Matt Jones’s extended preview and tips for The Gong meeting at Kembla

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones examines every race at Kembla on Saturday to point you in the right direction to finding a winner.

Vianello was an unlucky second when resuming and looks hard to beat at Kembla on Saturday.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Kembla meeting on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here.

KEMBLA

Track: Good 4. Rail: True

Race 1

Overview: Atmospheric Rock should’ve won last start and be heading into this looking for a hat-trick. He’ll need luck from the barrier but he’s a horse on the rise and the in-form Tim Clark has been booked. Lady Kah is shooting for three-straight after a couple of nice wins to kick off her career and she gets a charmed run from the gate. Both Tap ‘N’ Run and Zadig are going better than the form reads and the latter looks overs.

Betting Advice: Atmospheric Rock to win

Race 2

Overview: Astero was always going to be better for a couple of runs this time in and he’s arriving here third-up off an improved second-up effort so it’s time to win for him. Three Wise Men has a nice fresh record and ended his last prep with a win. and I like him at 1400m first-up and the booking of Tommy Berry is key. Not a lot went right for Excelladus in the Four Pillars when caught wide and that could be his fate again from the barrier. The local Mr Rock It arrives at this right at the ideal time and gets favours in the run.

Betting Advice: Astero to win

Astero (right) boxed on well for second behind Either Oar (left) in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill last start. Picture: Getty Images

Race 3

Overview: This looks very hard to find a clear pick so let’s look for some value. Why is the local horse Tampering the outsider of the field? He’s going well enough to cause a big upset if he can run out the trip. The Guru won this race last year and did what he does best last start and won in town at odds so his confidence has received a well-timed boost. Smirk is a $7 equal favourite and the class factor is on her side. She has been working her way up to 2000m nicely after a fourth placing in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last preparation and she’s been backed in from $12 to $7.

Betting Advice: Smirk on top, but Tampering each-way looks nice too.

Race 4

Overview: Spellcatcher trialled up very well and he ran within a length of Everest runner Overpass last time in. He’s primed to fire fresh but so is Stoical, who has won four from five fresh and also looked the part in his lead-up barrier trial. I think Burning Crown is way over the odds. He didn’t get a lot of room to let down last start and has the ability to match it with these. Way To The Stars will look to jump and lead from barrier one under Tim Clark and is sure to give the punters a huge sight.

Betting Advice:Spellcatcher to win

Race 5

Overview:: Vianello would’ve won first-up had she got out sooner. She was flashing home late and looks well placed with a light weight and good barrier. Pretty Wild is another horse that’s been well placed to date and she is fresh off a good barrier trial but she’s never raced on a firm surface. Queen Bellissimo won this race last year and she’s better suited over 1200m. The best is yet to come for the resuming Amathuba.

Betting Advice: Vianello to win

Race 6

Overview: After a top debut win you would think Able Willie would’ve won another in this next five starts. To be fair, he’s come up against Everest runners Mazu and Overpass on three occasions. He trialled up well. So did Kanazawa who is putting together a nice record and hasn’t run worse than second first-up. Mars Mission has the fitness edge third-up off a nice last start win but has drawn poorly. So has Monte Ditto but he’s an improver.

Betting Advice: Able Willie to win

Athelric looks a good chance in Thge Warra at Kembla. Picture: Grant Guy

Race 7

Overview: Again, Godolphin have got one well in here with Athelric who has been mixing it with Eduardo, Nature Strip and Private Eye this time in, so this will be a relief. He’s got a light weight and good barrier. Malkovich leads them and it’s hard to believe he’ll have any excuses. Bruckner is a big watch after a long lay-off. He looked the part in a barrier trial and has a win at this track and a second placing behind Home Affairs in a Group 1. The blinkers come off Dragonstone for the first time.

Betting Advice: Athelric to win

Race 8

Overview: It looks like Purple Sector finally gets a dry track. He almost beat Diamil last time on a soft surface and it came out and ran well in the Epsom. He’s down in the weights from a cushy draw and can cause a minor upset in the feature. Brutality finally gets out to a mile after a series of flashing runs late over shorter trips. Hope In Your Heart is on fire but will need luck from the barrier. Don’t rule out the veteran Kolding, who loves it dry.

Betting Advice: Purple Sector to win

Race 9

Overview: I want to stick with Honeycreeper at least one more time. She’s been promising a win this time in and this is a good race to do it in. She just needs to find a good back to follow from the 600m. There’s been plenty of support for Nugget who ran second on his Australian debut and 1600m is a better distance for him. Blaze A Trail can bounce back on dry ground after no luck last time.

Betting Advice: Honeycreeper to win

Race 10

Overview: Irish Legend put in a nice looking trial and like most imports he will be better for the first Australian prep which included a close third behind Wicklow. Mach Schnell ran behind a top one last start while Arnaqueur just ran in a race last start when one led and took off on them and won. Tamerlane got back into form last start but has been up for a while.

Betting Advice:Irish Legend to win

Originally published as Matt Jones’s extended preview and tips for The Gong meeting at Kembla