Randwick-Kensington Tips & Preview | Wednesday 29 July

Claudel has shown ability since before her competitive debut and incredibly, in four starts since debuting, has finished the runner up on every occasion. She steps out this week in peak order, she’s drawn ideally under Nash and she is ready to go one better.

He has mixed his form this time in, but after working home to finish on the placegetters’ heels at Rosehill two starts back, Elle Hudson returned to the winner’s stall dropping back in class at Newcastle last time out. There’s no doubting his condition this week, and this looks a great opportunity for him to successfully transition back into metro company.

Sent off a key chance in the market at Warwick Farm earlier this month, Eviction Notice produced a smart performance but was ultimately forced to settle for second by a very impressive Castillo King. On exposed form, there doesn’t look to be a horse of that ability engaged this week, and with the benefit of that run under his belt, I’m expecting Eviction Notice to prove extremely difficult to toss this time.

Her latest run, albeit stepping up in grade and into a strong Saturday metro contest did leave a little to be desired, but Concordia Wind was building a nice record this time in prior, including a sharp win at Warwick Farm two starts back. In peak order this week, she gets the services of James McDonald from a perfect barrier.

Champagne Hero dusted off the cobwebs when finishing down the order behind the likes of High Blue Sea first up from a spell but took good improvement into a near miss behind Iceman in a similar race last time out. Fitter third up this week, Tim Clark can settle him up on or near the speed again from the rails draw before calling on his turn of speed late.

She’s yet to strike in six runs back from a break, but Rantan has still turned in several competitive performances and finished just over a length behind Ice Kool at Randwick last time out. In peak condition this week, back to the midweek and sticking to the 1000m trip, she’ll get some relief in the weights under Mollie Fitzgerald and could receive the run of the race from barrier 5.

Having settled off the pace at Canterbury when resuming, Steel Strike mustered a good turn of foot to fill the minors, just running out of ground to catch the leaders. With natural improvement, he’ll likely settle off the pace again from a wide alley this week but does get a slight rise in trip, and with a clear crack at them late, he certainly looks up to the grade.