improve from the run and back to drier ground suits. The Snowden galloper has strong historical form lines where she holds a third to defending Everest champion Giga Kick, albeit on debut. She maps well and expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 11. Consenza resumes and won a recent trial at Rosehill. She showed ability last preparation and is a key late market watch. 2. Mr Kennedy resumes for new trainer Richard Litt and maps well from barrier one. 12. She's A Bad Girl is another on-pace type who goes in wider exotics.

How to play it: Salaasel WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Salaasel last start at Newcastle on April 8

6. The Englishman broke through for his maiden win last start at Kembla and surged to the line to score. The gelding wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape, but once he balanced up and built through his gears, he picked up his rivals, clocking one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. All key indicators suggest he can step off that performance, and the rise in distance is ideal. He can go on with it now, and although drawn wide, Chad Schofield has multiple options.

Dangers: 7. Thornycroft comes out of the Waller yard and has been consistent all campaign. He is a rock-hard fit and maps to have all favours. 11. Aunt Roberta is a last-start winner at this track/distance and 2. Sonic The Hedgehog is ready to peak third-up.

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

The Englishman wins at Kembla on April 26

6. The Halo was 30 days between runs last start and had no luck. She raced wide throughout, albeit in a moderate tempo but to her credit, she kept trying to the line. Further, she was a savage drifter in the betting and expect her to improve from that outing. Her career peak figure is at this track/distance; Rachel King takes over the riding duties, and if she gets lucky from the tricky draw, she can run a big race.

Dangers: 11. Matronymic bolted in last start at Canberra and ran slick time relative to the day. She has strong form lines; her last start figure suggests she can make the step in grade. Locally trained 5. Oakfield Waratah resumes and had a quiet recent trial at Newcastle, and he went to the line, not extended. He is a key late-market watch and can sprint fresh. 3. Budhwar is an honest on-pace type and 1. Rocstar Boy is coming out of a high-rating race.

How to play it: The Halo WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Matronymic WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

The Halo last start at Wyong on April 27

1. Chief Conductor profiles well for this event and has gone to a new level this preparation. The four-year-old produced a career-peak figure last start at Hawkesbury and was a dominant winner. Further, he did it on both ends, leading at a genuine tempo and then accelerating away from his rivals, clocking one of the meeting's fastest final 600m splits. He will roll forward, and repeating his last start figure will make him hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. Big Happiness returns to his home track and will be fitter. 12. Compassionate is racing well this prep and drops in grade. Add 4. Restrictions who is a last start winner.

How to play it: Chief Conductor WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Chief Conductor win at Hawkesbury on April 13

Keen on 10. Reginald, who was honest in defeat last start a fortnight ago at this track/distance and ran on well into second. He wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape but closed off strong, clocking one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. He is in-form, maps to have all favours, has multiple winning ratings, and Josh Parr rides for the first time. Good each-way.

Dangers: 3. Kozluca had too much to do first up but ran on well. He will be fitter, and the rise in distance is ideal. 2. Flexing is a consistent type; add 12. Pioneer Lass to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Reginald WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Reginald runs second at Wyong on April 27

Best Bet: Race 8 # 10 - Reginald

Next Best: Race 5 # 6 - The Englishman

Best Value: Race 2 # 8 - Agnodice

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