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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Tuesday's Hawkesbury meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Like 8. Fascination Alley, who has come back improved this prep, and she produced a career peak figure first-up at Bathurst 19 days ago. The mare was restrained from a wide draw, got too far back and had to make a long-sustained sprint. Further, she made up significant ground, clocking fast closing splits to finish second and beat the rest easily. Expect her to be savaging the line with the extra trip suiting.

Dangers: 4. Irish Anthem started an easing favourite last start at Gosford and had to work early in a genuine tempo. However, he stuck on ok, and his effort was better than what the formguide reads. The gelding sets up well in this event, where he can control the speed and returns to his home track. Additionally, he has multiple winning ratings and will take some catching. 1. December Sky is coming through high-pressure races, and he was solid in defeat last start. The step back in distance should pose no issue, and he is rock-hard fit. Add 7. Cunning Kitty to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Fascination Alley WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Fascination Alley runs second at Bathurst on February 29

5. Hell Of A Show's run had merit at this track/distance 10 days ago when running third, and he is ready to break through. The gelding was restrained from a wide draw, had to exert all his energy between 600m-200m whilst racing in the inferior ground, and was entitled to peak late. In this event, he gets a completely different setup with a significant barrier change, allowing him to settle closer. Additionally, repeating his last start figure or improving off that effort will make him hard to beat.

Dangers: 7. Dreams Of Thunder was solid last preparation, and she raced better than the formguide reads. She has trialled well enough and will be suited to the anticipated genuine tempo. 6. Ivy's Way has had no luck in both career starts, and with even luck, can bounce back here. The rise to 1100m suits, and a senior rider goes on. Market watch on 10. Dressed in Gray who resumes.

How to play it: Hell Of A Show WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hell Of A Show runs third at Hawkesbury on March 9

Keen on Irish import 1. Cormac T, who profiles well for this and expecting him to improve sharply. The gelding was heavily backed when resuming at Rosehill 20 days ago but had excuses when running fifth in a high-rating race. Further, he didn't appreciate being crowded throughout transit and was checked/blocked in the straight, but that late market intelligence must be respected. He has come in on a strong base figure, and his overseas formlines/ratings suggest he'll step off that first-up run. In addition, he can roll forward and will appreciate the rise in trip. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 10. Heaven Bound's first-up run at Newcastle had merit after being restrained early from an awkward draw and she was caught out on a limb the entire trip. Moreover, she was brave in defeat and beat the rest easily. 4. Hooligan Tommy hasn't been suited to sit/sprint race shapes in both runs this prep. Everything points towards a peak performance, and a senior ride in Tommy Berry goes on. 2. Bank Heist and 8. Calanche are honest types.

How to play it: Cormac T WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Cormac T last start at Rosehill on February 28

Everything points towards a peak performance from 5. Mr Caleb in this assignment, and he is ready to peak third-up with the blinkers going back on. The three-year-old was solid first-up, then just got too far back at Kembla Grange 19 days ago but ran on well into third in a high-rating race. Further, his ratings/sectional profile suggests he can improve, and he brings the best last-start figure into this event. Expect him to settle closer and be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 4. Parade Ground had every chance first-up but was brave in defeat, running second to a smart galloper. He clocked some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting, and the extra trip suits here. Key late market watch on 6. California Sunrise who resumes off a long break and has trialled well when not extended in a recent heat at Rosehill. 3. Tautou gets the blinkers on for the first time.

How to play it: Mr Caleb WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mr Caleb last start at Kembla Grange on February 29

The Ben Smith-trained mare, 4. Wolves, was brave in defeat last start at Moonee Valley 11 days ago when running second in a stronger grade. She always faced the breeze in an even tempo, was in a duel the entire straight, and was just swamped late. The mare is deep into her preparation, but she's been running to a consistent level/figure that puts her in the finish, and she maps to have all favours.

Dangers: 8. Lady Devine went out on a career peak figure last prep at this track and did it with style. The mare returns off a 117-day break and has had the one trial leading into this, going through the line full of energy. Can sprint fresh. 5. Externus had all favours last start but never shirked his task to the line after being challenged and finished second. 7. Bush Telegraph knuckled down hard late to score on debut at this track/distance, and Jason Collett sticks.

How to play it: Wolves WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Leaning towards 1. By Nine, who wasn't suited to the farcical tempo last start at this track/distance, but to his credit, he ran on well into fifth. Further, he sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits and maintained a solid finishing speed to the line. He has a strong record at this track, proven on all surfaces and maps to have a much more economical run in transit. Good each-way.

Dangers: 3. Vieste, who is a knockout chance, will be suited back around the clockwise direction and her peak figure came on soft ground. Additionally, she receives a significant barrier change and drops sharply in grade. 2. So Sneeky is a last-start winner and 5. Parabellum maps well.

How to play it: By Nine E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

By Nine last start at Hawkesbury on February 21

5. Smart Little Miss, who represents value, was solid in the betting first-up at Canterbury, and her effort had sectional merit when running fifth. Further, she had excuses, but once clear in the straight, she reeled off the second fastest final 200m split of the meeting. She has multiple winning ratings, and the freshen-up fits her profile. Each-way.

Dangers: 4. Never Sorry produced a career peak figure on rain-affected ground at Muswellbrook, and that rating lines up well. 2. Byron is a consistent on-pace type and will give a sight. 3. Poseidon Ruler drops back to a more suitable trip and will be running on.

How to play it: Smart Little Miss E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Smart Little Miss last start at Canterbury on February 23

Forget 12. Kenyada's first-up run at Warwick Farm 13 days ago, where nothing went right for her. The filly was out on a limb early, raced keenly throughout and lost her action on the final turn after being outpaced up-tempo. Second-up last preparation, her run was full of merit, and if she bounced back to that level/figure, she can be in the finish. In addition, the bigger track is ideal, and the anticipated genuine tempo will let her find a rhythm and enhance her closing speed. Each-way.

Dangers: 6. Fiddlers Green was honest first-up at this track 35 days ago and loomed to win but peaked on his run. The form out of that race can be trusted with the time/margins being strong. He maps well and has a solid record here. 9. Love Child is an improving type who was impressive when winning on debut last prep, and then her run had merit when finishing second at Kensington to subsequent winner Nana's Wish. Moreover, she had the pace/bias against and beat the rest easily. 10. Concello comes through the same race as Kenyada and beat that runner home, running solid closing splits. She will be fitter, and extra ground is ideal. Add 7. Mah Ali to wider exotics.

How to play it: Kenyada E/W ($14 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kenyada first-up at Warwick Farm on March 6

Best Bet: Race 3 # 1 – Cormac T

Best Bet: Race 4 # 5 – Mr Caleb

Best Value: Race 8 # 12 - Kenyada

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