Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

3. Principessa overcame trouble and broke through for her maiden win at Kembla 14 days ago. The four-year-old was checked/blocked at critical stages, but to her credit, once a gap appeared, she burst through it and ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 11.52. The Joe Pride trained runner may be looking for further, but she represents value and brings a fitness edge relative to some of her key rivals. In addition, she is proven on the rain-affected ground, maps to have all favours and brings a competitive last start figure.

Dangers: 2. Black On Beauty is the deserved favourite after two strong trials and maps to control the pace. The mare has had 314 days off the scene, but if she can repeat her debut performance, she will take some catching. 5. Smart Little Miss loomed to win last start but peaked on her run. The blinkers go on for the first time, and the step back in distance suits. 1. California Surreal brings solid metropolitan benchmark form lines and can rate to win.

How to play it: Principessa WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

8. Pierossa had too much to do last start at Kembla and hit the line hard, running into second place. Further, the filly just got too far back in the run and had to make a long-wide sustained sprint clocking the meeting's fastest final 200m in 11.44. The Peter & Paul Snowden trained galloper is on an upwards ratings spiral this prep, can settle closer in the smaller field and is a significant improver onto a soft surface.

Dangers: Forgive 6. Fun Sunday's last start in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m), where she raced wide throughout and worked at a fast pace. She drops down in grade and maps to have all favours. Expect an aggressive ride on 5. Gulf Of Lion, who is set to peak fourth up, can roll forward and give a sight. 7. Monfiducia was honest first-up and will be fitter for that effort.

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

7. Midori Fuji resumed as a gelding this prep with blinkers on for the first time and was honest. Second-up at Nowra, he was well fancied $3.2-$2.8 late in the trade and bolted in by 6.5 lengths and ran time. The three-year-old must rise in grade but is on an upward trajectory and can step again. Expect a positive ride, and he is proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 1. Commander Bell is building this prep well and ready to peak fourth-up. The gelding is reaching optimal fitness and expect him to savage the line late. 4. Mehajir is a consistent type and has won her last two starts. 2. Deel With Me hasn't had much go right in his last couple of starts, and if he gets luck, he is a knockout chance. Add 5. Dolphina to wider exotics.

How to play it: Midori Fuji WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

7. Zetarita resumes and has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. First-up last prep in a Listed race at Scone, she got too far back and ran on well, clocking one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 11.58. Further, five subsequent winners have come through that race, including Zapateo, who has since won a Group 3 race. She maps well, brings superior form lines, races well fresh and will be savaging the line.

Dangers: 2. Aspen Chase is a consistent type and won a recent trial at Gosford. He is a real 900m-1000m type, will roll forward and take some catching. 4. Miss Fox resumes without an official public trial and is a key late market watch as she brings strong metropolitan form lines. 5. Esteemed Lady was honest last start and has a fitness edge.

How to play it: Zetarita WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

4. Flying Witness won on protest last start at Goulburn and ran time with a big gap to third. The four-year-old is arguably in career-best form, and her past two runs have been full of merit. The Annabel Neasham trained galloper maps to have all favours with a senior rider going on in Chad Schofield, and if she can repeat her last start effort/figure, she will be hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Sky Ace can bounce back after failing last start, where he couldn't handle the very-fast tempo but has a solid starting price profile. Add 2. Credit Crunch and 7. Dissenter to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Flying Witness WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Leaning towards 9. Lovero, who resumes and has trialled well enough recently at Rosehill. The four-year-old has had a long-time off but looks to have come back well and was honest first-up last prep in a high-rating race behind subsequent winner I Am Me. The mare maps well with the cross-over noseband on for the first time and is suited to 1100m.

Dangers: 3. Mr Wallace returns as a gelding and has looked the part after two solid trials where he hasn't been extended. Expect a positive ride from apprentice Zac Lloyd, and he is a key late-market watch. 4. Star Of Kings brings a fitness edge and receives a significant barrier change where he maps to have an economical run throughout transit. Add 5. Takahiro and 8. Let Her Speak to trifectas and first fours.

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

6. Iconic Story, who represents value, trialled well enough at this track recently with the winkers on for the first time. On debut last prep, the gelding had excuses where he checked/blocked at a critical stage, but to his credit, he picked himself up and found the line well, maintaining a solid finishing speed. Moreover, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjustments, and the margins confirmed the quality. The three-year-old has a race experience edge; William Pike rides for the first time and expect him to be savaging the line. Each-way.

Dangers: Debutante 2. Oakfield Blue Bell won a recent trial at this track in dominant fashion and did it in style. She will roll forward and be hard to run down. First starter 3. Megaton looks like a real trier and has had two solid hit outs at the trials. He is a key late-market watch. Add 7. She's A Bad Girl and 10. Emphatic Bel to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Iconic Story E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

4. Assiduity resumes and is wound up for this event after winning two recent trials in fast time. Further, he has been ridden out in both heats, setting a strong platform leading into this race. First-up last prep, he started a well-fancied $1.40 favourite, and although having every chance, he did it in style, winning by a dominant margin. The Mark Newnham trained runner is a nice type, will roll forward, has a string of winning ratings and expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 1. Egyptian Tycoon also resumes here and was an impressive winner on debut last prep at Kensington. The gelding maps to have all favours, is proven on the rain-affected ground and can rate to win. 2. Sing A Love Song is suited over further distances but brings strong form lines to this and will be running on. Market watch on 3. Oxford Vision who can bounce back after failing last start, albeit at big odds.

How to play it: Assiduity WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Best Bet: Race 2 # 8 – Pierossa

Next Best: Race 8 # 4 – Assiduity

Best Value: Race 7 # 6 – Iconic Story