Form Analysis by RACING AND SPORTS

The clash of a red-hot Captains Knock and returning topliner Swayzee in the AD Turnbull Free For All is a highlight of Saturday night’s meeting at Menangle.

The program also sees five competitive heats of the Christmas Gift.

Race 1: MULTIQUIP AGGREGATES PACE

VAN BASTEN (1) will find this much easier than last week's attempt in the Steel City Cup and was racing very well at this circuit and distance prior, recording a win and a second from wider barriers in his previous two outings. Should get his chance from the ace draw. WHEREYABINBOPPIN (3) is struggling to find his best and didn't perform to market expectations last week but gets a lower draw this time and has the speed to take advantage of that so could be worth another chance. UNFAZED (6) had a similar barrier to this when he placed at this level here two back then tackled stronger company when beaten only 2.5m into fourth last week. Contender. FORCE FULL (7) finished in front of Van Basten when fourth in the Steel City Cup. Draws wider but came from this barrier for back-to-back wins last month, one of them at this venue.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU WARATAH FINAL

ILLAWONG DANNY (9) is in terrific form having won five of six starts since joining Darren Elder. Completed a winning hat trick at this distance when scoring by 5m at Newcastle last week. Draws wider but has the pace to offset that so can add to the winning streak. ROCK THE NATION (1) made it five placings on end when he led from a few spots wider and stuck on for second at Wagga last week. Can give a sight from the ace draw. LETTUCE GO MIKI (4) scored for the third time in his last four outings when successful at Bathurst last week. Draws a little wider but came from the outside barrier to win the last time he raced here. MULLUM AXEL (3) led and fought on for second to Lettuce Go Miki last start. He draws to be competitive again.

Race 3: J & J FIRE XMAS GIFT HEAT ONE

BOLD MEDLEY JUJON (3) was runner-up over this distance and in this grade in his first outing for Kevin Pizzuto then impressed last week, drawing deep but working to the front before scoring by 4.6m. Should be prominent from this draw so can go back-to-back. MIKI COHEN (2) broke when well fancied last time but was racing well prior including a win here three back when he led from one spot wider. His strike rate at this circuit and distance stands at 50 per cent. Danger. WHILEMENA RITA (1) made it two wins from her last three starts when getting home by 2.2m here last time. Tackles the boys tonight but she is well served by the inside draw. OZZIE PUNTA (4) looks close to a win after back-to-back seconds here, the latest from a wider barrier.

Race 4: SUCCESS STUD ALL YOUR HORSE BREEIDNG NEEDS XMAS GIFT HEAT TWO

CLASSIC ELEGANCE (6) registered her first win in Australia when she led from a similar draw before scoring by 5.4m at this circuit on Monday, taking her strike rate at the mile to 50 per cent. Up in grade but that was her first outing for close to two months so she has scope for improvement. HES A MEISTER (4) was far from disgraced when midfield form the outside barrier last time. Much better served by this draw and had recorded two wins and a second the previous three times he raced at this circuit and distance. ALTA SIERRA (11) scored for the second time in just three starts since a spell when he worked forward to find the front and went on to score by 1.5m over this distance here last time. Cops a wide barrier but he is going well. PRINCESS MICKAYLA (2) comes through the Regional Championships at Newcastle where she won a heat before drawing on the back row in the final. Won from wider at this circuit and distance four back. Draws to be competitive.

Race 5: CONDELL PARK PRODUCE XMAS GIFT HEAT THREE

DUKES CHOICE (2) appreciated a class drop when scoring a 1.8m win at this circuit last week. This looks a stronger line-up but he draws closer to the pegs and could go on with it. SCARED STIFF (7) is back in winning form, coming from a similar barrier to score by just over a metre in a higher-graded race at Wagga last week. He could measure up to these. LETS TURN IT ON (11) was a bit disappointing last week but the prior form reads well so may be worth another chance. MAURLEN BOY (3) did a better job when runner-up last time and draws to advantage. CARRAMAR OLAM (4) comes to the city for the first time but is in a purple patch of form with a hat trick of wins and owns a good record at this distance.

Race 6: CLUB MENANGLE AD TURNBULL FFA (LISTED CLASSIC)

CAPTAINS KNOCK (4) is in career best form having stretched his winning streak to five by leading from a wider barrier for an easy win in the Steel City Cup at Newcastle. Expect him to show his pace again from this barrier and he has won the last three times he has raced here. Can do it again. Topliner SWAYZEE (2) returns having had his problems last time in but he has been readied with two trials, winning the latest. Better known over further but he has a 50 per cent strike rate at the mile and is a four-time fresh winner. Draws low so could well show his best. NYACK (5) placed behind Captains Knock when second-up two back before coming from a wide barrier to score at this circuit and distance last week. This is stronger but he draws lower and will be at peak fitness now. BAINBRIDGE (1) and HELLUVA (10) have had differing fortunes at the barrier draw but both are exotic hopes.

Race 7: THE THRILL OF WINNING WITH APG XMAS GIFT HEAT FOUR

A wide draw creates a challenge for ISLA ROCHELLE (9) tonight but she is hard to knock having won four of five starts since joining Brad Hewitt, the last two at this circuit and distance. Has the speed to go forward so could get the job done again. MESSERATI (1) found winning form two back at Wagga and was good from a few spots wider here last time when beaten less than 2m into third. Has a handy record at the mile and gets his chance from the inside draw. ROMANEE (3) will be fitter for last week's resuming fourth in a higher-graded race and draws well so can progress. MICHAYWEY (8) draws wider than when placed last week but came from this barrier when winning at this circuit and distance prior.

Race 8: CORDINA CHICKEN FACTORY OUTLET XMAS GIFT HEAT FIVE

A win looks imminent for LIGHT ME UP (1) after top-four finishes in his three Australian starts so far, all from wider barriers. Did some work but stuck on for fourth here last week and is proven at this shorter distance. Peaking now and gets his chance from the ace draw. CATCHAFIRE (10) starts from very wide but was also drawn deep when fourth in his last two outings against some handy three-year-olds, beaten 2.2m last start. Won at this circuit and distance the last time he raced in this grade. PET KITTY (2) drops in class off the last attempt but had led from wider when winning here prior so is worth another chance. OOGA CHAKA (6) did a good job to come from a wider barrier and place when resuming. Can progress off that.

BEST BETS:

Race 4 #6 Classic Elegance – Looked good in Monday's win and can back it up.

Race 8 #1 Light Me Up – Working towards a win and gets his chance from this draw.