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By Ray Hickson

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

11. Swordplay has looked professional in winning both her trials, showing good gate speed to lead and run them along and coast to the line. Should press forward from the gate and if she produces what she has at the trials she’ll take beating.

Dangers: 5. Lull is a Godolphin filly on debut and while safely held in her latest trial she just cruised to the line in second place. Gets a lot of favours from the gate and has to be included. 7. Miss Lola was a trial winner on the synthetic at Warwick Farm last week over the 740m, doing the job well in something of a blanket finish. Earns respect but may be under the odds. 2. Penpel has the form on the board having chased Agarwood home at her first outing at Warwick Farm earlier this month. Stuck on without threatening there but drawn kinder and can only be improved.

How to play it: Swordplay WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Swordplay wins a Rosehill trial on May 9

4. Proviseur made a promising return at Warwick Farm three weeks ago as he found the line well just behind the placings. Had some support there and did run well so if he can improve a length or so from that he’ll be right in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Gunroom has been right on top of the speed in his past two and found one better, coming out of the same race at Warwick Farm in the latest. Has the claim this time and he’ll give another good account on the pace. 9. Crusader Voyage was runner-up to Miss Lola in a synthetic trial last week so it’ll be interesting to see how that form holds in the previous. Has the inside and James McDonald so he’ll have his chance. 5. Indigo Star will likely excel over a bit more ground than this but he’s fresh off two handy trials and should be strong at the finish.

How to play it: Proviseur WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Proviseur runs fourth at Warwick Farm on May 7

1. Straand Beauty was a beaten favourite first-up at Kembla Grange but did a good job after stepping slowly and working to the front before being reeled in late. Fitter, same grade and weight and if he can get away with them he’ll be in the finish.

Dangers: 2. Gatekeeper had an ideal run when debuting with a pouncing win here back in January. Up 2kg and draws wide but looks to have drawn around some of the speed so shouldn’t be underestimated. 5. Queen’s Rhapsody had her first start for Nathan Doyle and ran out an easy maiden winner at Hawkesbury as a short priced favourite. Form around her from last prep isn’t bad and she can measure up despite the outside gate. 10. Mother Goose proved far too strong in scoring at Kembla third-up leading all the way. Finds a perfect gate for a trail, or to lead if desired, and she could go on with it without surprising.

How to play it: Straand Beauty WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Straand Beauty runs second at Kembla Grange on May 6

2. Canara has only won one from 16 but has been very good in three placings from four runs this time in and handled the heavy well when a fast closing third at Kensington two weeks ago. Shade unlucky there too. This might be her chance.

Dangers: 1. Just Feelin’ Lucky won impressively at Newcastle first-up then sat outside the lead and was run down by Drift Net at Warwick Farm. Only tried a heavy once and it was at her second start so hard to get a line on that. Go well. 6. Trafalgar Square is always around the mark but is now one from 17. Boxed on well for a Midway placing at Gosford third-up. Only win was here and isn’t to be left out of the chances. 7. Kilkenny put eight lengths on her rivals in an easy maiden win at Kembla a month ago. That was on a good track, had her chance on a soft 7 first-up. Couldn’t dismiss but it’s not an ideal set up.

How to play it: Canara WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Canara runs third at Kensington on May 14

7. Hell To Pay looks the one to beat here despite a tricky gate. Solid when resuming at Kensington then sat wide and found the line strongly to do down under half a length there two weeks ago. If he has any early luck from the gate he’ll go very close again.

Dangers: 11. Maximum Dividend hasn’t raced since a solid second over 1900m at this track in November where he bled. Fitter for two trials, won fresh last time in at a mile and has to be kept very safe. 3. Assailant is a big watch at his local debut for the Waterhouse/Bott yard. Trials haven’t really caught the eye and will clearly be better over more ground but if he’s above average this is winnable. 8. Pink Shalala was solid in the market when resuming at Warwick Farm and was a little one paced after having a nice run behind them. Fitter and up to the track and trip of her lone win so is a likely improver.

How to play it: Hell To Pay WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hell To Pay runs second at Kensington on May 14

2. Mogwai has landed in a wide open race first-up and he did win fresh last time in at his first run for the new stable. Held his ground well in a Kembla trial leading in, handles a wet track and is generally not too far away. No surprise to see him right in the finish of this.

Dangers: 1. One Destiny was going well with a win and a third in BM78 grade before leading and fading at Gosford in a good form race on May 10. Back in class here and has a good heavy record so can take running down. 10. Peschiera is an interesting runner coming off a good track win at Sandown second-up where she led all the way. Most of her form is on top of the ground so that represents a query but if she’s here it says there’s confidence she will handle a wet track. 7. Kyeema showed improvement second-up when running on into fourth at Kembla Grange. Ex-Hong Kong galloper who might just need one more before stepping to 1400m but worth keeping safe.

How to play it: Mogwai WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mogwai runs second in a Kembla trial on May 12

10. Kenmare Bay is hovering around a win and was far from disgraced after being flushed out early when third at Kensington two weeks ago. He draws nicely, handles the track and the trip is no worry. Gets another chance to break through.

Dangers: 9. Dynamic One comes through the same race and he sat handy before boxing on to run second. Is 1kg worse off at the weights but has to be included. 18. Ant has a win in him somewhere shortly and he’ll relish the trip after a fast finishing third over 1550m here four weeks ago. Good each-way chance. 12. Millie De Lune scored easily on a heavy 10 at Newcastle before a solid fourth at Scone up to the mile. She’s racing well and is another with each-way hopes.

How to play it: Kenmare Bay WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kenmare Bay runs third at Kensington on May 14

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