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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s meeting at Canterbury. Selections based on a good to soft track.

3. Al Snip will press forward again from the wide gate and you have to respect her effort on debut behind Napster after doing plenty of work to find the front. Can pose a threat if she gets there a bit easier this time and a couple of scratchings have helped her cause.

Dangers: 7. Diamond Affair was put away after a fair effort on debut back in February last year but there’s been a little bit to like about her couple of quiet trials. Blinkers go on, drawn soft, it wouldn’t shock at all if she causes an upset. 2. Best Stone has finally drawn a barrier but it’s also fair to say she’s had her chances with placings in all five starts. Might have bumped into another handy one or two here but makes her own luck and deserves a win. Each-way. 5. Dancing Gidget looked very good winning a recent trial coming from well back. She was placed at Newcastle on debut before failing on a heavy track. Respect with the more favoured stablemate coming out.

How to play it: Al Snip WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Al Snip runs third at Canterbury on January 3

Happy to stay with 7. Rammstein after his narrow first-up defeat at Warwick Farm. He led there and was touched out late, slight gear change might help him focus a little better and drawn to lead them again. Fitter so entitled to be harder to beat.

Dangers: 9. Cathars comes through the same race as Rammstein and he was a firming favourite there before running sixth. He might have had small excuses but no way would he have figured in the top three. Blinkers go on and he’s drawn to get a trail again. Has to be respected if we trust that form line. 2. Sea Of Life is back as a gelding after two solid efforts in the late autumn last year the latest behind Prince Fawaz and Reloaded. Given a test in his second trial, might want a shade further but you can’t underestimate the stable or jockey at the moment. 3. O'Mudgee debuted in the Rammstein race and was only beaten half a length after following the leader and taking an inside run. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Rammstein E/W ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Rammstein runs second at Warwick Farm on January 8

5. War Baron is threatening to win a race with his two promising efforts in better company over a mile but he is one from 14 so that’s the concern, plus he doesn’t have a great turn of foot. But it’s hard to ignore the Rocha Clock form and the step up to 1900m is what he wants. Won’t get a better chance at city level.

Dangers: 1. Kiss The Bride wasn’t disgraced out to 2400m a couple of weeks ago running fourth but he appears better suited back to the distance range that saw him win successive races at Kembla and Gosford. Hard to beat but giving weight away. 4. Miyake comes off an impressive maiden win at Kembla and should relish the extra trip. Not sure why the blinkers are off but he does look to be on the up. 2. Fairy Me Home meets Kiss The Bride 2.5kg better for their clash at Gosford though he was safely held and has been beaten again since. Wouldn’t shock to see him in the finish but probably place best.

How to play it: War Baron WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

War Baron runs fourth at Randwick on January 11

7. Moore Euros graduated from a Highway win to finish a respectable third behind Adelong on Boxing Day where she didn’t disgrace. Finds a race that’s up for grabs and drops 5.5kg. Yet to win at 1200m but also yet to finish worse than fourth, she’ll be competitive and is a good each-way chance.

Dangers: 4. Sanctioned is a big watch first-up. He hasn’t fired for a while on paper though he has run a few handy races behind the placings. Liked his trial win and from barrier one he gets plenty of cover. Keep safe. 3. Celer has a win in him somewhere soon and is back in class on his latest effort when a sound third to Jen Rules at 1300m. With even luck from a potentially tricky gate this could be his race. 1. Ronstar hasn’t had a lot of luck of late with wide runs in his past two starts. Not beaten far in either so back in class here he might have his chance though he is giving away 4kg or more to the field.

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

Moore Euros runs third at Randwick on December 26

4. Twentyfour Carat drew the outside but given a gun ride he romped away to the sort of win that says he’s now hitting his straps. Has to overcome a wide gate again and bring his Kensington form to Canterbury but with that bit of even luck finding a spot, which on paper he should get, he’ll take stopping again.

Dangers: 2. Knowitall Jack was galloped on and lost a plate in the run first-up so be forgiving of his battling fourth three weeks ago. He won over this course second-up last prep and expected to be prominent for a long way. 5. Supreme Polarity gave a big sight running along in front over this course last start, run down by Condor who stalked him. Should lead them again, or be right there, and has to be considered. 3. Corncrake is an import first-up off two trials. The first was one excellent while not knocked about back in trip in the second. Probably a horse for later on but if he has some quality he could surprise.

How to play it: Twentyfour Carat WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Twentyfour Carat wins at Kensington on January 1

1. Accelerato charged home from near last to just miss when resuming at Warwick Farm, clocking a race best last 200m of 11.46 (Punter's Intelligence), and his second-up credentials are superior to his fresh form. Will get back from the outside alley but there looks to be some speed here. If the pattern says they can run on then he should be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 7. Coco Cuber has a bad habit of blowing the start, he got away with it first-up in a maiden but had to work overtime at Warwick Farm and stayed on okay despite looking gone on the turn. If he jumps with them he could be too quick even with some speed engaged. 9. Texas Forever won well on debut and wasn’t disgraced second-up before an ordinary effort before a spell. Plenty to like about both his trials this time in and drawn nicely. Keep very safe. 5. King’s Champ ran on without threatening first-up behind Private Thoughts but has drawn a lot kinder here so he could easily settle closer. Open to improvement.

How to play it: Accelerato E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Accelerato runs second at Warwick Farm on January 8

No reason to sway from 7. Bound To Win who has come through the grades well with two provincial wins this time in and both were strong performances. Sat wide when scoring at Kembla last time, drawn ideally here and given she looks to still have more upside she can win again.

Dangers: 8. Super Longlea is the logical danger with the blinkers going on. Had the winner’s back in the run last time and tried hard but made little impact in running third. If that’s superior form she is good enough to give it a shake. 1. Bubbles Ball is back in class after beaten two lengths in a strong form race at Randwick. Consistent type who is a definite chance here. 10. Satin Socks has been involved in two strong races this time in and produced a couple of handy placings. Tricky from the wide gate but has Tim Clark and blinkers on so couldn't dismiss.

How to play it: Bound To Win WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Bound To Win scores at Kembla Grange on January 7

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting