Early Mail and blackbook update for racing on December 26.

RANDWICK SATURDAY

RACE 5 (6) TREE OF JESSE: Didn’t come up to expectations in two spring starts in October when she had issues but looked to be back in the form that saw her win three of her first six starts when she travelled well within herself to win a Randwick trial on December 15. Good value in this field as she’s won twice when fresh up and rates to win this on her best form.

RACE 6 (6) MEDCAUT: Added to his strong Randwick record when winning second-up over 1400m at this course on December 5, hitting the line strongly under 58kg, and is well placed to go on with carrying 1.5kg less over this more favourable trip considering his excellent record of three wins and three placings from seven starts in this distance range. Should respond well to the significant reinstatement of blinkers to his gear.

RACE 7 (9) BARBED: Won this race last year when run at Canterbury and set for a repeat after an excellent first-up effort in the Listed Razor Harp over this course and distance on December 12 when he was posted four deep from a wide gate. Boasts strong black type form at Randwick, gets blinkers back and this time is drawn to get a favourable run on the pace.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE

Selected Horses from December 19 (Rosehill; Doomben)

ISTANBUL: Ready to win in his right class.

WHITE DOVE: Had plenty of excuses.

THERMOGENIC: Close to a win. Midweek suits.

CANTBUYBETTER: Liked the way he found the line.

MERCURIAN: Goes close with a clear run.

Eligible Blackbook Runners for December 26/29

RANDWICK: Banksters Bonus (R3); Bank On Henry (R4); Slow Pace (R6); Strawberry Boy (R7); Ziggy Willie (R9);

CAULFIELD: Sabor A Triunfo (R3); Sistine Demon (R8); Reldas (R8); General Groove (R8); Metaphorical (R9)

GOLD COAST: Absalon (R2); Legendary Luke (R3); Aussies Love Sport (R9)

MORPHETTVILLE: Royal Rumble (R4) 9

CANBERRA TUESDAY: Northern Fury (R6)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS (Since September 1) - Azkadellia. Vanbrugh; Onerous; Silverball; Good Project; Disposition; Iggimacool; Kermadec; Ruling Dynasty; Hebden; Press Statement; Music Magnate; Stratum Star; Artistry; Zayam; Terravista; Braccenby; Lucky Hussler; Happy Clapper; Tarzino; I Can Rock; Zarzali; Pittsburgh Flyer; Star Of Night; Famous Seamus; Telepathic; Zanbagh; Festivity; Lady Sniper; Tall Ship; Pemberley.

CURRENT BLACKBOOK HORSES: Abidewithme; Absalon; Alpine Eagle; Amazon; Artibai; Artlee; Award Season; Azkadellia; Babooshka; Bank On Henry; Banksters Bonus; Black Jag; Bound For Earth; Bow Creek; Cantbuybetter; Chastened; Chester Road; Choice We Had; Clearly Innocent; Clevadude; Cuban Fighter; Dibayani; Drago; Elle Lou; General Groove; Grand Slam Eagle; Gracious Prospect; Hauraki; Hetty Heights; Hogmanay; Honesta; I Love It; I’m Belucci; Istanbul; It's A Silver Tail; King Of England; La Speciale; Lady Le Fay; Le Cordon Bleu; Legendary Luke; Less Is More; Magic Artist; Magical Stance; Mahican; Master Of Arts; Maysam; Mercurian; Metaphorical; Minnie Downs; Noble Protector; Northern Fury; Northern Saint; Ocean Tempest; Oncidium Ruler; Payroll; Pemberley; Pico Turquino; Portman; Puccini; Regatta Rebel; Rekindled Power; Reldas; Rose Of Choice; Royal Rumble; San Diego; Sardaaj; Setinum; Silent Sedition; Simply You; Sistine Demon; Slow Pace; Strawberry Boy; Sultry Feeling; Tarquin; Thermogenic; Thinking Of You; Tulsa; Unanimously; Ungrateful Ellen; Valley Sweetheart; Velox; Warwarick; Washington Heights; Wawail; White Dove; Whitten's Delight; Ziggy Willie