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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail out 3m:

We start over the mile, and that rise in distance is the trigger for talented home track Scissor Kick two-year-old 11. Tapa Kick to break through at his third start. Charged home to miss narrowly on debut around an unsuitably smaller track before launching late after covering some ground here to again miss by under a length. Has trialled strongly since, and with further education and fitness, this is strike time.

Dangers: Another one showing good progression is 2. Deep Voyage who hit the line well at the provincials, and a rise in trip is also a plus heading into his fourth start. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Lord Finland who is also screaming for this longer journey fourth-up; while 1. Contarelli third-up from the inside draw; lightly raced 4. Ideel Hero 2nd-up; and at much bigger odds 6. Ruode rising in trip after doing his best work late third-up; can all figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Tapa Kick to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this one over the mile too. Very keen on four-year-old 5. Rebel's Edge backing up in four days for an underrated stable. Ran home okay at Dubbo on Monday against similar opposition when supported in the market, and the leading jockey takes over for this.

Dangers: Tough mare 4. Pioneer Lasshas won two of her last four, and will find this far more to her liking than a metro Midway BM 72 where she made up late ground. Watch the betting as well on hard fit stablemate 2. By Nine who drops to a more suitable trip, and is also back from a similar metro assignment. Keep safe 7. Adelsun who flashed home to win a weak BM 58 last start, although the inside barrier here in tougher grade won't do her any favours on the map. Included in exotic bets, 8. Spoke To Rajiv dropping down from Highway grade.

How to play it: Rebel's Edge to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Big jump out to the staying trip here for a similar grade of galloper. Metro five-year-old 7. Jimmy Manolo can mix his form, but shapes as one of the better weighted runners all day only a half kilo over the limit. Powered home to miss narrowly in weaker grade a month ago, but has been kept right up to the mark with two progressive hurdle trials, and is much better suited on a bigger track.

Dangers: Provincial-based 2. Tiva Bay is as tough as they come, runner-up in three straight before surging home to win three weeks back. Despite a little rise in class, expect sharp improvement from 4. Winter Thorn who was very flat second-up, but gets significant weight relief here. Loved the way 1. Yak dug in hard when challenged under a big weight last time in a weaker BM 66, although 63.5kg may prove a burden too far.

How to play it: Jimmy Manolo to win
Odds and Evens: Split

A testing and open maiden, but confident local mare 12. Kaisa can pounce first-up off a 20-week spell. Hasn't publicly trialled, but working well, and will get plenty of cover from this draw around midfield before launching late.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by improving 3. Freewheeler who hasn't lived up to his market dominance so far, but well treated again after a 4kg allowance stepping up in distance. Big watch on lightly raced 7. Omians second-up behind a strong form maiden; while 4. French Comet and 1. Ballet Pride, both second-up, go in trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Kaisa to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Promising local two-year-old 8. Perennial rates a mile on top staying at the distance, with important gear changes. Was dominant on debut from right behind the speed, and carries 1.5kg less here for the next step up

Dangers: Big market watch on ex-Victorian So You Think three-year-old 1. Sting Jet who resumes off a 16-week break in his first run for a leading home track stable. Draws inside with blinkers on for the first time, and carries only 2kg over the limit weight after the junior rider's full claim. Improving filly 11. Split Decision is over the odds 20 days after being well beaten in juvenile Saturday metro company. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Perennial to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Now the maidens turn over the short course, and like the value about ex-Qld Pride Of Dubai two-year-old 16. Desert Safari returning for his first run as a gelding for the new Annabel Neasham stable 25 weeks after debuting on the Gold Coast. Has been fitted with two soft trials beyond this trip, so no problem with fitness, and he's bred to thrive on spacious tracks

Dangers: Home tracker 1. Super Story was good first-up when hitting the front at the furlong before being run down late by one in superior ground, although a tougher draw this time. Keep safe 3. Distant who was only collared in the last stride when first-up for 22 weeks; while 5. Boomsita third-up; and 11. Dubai Bound who draws to get a soft run behind the speed; head the rest.

How to play it: Desert Safari each way
Odds and Evens: Split

One of the toughest races on the program with a stack of chances. Like progressive Dubbo mare 10. Obey who is ready to win again fourth-up. Charged home from the back in similar company two starts ago before again driving late to miss by a half length in a stronger Class 3.

Dangers: Drawn alongside wide out, 12. Yirrkala has also finished off well in two runs back, and suited returning home to where he won on debut last spring. Capable and hard fit 2. Bean Rocking will appreciate the bigger track here after getting home late into a place via an interrupted run 24 days ago. A little drop in trip will boost 4. Shikanic fifth-up; while 6. Just Jacky second-up off a five week break, with a key jockey change; and 8. The Mystery Guy resuming off a lengthy break; can both add value into wider exotic bets.

How to play it: Obey to win
Odds and Evens: Evens a special

All aboard progressive Armidale three-year-old 9. Lost Media up in grade and shooting for a third straight win since transferring down from Qld. Has parked midfield both times before zooming over the top late, and is even better suited here on the bigger track where he can settle back & find wider ground which is usually superior going late in the day.

Dangers: Tough and consistent home tracker 3. Clifton Springs is a threat off a fighting CL3 win at Dubbo, although up to 61kg now. Keep very safe promising metro filly 5. Impactful Miss third-up from a good trailing draw. Gap to the rest headed by 10. Zoom Outcome who draws inside and comes back from consecutive Highway runs; while 2. Ostracised second-up is on the next line.

How to play it: Lost Media to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Another open battle to finish. Progressive provincial-based filly 6. Akauwheo is working towards a win, and ready to peak fourth-up. Bolted in her maiden at this track on debut last spring.

Dangers: Must respect emerging local 4. Martedi, who swept home for a dominant second start maiden win; and draws to find a close trail with cover. Include 10. Mr Bigglesworth third-up in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Akauwheo to win and quinella 4 and 6
Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R1 11. TAPA KICK
R4 12. KAISA

BEST VALUE:
R7 10. OBEY

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