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By Neil Evans

Track likely Good 4 and rail out 5m from 800m to WP & 3m the remainder:

Very tricky opener. With an edge in fitness four runs into his first full prep, 8. Storm's End is ready to break through on an 11 day back-up. Has run home well from a long way back in her last two, and looks well treated here at the weights & over 100m further back on her home track.

Dangers: Another local 1. Hammoon Sky is over the odds resuming for a second prep. Hasn't publicly trialled, but will come to hand, and is drawn to find a handy trail off the fence. Expect sharp improvement from 3. Kiss The Outcast down in quality second-up; while 7. Single Attraction at her fourth start; and Menari filly 5. Rockin' Millie, who drew the fence on debut behind two progressive provincial trials; are both capable of finishing in the money.

How to play it: Storm's End to win

Always had plenty of time for still improving mare 2. Kaisa who shapes well here staying at the distances second-up. Swept past them and looked home before being gunned down late when resuming off a 20 week break, and will be strong at both ends again being bred to get further.

Dangers: Hard fit 3. Priding and 5. The Coat Hanger third-up, both emerging from a handy form race at Muswellbrook 11 days ago, can fight out the minor money.

How to play it: Kaisa to win

Back to the short course, and nothing is better suited than lightly raced local 3. Super Story third-up. Loomed to win early in the straight when resuming before attacking the line to miss by a nose here after being ridden quieter. Draws to get an ideal run off the speed with cover, and this can pitchfork him into much better races.

Dangers: Drawn right alongside, ultra honest 11. Toyger also gets an economical run, and comes back from provincial company where he's been placed in three from four runs this prep. Metro four-year-old 2. November Rhythm has been mixing form and threatening to break through for much of a drawn-out prep. Reloads yet again four weeks between runs, with a string of gear changes and via a smart trial win. Included in exotics Star Turn filly 10. Whispering Muriel on debut behind a trial win.

How to pay it: Super Story to win

Tactical battle here over the mile. Progressive and lightly raced 5. Martedi can strike having missed narrowly as a short-priced favourite here a fortnight back.

Dangers: Talented 14. Bullbarrow should relish the extra trip with a long and sweeping run home after finishing hard to go down by a long neck first-up at the provincials. Watch the market on 13. Omians at a big price after charging late to run down the on top selection from race 2 second-up. Locally-trained 4. Lord Finland beat a promising one here fourth-up to land her maiden, and naturally gets some weight relief for this deeper test; while at huge odds, 3. Hot Wok draws to get cover also stepping up from a narrow maiden win.

How to play it: Martedi to win

Plenty of value chances here, headed by improving four-year-old 10. Talons who is over the odds fourth-up despite drawing the outside gate. Made up enormous ground in a country CL1 last start where it wasn't easy to come from the back, and the bigger track and slightly longer trip are key pluses.

Dangers: Resuming from a low draw with a 2kg claim, lightly raced provincial filly 7. Klisha has been fitted with two quiet 1000m trials. Watch for 6. See You Again running home hard fifth-up and coming back from three runs at provincial level. Underrated stablemate 3. Elleves draws to get a sound run second-up, with a far more senior jockey taking over. Both 1. Russian Ruble first-up; and 14. Herne Hill fifth-up with some weight relief; both go into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Talons each way

Very tough and wide race, where this grade of galloper is not often seen over a non-metro middle distance. Keen on home track mare 3. Bootscooter fifth-up. Didn't have much luck from tricky draws in consecutive Highways before again running home well in tougher BM 78 metro company when beaten under three lengths. That reads well for this, and the sharp jump in weight has been off-set with a 2kg claim.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by talented 4. Sukhbir who has won two from three up to country CL3 level, and has oodles of tactical speed. Keep safe metro mare 7. Pioneer Lass fourth-up who is a reliable line finder in and around this grade. Honest 12. Rothrock draws the inside second-up off a month-long break, and comes through a couple of handy provincial races. Included in exotic bets 8. Mauricently fifth-up; and 13. Blue Jager down in weight, and coming off a fast-finishing win in weaker grade.

How to play it: Bootscooter to win

Smart home track mare 4. Pliskova can make it two straight this prep. Returned with a dominant CL1 win at Dubbo, running significantly quicker on the day than two other odds-on winners over this distance. Despite the weight hike, draws to find a nice on-speed position, and she boasts superior closing acceleration over any sprint trip. The one to beat.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced 6. Divine Sinner who resumes for his first run since mid April. Has trialled okay, and capable of producing a flashing finish from the second half. Trained on the track, 5. Babayka is drawn to roll forward second-up off a long berak; while 8. Tennagain fourth-up with important gear changes; and 11. Shamalie fourth-up with weight relief; are the best of the rest.

How to play it: Pliskova to win

An open contest to finish. Like local filly 5. Leggy Point on a big class drop fifth-up. Motored home down the middle to thrash a similar field here two starts ago before working home okay in deeper Highway company. Right at peak fitness, and has earnt the 60.5kg she's now being asked to carry.

Dangers: Honest 1. Brogan's Creek comes off a tough and narrow win against similar opposition in a good quality Winter Classic Final at Dubbo; while 4. Marvelous looks over the odds back from deeper provincial class third-up. Include 2. Shen Gui fourth-up; 7. Shikanic over a furlong further; and 10. Extessive also peaking fourth-up; in all trifecta and first four bets.

How to play it: Leggy Point to win

BEST BETS:
R2 2. KAISA
R3 3. SUPER STORY

BEST VALUE:
R5 10. TALONS

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