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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Narromine meeting. Selections based on a heavy track.

4. Arkam Asylum comes off a complete forgive run at Coonamble where he had to work overtime and cracked. Previous form was honest, including a heavy track second at Dubbo earlier this month, and suggests he’ll be right on the speed here and capable of giving a big sight each-way.

Dangers: 1. Mudgegonga is very hard to beat here with any luck after a game effort at Coonamble, his form is all around Arkam Asylum too. Mile suits and has to be considered. 6. Carnegie’s Monaco is a 27 start maiden but ran fifth in the same race as Arkam Asylum and his third-up run wasn’t bad either. Could get into a placing at odds. 10. Guinness has mixed form but did place on a heavy track at Muswellbrook a month ago then failed at Dubbo last time also on a heavy track. Can handle it so with blinkers back on she could show up.

How to play it: Arkam Asylum E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Arkam Asylum runs second at Dubbo on March 6

1. Big Talk is ex-John O’Shea and resumes as a gelding and on the back of quite a nice trial at Orange earlier this week. Liked the way he strode around and was strong on the line there. Needs some luck but bears close watching.

Dangers: 7. Poetic Harmony hasn’t trialled this time in but resumes with blinkers on and a favourable draw. Measured up okay in this sort of company before a spell and is one of the chances. 6. Astrobaby is close to a win but faces a bit of a task from a wide gate. That said she will get back and look to run on. Capable of being in the finish somewhere. 8. All Star Rocket is ex-Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott and hasn’t trialled for over a month in Sydney. Check betting for a guide to confidence.

How to play it: Big Talk E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Big Talk runs second in a trial at Orange on March 22

7. The Poet had excuses when in the market on debut at Mudgee, he slow slowly out and caught wide on the pace so had to battle late. Trialled very well before that and though it’s a bit of a guess whether he’ll handle the heavy he’s worth another chance.

Dangers: 13. Ellia is a big query on debut here with no recent trial to look at, but she did show some ability running on into second in a Muswellbrook trial back in September. Keep safe. 2. Shwanky Doo hasn’t seen a wet track enough to know his ability to handle it but he’s generally been around the mark. Fitter for a nice return at Coonamble, extra trip is a bonus and gets back anyway so wide barrier not so much an issue for him. 12. Choosday Nights disappointed at her first start at Orange when in the market but she seemed to battle. Not a lot of depth here so she might be worth another look.

How to play it: The Poet WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

The Poet’s first-up run at Mudgee on March 1

1. I Stole Your Love probably comes through a stronger Country Championships heat in her game fourth at Mudgee. Only heavy track exposure was two starts back at Warwick Farm so not a great guide to her ability in the ground. Go well

Dangers: 5. Supreme Attraction led and gave a reasonable sight at Coonamble in the Country Championships heat running fourth. Has a heavy track placing to his name, drawn one and should be in this for a long way. 7. Northern Lights has come back in super form with a solid first-up second then a strong finishing win at Mudgee on March 1. Proven in the wet and is one of the main chances. 6. Toulon Brook has been a bit below par this time in and just battled in the Coonamble qualifier. His best form is good enough to be a player in this field but take him on trust.

How to play it: I Stole Your Love E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

I Stole Your Love runs fourth at Mudgee on March 1

6. Knock Toff had his first run for the new stable and led all the way at Gunnedah to a pretty strong win. Proven at the trip and much fitter after a 13 month absence. Unknown in the wet but is on the up and you’d expect him to be competitive.

Dangers: 2. Molasses hasn’t raced for two months when he was a shade unlucky not to win at Forbes. Honest sprinter who handles all conditions and while he hasn’t trialled recently has plenty going for him in this race. 5. Jetgirl had her first look at a heavy track last start at Hawkesbury and she fought on fairly to hold third. Racing well without winning and is worth including in the chances. 7. Any Blinkin’ Day hasn’t raced since the Dubbo Cup in September and while 1100m is probably short of his best he has won six races on soft and heavy tracks. Any support would be encouraging but he could surprise.

How to play it: Knock Toff WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Knock Toff wins at Gunnedah on March 12

5. Zamali hasn’t seen a wet track for a while but his recent form is excellent coming back to BM58 level after not quite measuring up to the Country Championships at Coonamble. Should have won at Mudgee prior and has won at this track. Should run well.

Dangers: 10. The Scotsman is going well without winning and led them up at Dubbo on a heavy track last start and held on okay for third. Expect him to give a decent sight. 3. Quick Spin has a poor strike rate but has a lot of placings on the board. Sent out favourite at Coonamble last time and ran on well though didn’t threaten the winner. Each-way claims. 7. Saint Ay was far from disgraced first-up on a heavy track at Dubbo at a trip well below his best. Hit the line nicely and will relish a mile, so no surprise to see him improve.

How to play it: Zamali E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Zamali runs second at Mudgee on March 1

3. Witness Collector showed a sign of form when beaten in the shadows at Dubbo on a heavy track earlier this month. Led there and gave a big sight, he’ll be on the speed again you’d think and if he can repeat the last start effort he might go one better.

Dangers: 5. Rhythmo showed some talent in the spring and seemed to handle the heavy track in a trial at Dubbo recently. Probably rolls forward from out wide and if he attracts some support he’ll likely run well. 1. Class Aplenty hasn’t raced since winning impressively at Tamworth two months ago, sweeping home from last at her first run for the new stable. Yet to be proven in the wet but hasn’t had a lot of exposure so rather include than dismiss. 7. Plectrum ran well on a heavy track at Gilgandra then backed it up at huge odds and placed at Mudgee in similar class. Each-way chance again.

How to play it: Witness Collector WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Witness Collector runs second at Dubbo on March 6

1. Jailbreak couldn’t have been more impressive winning at Coonamble a couple of weeks ago, putting almost five lengths on them easily. Yet to prove himself on heavy, a small concern for an odds-on shot, but he does look the horse to beat.

Dangers: 6. And There Is More has a couple of heavy track placings to her name though she has failed a few times on it as well. Chased home Jailbreak last start and that followed a close second on a heavy at Dubbo. Has a show. 2. Red Axe beat Jailbreak when that horse was first-up at Bathurst then beaten six lengths by the favourite at Coonamble. Entitled to another chance. 3. Valarian broke through three starts back at Cowra and has been competitive in two starts since. No exposure to a wet track at all so that’s a question mark but if he does handle it he could be in the finish again.

How to play it: Jailbreak WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Jailbreak wins at Coonamble on March 15

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