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By Neil Evans

Track a Soft 5 with the rail in the True position.

We start Scone Cup and Dark Jewel Classic day with the maidens. Loved the strong closing effort of promising local three-year-old 2. Chaready ($4.20 on TAB) at his second start when it was tough to make up a lot of ground. Was also impressive on debut after being slow to begin and back at home over a little more ground is the right tonic.

Dangers: Similarly, three-year-old 1. Anselmo ($2.70 favourite) found the line hard from a mile back first-up at Tamworth and was drawn to be tucked away on the inside and saved for the last surge over this longer journey. Keep safe four-year-old 5. Trumped Up ($6.50) who didn't have the easiest of runs under a big weight at home third-up, yet was still strong through the line. Should love the bigger sweeping circuit. Include in exotics 3. Exterminate ($4.80) who has been placed in seven of 20 starts and draws off the track, but was close-up at the provincials in his first run for 10 months; while improving filly 7. Hokahey ($7) is best of the rest after a tidy debut at Kembla.

How to play it: Chaready to win and trifecta 1,2/1,2,3,5/1,2,3,5,7
Odds and Evens: Split

Chaready runs second at Muswellbrook on April 30

Competitive dash and a metro two-year-old on debut can take care of the older horses. 10. Walkin'Talkin' ($5.50) showed effortless acceleration winning a recent provincial trial and wears blinkers from a good draw. Is bred to fly being by a Group 3 winner and the dam was a dual Listed winner from only 13 starts.

Dangers: Sepoy colt 4. Fanz ($6) is trained on the track and can strike on debut wearing blinkers off a smart trial win sitting back off the speed and surging down the middle with still plenty in the tank. Progressive 1. Prince Invincible ($6) was strong through the line at Gosford, resuming for a new stable. Blinkers go on, and boasts enough early speed to negate the wide draw. Big watch on Victorian 2. Flying Finch ($3.30 fav) who boxed on well after leading first-up and also has good early speed for his first run in NSW. Keep safe 6. Lord Bronn ($8) who wasn't suited well back on the inside last start. Drawn much further out and back on the bigger home track with blinkers added, are all pluses.

How to play it: Walkin'Talkin' each-way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Now the babies lock horns. Provincial gelding 7. I Want One ($2.40 fav) is bred to run time being by speed sire Super One and draws the inside. Looked very impressive bolting in a recent trial at home.

Dangers: Expect the filly and stablemate to top selection 12. Miss Statement ($8) to improve freshened into her second start with blinkers added, while including metro filly 10. Dungassen ($7.50) in exotics after finishing well on debut.

How to play it: I Want One to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Incredibly open sprint with a stack of chances. Liked the way Tamworth three-year-old 9. Taketheshot ($5 fav) has attacked the line hard from well back in two runs this prep. Drops in weight on the more suitable bigger track and already has a win and close second here.

Dangers: Smart Godolphin filly 4. Attribution ($7.50) has trialled nicely since being run down late at Kembla six weeks ago. Beat a handy maiden field fresh in late February but a risk from the draw trying to work across. Was scratched from Wyong on Thursday to run here. Include well-bred filly 7. Rosa Moyessi ($7) who resumes off two sharp trials from a soft barrier. Big market watch on four-year-old 2. Aeecee Beau ($8) who also returns off a long spell and is drawn in the car park in gate 14, but form trainer has rung the gear changes. Consistent 5. Greenheart ($8) has only missed a place once in seven starts and was close-up under a big weight at Gunnedah. Blinkers have been added but this is significantly stronger.

How to play it: Taketheshot each-way and first four 4,7,9/2,4,5,7,9/2,4,5,7,9/2,4,5,7,9
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good race, again with plenty of hopes. Strong Dubbo five-year-old 4. Sneak Preview ($4.60) is ready to win fourth-up on a quick back-up and getting to his ideal trip. Flashed home late in the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga when heavily backed before getting little or no room working home in the Town Plate itself.

Dangers: Powerful home track four-year-old 2. Total Recall ($3.50 fav) didn't get much room or luck early in the straight in the Tamworth Cup but still hit the line hard. Drawn wide and up significantly in weight, but jockey change is a huge plus. Under-rated mare 7. Wild Rocket ($9.50) can run a big final 400m and right at her peak fifth-up. Keep safe improving four-year-old 8. O'Mudgee ($4.40) who swept home for an impressive provincial BM 64 win two runs back, and carries his lightest weight in a long time stepping up sharply in quality. Tough 1. Bajan Gold ($31) worked home okay late resuming in the Tamworth Cup and despite lumping a hefty 5kg more, he's drawn to get plenty of cover on a more suitable track.

How to play it: Sneak Preview each-way and box exacta 2,4,7
Odds and Evens: Evens

The first of the big features stacks up nicely for high-class Randwick mare 12. More Prophets ($4.20 fav) second-up over more ground. Did her best work late resuming behind a potential sprinting star and is yet to miss a place from nine starts. Draws to find cover off the fence, and can run a cracking last 400m to win this.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by progressive mare 4. Rocha Clock ($5) who swept home under a light weight to win a metro BM 100 off a six-week break and loves firm ground. Must include four-year-old 1. Missile Mantra ($6) third-up switching states off two impressive closing runs at Caulfield. Keep safe at big odds 6. Jen Rules ($12) ridden quieter fifth-up, while talented mare 5. Asiago ($10) drops a little in grade off a two-month freshen up. Include 10. Electric Girl ($18) in exotics after having no luck getting home in the Provincial Championships Final.

How to play it: More Prophets to win and box exacta 1,4,12
Odds and Evens: Evens

More Prophets runs third at Randwick on April 24

Now for the Cup and naturally there are several with smart credentials. Keen on six-year-old and big track specialist 9. Laure Me In ($5.50 fav) out to the mile second-up. Hit the line from a long way back, resuming in a strong race behind Rocha Clock who contests the Dark Jewel. Drops 1.5kg to the limit weight for this and has a terrific firm track record.

Dangers: Consistent four-year-old 14. Pandano ($8.50) has been given four weeks and a quiet trial since missing by a long head in the Provincial Championships Final. Draws a soft gate back down in weight and hasn't finished further back than second in his last four. Metro stallion 5. Royal Celebration ($6.50) is ultra-tough and should be right at his top fourth-up after just missing in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup. Big-finishing 4. Phaistos ($8) is another one seemingly over the odds second-up after rattling home fresh in that same Rocha Clock race. Expecting talented 6. Bottega ($7) to hit back after a poor third-up run in that race at Randwick, with winkers coming off.

How to play it: Laure Me In each-way and trifecta 5,9,14/4,5,6,9,14/4,5,6,9,14
Odds and Evens: Split

Another very open and competitive battle to finish. Progressive local mare 14. Lady Patricia ($12) is huge odds stepping up in grade but has been clearly undersold by the market. Sailed home from midfield for the easiest of wins in a weaker CL1, and she gets a nice trailing draw carrying 3kg less.

Dangers: Improving three-year-old 7. Bravado ($3.90 fav) was slow away second-up before making late ground under a big weight and only needs to slot in from the very wide draw to figure. Godolphin colt 3. Gravina ($4.80) hasn't been far away in his last two and draws to get a sweet run just off the speed.

How to play it: Lady Patricia each-way
Odds and Evens: Split

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Scone Cup meeting