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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 to soft track.

10. Send Me Wild is working up to a win and there was plenty to like about the way she finished off at 1400m at Kembla last time, running the fastest last 200m of 11.86 (Punter's Intelligence). Extra trip looks ideal and has struck a very winnable race. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Seporto ran third behind Air To Air then made some ground from well back into sixth at Newcastle over a mile. Has been afforded several chances but racing well enough to be somewhere in the finish. 6. Oakfield Poet resumed with a solid effort at Wyong then backed up quickly and battled up to a mile at Newcastle. Chance to improve in a race that has fallen away. 3. Tough Case is the likely leader, he's been around the mark without winning in the country of late and could be placed.

How to play it: Send Me Wild WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Send Me Wild runs fifth at Kembla Grange on May 7

2. Spirit World showed improvement into her second start and she just bumped into one that might be above average at Newcastle. Tried hard to the line, edging away from the rest, and should relish slightly further. Strong chance to break through.

Dangers: 6. Debasement showed some promise with a late finishing fourth on debut then spelled. Second trial was an improvement and if there’s any support for her it’d be worth noting. 4. April Thunder comes through a city maiden where she wasn’t disgraced but at the same time had her chance to be in the finish. This is her first non-metro start so she’s well placed to show her best. 1. Chewie Too had every chance outside the leader and winner at Goulburn last time but he’s yet to put in a bad one. There’ll be a maiden for him somewhere soon, this might not be it but wouldn’t shock either if it is.

How to play it: Spirit World WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Spirit World runs second at Newcastle on May 9

11. Obscene has reached 10 starts now without a win but carries plenty of depth in her form into a wide open race. Game third last time in the same race as Spirit World, drawn one here this might be her shot.

Dangers: 9. McCall is locally trained and looked to be doing it well winning her latest trial almost two weeks ago. Will need a bit of luck but no surprise at all to see her run up to the trial and be in the finish. 13. Whitchety Grub is ex-Waterhouse/Bott and won a trial here before a close second to McCall in the latest. She’s run well in her two starts for the previous stable in city maidens and is one of the main chances on what we’ve seen in the trials. 7. Thrive In The Home has been around the mark in similar races and led when an even third over 1100m here third-up from a spell. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares over a bit further and is an each-way hope.

How to play it: Obscene WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Obscene runs third at Newcastle on May 9

4. Trieste looked to have every possible chance when beaten as an odds-on favourite first-up at Newcastle. Local filly and she’d likely be better for the run, only beaten 0.8 lengths so doesn’t have to improve much. Could bounce back as it is a winnable race.

Dangers: 8. Wild Sheila has placed in six of 10 starts and kicking off at this trip looks ideal for her. Two trials haven’t been eye-catching but the latest was in open company. No surprise to see her in the finish. 3. Zounate was a big drifter in betting and ran accordingly, battling on fairly into fifth at Kembla a couple of weeks ago. Improved into a placing second-up last time and while drawn out expect him to lift a bit here too. 5. Cosmic Bullet trialled okay before debuting at Kembla and dropping out after leading. Was a drifter there so likely to be improved. Keep safe.

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

Trieste runs fourth at Newcastle on May 2

3. Tepario has been trialling like a horse who will run very well first-up. She enjoyed a solid preparation last time in, kicking off with a close second, and has looked strong in her two trial wins when coming off the pace. Hard to see her not featuring somewhere.

Dangers: 1. East Asia won well on debut on a heavy track then involved in some tightening in the straight but was a bit plain late holding third at Gosford when favourite. Up to 1400m now, drawn to have every chance. 2. Miss Sure Shot was excellent first-up in the same race as East Asia at Gosford then just a bit flat at Kembla two weeks ago. Extra trip might be what she wants and she’s entitled to consideration again. 4. Purposeful Miss won easily on debut then led and couldn't sustain it at Newcastle. Bred to handle 1400m okay and could improve.

How to play it: Tepario E/W ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Tepario wins a trial at Randwick on May 5

10. Trengganu was a beaten favourite first-up then wasn’t a factor in a stronger race in town. Back to something more suitable and with blinkers on, he showed enough in his previous prep to suggest his best is good enough to run well here.

Dangers: 3. Snitzify has been right around the mark in his two runs back from a spell and will be strongly fancied again. Whether 1400m will suit him remains to be seen but from gate one he has every chance. 1. Mission Dream was in the market first up, though a drifter, and he disappointed behind Satin Socks at Warwick Farm. Showed promise in his first prep and with blinkers on he could lift sharply. 8. Duty led all the way to an easy Goulburn win then favourite and couldn't find the lead when midfield at Kembla. Entitled to another chance.

How to play it: Trengganu E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Trengganu's first-up third at Goulburn on April 26

2. Kosciusko had excuses after racing wide on the speed last time at Canterbury but his first-up run was excellent and he’s struck a race where he might get an easier run despite drawing out a bit. Well worth another chance.

Dangers: 4. Brazen Gem is an up and comer with a couple of country wins to his name including an easy Goulburn victory first-up. He was a drifter in betting there so likely to have improvement in him and if that’s the case he’s hard to beat. 7. Three Sheets found the 900m too short at Newcastle first-up but he hit the line strongly from a clear last into fifth place. He is a backmarker so will need the race run to suit but he’s worth throwing in the mix at odds. 6. Temple Run is fitter for two runs back and he wasn’t disgraced over this course last time when just behind the placings. Should be ready to produce his best now and if he can he’s capable of winning.

How to play it: Kosciusko E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Kosciusko runs fourth at Kensington first-up on April 15

2. Lord Tropicana was racing well before going a bit too quick in the middle stages at Newcastle and tiring. Forgive that. Winner in this class three starts back over 2300m, races on the pace and he should run well here.

Dangers: 9. Rond De Jambe finally broke through three runs ago and her two effort since have been honest. Tends to get back and run on and has each-way claims. 5. True Marvel didn’t appreciate the tempo in the Lord Tropicana race at Newcastle but he’d raced well in his couple of previous starts including a win over Rond De Jambe. Entitled to another chance. 8. Encostar Glory has contested similar races as well and she’s run on from the back at big odds t place at Newcastle at her past couple. Only has to hold that form to be in the mix somewhere again.

How to play it: Lord Tropicana E/W ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Lord Tropicana’s last start at Newcastle on May 2

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