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By Ray Hickson

4. Tenbury Wells resumes as a gelding and with a record that reads pretty well for a Midway first-up. If you take away his runs in Group and Listed company he’s had six starts for two wins and a second and looking an ideal candidate for this level. Aside from being gelded he’s had a couple more gear changes and while it was a small field in his latest trial he did look quite sharp. Like to see some support for him as on his best he’s a good chance.

Dangers: 9. Change My Address has had three starts on heavy tracks so how she performs on drier ground is a question mark but she’s not been tried so can’t write her off. Found the line well fresh in the Silver Shadow so 1400m should suit. 1. Denman Star looks an obvious threat getting back onto soft ground and Midway grade after a solid fourth at Rosehill. She was in the clump chasing Fully Lit that day. Gate one and JMac on give her every hope. 5. Bellenth was a popular winner first-up on a heavy track at Newcastle and looks a likely type to be competitive at Midway grade. Hasn’t been far away at all and is in the mix.

How to play it: Tenbury Wells WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

15. Zumbo brings an unbeaten record into her Highway debut though she was meant to go around two weeks ago only to be scratched at the barriers. Trialled very nicely against the likes of Compelling Truth and Social Circle, who was an easy winner earlier in the week, and looks versatile enough to handle the middle to out gate. She can measure up to what looks a winnable Highway.

Dangers: 1. Highway Strip is easily the most talented horse in the race but gee he makes things hard for himself. How he ran fourth when he resumed in July is amazing after he ran off the track and took a lot of riding to get going. It cost him having to go back to the trials twice which he’s done and now he copes an outside gate. At least he’s used to racing wide! If things work out for him and he produces his best he probably just wins. There’s enough doubt to want to see him do it. 18. Nation Changing lost his unbeaten record when resuming at Scone a few weeks ago but his run at 1000m was quite solid as he worked home okay in fourth. Fitter for that and likely to be better at this sort of trip so he can improve down in the weights. 19. Graceful Ellen has won three of her last five and was particularly strong in rounding them up at Moruya in the latest of them. Lightly raced and has earned a chance here.

How to play it: Zumbo WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

10. Spirit Of Wealth has come up a short priced favourite on the back of her two easy trial wins leading into her return from an 11 month break. She’s had a few bumps along the way. She won easily on debut and again at her second start but was disqualified from the latter. She went around $3.40 in the Group 2 Roman Consul and ran last but pulled up needing a bone chip removed. So that’s a forgive. Will be prominent from gate one and should go well.

Dangers: 8. Island Dec is a knockout chance if there is one here. She won impressively first-up last time in and then went into Group company and didn’t quite measure up. Would appreciate a decent tempo and if she gets is could surprise. 4. Ticklebelly ran fifth in the Country Championships earlier this year after leading and 1400m is the top of her range. Rarely runs a bad race and while she hasn’t trialled she was scratched from Wednesday to run here and could easily measure up. 9. Chidiac is hard to line up with four country wins and a Highway failure from her five starts. She does drop sharply in the weights on her easy Scone win in July and have to keep her safe.

How to play it: Spirit Of Wealth WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Muktamil is a consistent stayer who seems to appreciate reasonably good ground and he might like Randwick a bit better than Moonee Valley where he was game in defeat two weeks ago. Only has to hold his form and he’s found a race he should be very competitive in.

Dangers: 1. Changingoftheguard signalled he could be finding his form with a solid second at Flemington a month ago over the 2350m where he raced on the pace and just found one better. Muktamil did run third in that race. He gets his chance to consolidate. 8. Travolta was said to be heading to Wyong after his nice win at Rosehill last Saturday but there has been a pivot and given the small field and probability of it not being a staying test he could be too sharp for them. 5. Tajanis is fitter for two runs back from a spell and his best efforts last time in were at 2400m and above so he's in the mix.

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

13. Shohisha ran a very nice race, though safely held, behind Autumn Glow first-up at 1100m in the Toy Show. Cast the mind back to last prep and she resumed at 1100m then won second-up at the Randwick mile and she arguably went a lot better fresh this time around. Nicely drawn and with the light weight she gets her chance.

Danhgers: 9. Lord Penman jumps from 1200m to the mile on the back of an excellent local debut at Rosehill where he charged late on a heavy track behind Cloudland. Whether he gives away too much start from the barrier is a query, any tactics change notices would be worth looking for, but does look a coming winner. 7. Time Quest made it successive Coffs Harbour Cup wins when finishing too well for It’s A Knockout in that feature race a month ago. Tickover trial since then and he’s not to be left out. 12. Aberlour has found her form at her past couple of starts and hasn’t raced since late July due to the Rowley Mile being washed out. But she has won two trials so won’t lack fitness and if she can wrest control from Fully Lit she could take running down.

How to play it: Shohisha WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Savvy Hallie steps away from heavy tracks after her two wins this time in including the Silver Shadow two weeks ago. But she’s proven just as effective on good tracks with her gallant effort in the Percy Sykes last time in. She’s hard fit after those two runs and she just maps to get every chance of continuing on her winning way.

Dangers: 1. Within The Law chased her home in the Silver Shadow but was struck a blow with the barrier meaning she’ll more than likely be giving away a big start. Not that she couldn’t overcome it, particularly if they get along and you can make ground. Must include her. 16. Apocalyptic hasn’t raced since a promising debut back at the end of last year and some handy form has come out of that race. Missed the autumn but her couple of recent trials are sound and while she’s a maiden she looks to have the talent. 4. Memo disappointed at the end of the prep in the Percy Sykes but everything else she did was excellent and if she’s come back any better she’s a good each-way chance.

How to play it: Savvy Hallie WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hard to ignore how well suited 2. Ceolwulf is looking at the make up of this field. He’s a proven, two time Group 1 Randwick mile winner taking on a field of largely staying types heading for longer races. He was outstanding coming from last in the Winx Stakes first-up where he made his run down the middle of the track after turning on the winner Via Sistina’s back. If he steps away cleanly, which he usually does, he should make some use of barrier two and be in front of at least half the field. In that scenario it’s difficult to see him being beaten. That said it’s a big race for him and one he needs to win.

Dangers: 4. Lindermann is not a heavy track horse so it’s easy to overlook his failure in that Winx Stakes, his sixth heavy track failure. But away from heavy he’s the one that could give Ceolwulf a run for his money, his second-up record is excellent and he’ll be right on speed. 5. Sir Delius made a good impression with his Australian debut win in Brisbane back in May where he beat Floating and Manzoice over 2000m on a heavy track. He’s not been exposed to a mile before and he’s more a 2400m plus horse later in the spring. Interesting to see how he shapes up, should run well but good chance he finds it sharp. 10. Birdman isn’t suited at weight-for-age but he is a handy type still on the way up. Excellent return behind War Eternal at Rosehill three weeks ago, the mile is a plus and while he is also looking for longer he can run well.

How to play it: Ceolwulf WIN ($2 TAB Fixed Odds).

There should be enough speed to give every horse their chance and in that scenario 5. Headwall is the best 1000m horse in this field. Five of his six wins have come at the distance and he’s a proven first-up performer out to secure a TAB Everest slot. He proved himself Group 1 class in the autumn with placings in some big Group 1 sprints and he looks to be trialling well. With even luck at the right time he’ll be hard to hold out.

Dangers: Tough to knock 4. Lady Shenandoah given she went through last season undefeated including three Group 1 wins, all in fillies or mares company. Her only start at 1000m was on debut and she’s obviously improved since then. Her last couple of Group 1 wins were a bit of a struggle so perhaps she is better suited to sprints. If she is then she’s very dangerous and the logical threat. Gate one could be a plus or a minus. 3. Jedibeel broke 56 seconds when winning the Challenge Stakes first-up last preparation at this track and distance so he’s very much proven at the short course. Nicely drawn and he can be a factor. 1. Jimmysstar was an Oakleigh Plate winner first-up in the autumn and he does have a lethal fresh record. Not sure it’s a great set up for him giving away weight and a start at 1000m but if they do overdo it up front he’d come right into play late.

How to play it: Headwall WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds).

Is there a better placed horse all day than 5. Private Eye? He dominated the PB Lawrence first-up since the Stradbroke three weeks ago and did it from the front. He’s won just shy of $12.4m and gets into this race with 57.5kg and a rating five points (2.5kg) higher than any other runner. He’ll make his own luck up on the pace either leading or right on their hammer and with that run under his belt he has to be very hard to beat.

Dangers: 7. Pericles might be advantaged having drawn just to Private Eye’s outside as he is normally a go forward type. Last seen running a close fifth in the Doncaster Mile, he’s now with the Baker stable and nothing seems to have changed with him looking at his public appearances. Definite chance. 2. Linebacker has to go forward as well from the wide gate, he’s mostly produced his best when somewhere near the speed and given the aforementioned pair are natural on pacers he can get the tag. Has been hit and miss in his short career so far but when he’s good he’s very good and can’t be overlooked. 13. Waterford is a get back and run on type who has a good fresh record and was sweeping home nicely behind Linebacker in his latest trial. No surprise to see him charging home.

How to play it: Private Eye WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

11. Winston Hills handled himself soundly to run fourth in the same race when resuming and he’s sure to appreciate a good to soft track. He’s produced his best when saved for one run at them and if he’s within range he could be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 1. Point And Shoot didn’t handle the heavy 10 at all first-up and that run can be forgotten. Stays at 1200m but gets back onto a firmer track and given his SP fresh in unsuitable conditions he has to be respected, though likely gives away a start. 7. Bauhinia wasn’t able to get into the race first-up at Wyong in a small field and a slowly run race. She is another with a big finish on her when she balances up so it wouldn’t surprise to see her improve quickly too. 10. Dominetta has raced largely in group company against the fillies and been competitive. She'll likely make some use of barrier one and be handy and if she can sprint at the 1200m fresh is a threat.

How to play it: Winston Hills WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting