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Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 4m so on-pace early before levelling out, with the possibility of showers

Plenty of chances in a competitive opener, although hard not to see a home-track stable winning, with one saddling up four runners. Local 4YO gelding 1. Charm Offensive is banging on the door to break through third-up and at 10th overall start. Ridden in front first-up at Gosford back-fired, but was well backed when hitting the line hard in a potentially strong maiden at Hawkesbury after settling midfield. Draws to park in a similar spot here, has a better than 50 per cent place record in career so far, and any extra ground is a plus being by French stallion Dalghar.

Dangers: Local 3YO gelding 6. Young Heart will appreciate dropping back to this company after a valiant effort chasing at Randwick on Boxing Day. Down in weight fourth-up, just needs to overcome the wide draw to power into the finish. Stablemate (although based at Nowra) 4YO gelding 13. Tic Tock Man looks well placed second-up from the inside draw after an even return behind Bushido who then won again at Wyong on Sunday. Keep a close watch on betting with Goulburn gelding and first starter 3. Premier Award (Epaulette x Special Test by Octagonal) who hasn't been seen at the official trials since a quiet one-off showing five months back, but leading country rider is a significant booking. Local debutant 3YO filly 8. Misty Brook (Hinchinbrook x Feminine Wiles by Miesque's Son) hasn't trialled since last autumn, but gets in light after rider's 2kg claim.

How to play it: Charm Offensive to win. Odds and Evens (First 2): Split.

Charm Offensive runs second at Hawkesbury on December 15

Tricky positional race that could be dominated by first starters. One of them, nicely bred 3YO Warwick Farm gelding 3. Sebourg (Sebring x Bourgogne by Choisir) will be well fitted after spending plenty of time at the trials, finishing off impressively in his latest at Hawkesbury under a nice hold. Draws to get an ideal trail, and appears way over the odds.

Dangers: Godolphin 3YO filly 7. Amitto resumes for a second prep off two easy trials, but likely to drift a long way back from a wide draw, so will need plenty of speed on up front to work home into the finish. Another debutant, 3YO Randwick filly 12. Off Her Roca (El Roca x Turn On Sixpence by Elusive Quality) was right on the winner's heels in the latest of two trials, and draws to get a cosy run on the fence. Randwick 3YO filly 9. Bizou (Zoustar x Dutch Romance by Dutch Art) has been close-up in two recent competitive trials, and both the sire-line and trainer are having a good run. Likely to be ridden quiet from the outside barrier, but looks to have plenty of ability. The form of 3YO Warwick Farm filly 8. Benoni is much better than it looks on paper, and she's a chance second-up. Resumed with a tidy closing run at Gosford despite being shunned in betting, and took on tougher opposition in three runs last autumn.

How to play it: Sebourg each way and quinella 3 and 7. Odds and Evens: Odds.

Good race. With superior potential, 4YO Warwick Farm gelding 2. Dambulla is back for a second prep, and liked the way he got through the line in two open trials. Out of the smart Japanese dam line Temple Of Peace, and won impressively over the mile in winter at just his second career start.

Dangers: Randwick 4YO gelding 1. Come Along finished hard under 60kg to just miss resuming in a BM 64 at Newcastle, and second-up form is rock solid for a race like this. Progressive 4YO Rosehill mare 4. Southern Romance finished off okay at big odds in a more than handy Class 1 at Wyong, and bolted in her maiden at only previous second-up run in metro company. Scratched from Wyong on Sunday to be saved for this. Randwick 4YO gelding 6. Quick Finance is knocking on the door after consecutive second placings at the provincials in this grade, and also preferred here to Wyong, although this looks a classier field; while include 4YO Rosehill mare 8. Skillet who chased home a smart youngster resuming at Canterbury, and gets in only half kilo over the minimum weight.

How to play it: Dambulla to win and first four 1,2/1,2,4,6,8/1,2,4,6,8/1,2,4,6,8.
Odds and Evens: Evens.

Talented 3YO Randwick gelding 1. Ulysses has been right around the money in his first full prep bolting in his maiden second-up at Newcastle before beating all but the winner in two runs this track. Back in at the weights okay after rider's 2kg claim, and stable scratched him last week to be saved for this.

Dangers: Wyong 3YO gelding 4. Hussonibis made light work of his opposition on debut at Newcastle, but this a decent step up drawn wide Improving 5YO Randwick gelding 2. Highjacker has only won once from 12 starts, but his best form has come at this track, including finishing hard into second in Class 2 company nearly a month ago when ridden much quieter than previous few. Trainer likely to adopt the same tactic from a wide gate; while 3YO Goulburn gelding 5. New Offer pulled off a hefty late betting move leading first-up off a long break at Hawkesbury, although concussion plates on for the first time is a concern.

How to play it: Ulysses to win. Odds and Evens: Split.

Ulysses runs second at Kembla on December 14

Competitive sprint for the girls, with plenty of hopes headed by emerging Randwick 3YO 7. Fashchanel who debuted with a strong maiden win at Hawkesbury before run down in the last stride this grade at Newcastle. Destined for metro success, and with that experience and drawn a nice gate, she's the one to beat.

Dangers: Another Randwick-based 3YO 6. Bound To Win resumed with an emphatic maiden win as a hot favourite at Newcastle running her last 600m in slick time, and is also destined for greater heights. Be surprised if anything else wins, but improving Rosehill 3YO 9. Compatriot roared home from the back in a weaker BM 64 at Newcastle, and is hard fit well into her prep; while former Bathurst mare 11. Heavenly Glory resumes for new leading Kembla stable off a very quiet trial, and looks well over the odds after flying home to win first-up last prep at Dubbo.

How to play it: Fashchanel to win; quinella 6 and 7; and trifecta 6,7/6,7,9/6,7,9,11.
Odds and Evens: Split

Now the boys' turn same grade and distance, although this is wider and tougher. Resuming 4YO Randwick gelding 4. Battle Cry looks ready to fire off two forward trials, with the blinkers coming off, and drawn to get a lovely on-speed trail at nice odds.

Dangers: If promising 3YO Randwick gelding 6. California Musical gets his fair share of luck from a wide draw, he's still the testing material in the race. Finished off nicely resuming behind a smart one at this track, and second-up in his first prep led all the way in dominant fashion at Newcastle. Despite being weighted to his absolute best, don't under-sell resuming 4YO Warwick Farm gelding 1. Star Of O'Reilly who normally comes to hand fairly quickly. Won a lead-up trial on this track in good time. Have to be forgiving of 4YO Warwick Farm gelding 3. Skyray who raced wide and pulled up lame from a BM 70 at Rosehill a month ago, and previous form was sound in smart company.

How to play it: Battle Cry each way and quinella 4 and 6. Odds and Evens: Evens

Tough one to finish, although very keen on emerging 3YO Warwick Farm gelding 10. Zounate fourth-up from an economical draw. Was only nabbed in the last stride after leading over this trip last start at Hawkesbury, and looks ready to break through with form apprentice taking 2kg off.

Dangers: Rosehill 3YO gelding 7. Luvoir can win fourth-up with the blinkers going on. Has kept finding the line from well off the speed this prep, and peaks here getting out in distance; while 4YO Randwick mare 13. Zenardini can also power into the finish after doing her best work late second-up at this track nearly four weeks back.

How to play it: Zounate each way. Odds and Evens: Split.

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Kembla Grange meeting