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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 3m from 800m to the WP

Provincial five-year-old 1. Oakfield Hiawatha reaches the mile fourth-up, and can peak with blinkers back on. Been slow to gather momentum this prep, but the Al Maher stock are renowned for peaking hard over this trip.

Dangers: Tough four-year-old 2. Full Coverage will be right there having won two from four in his first full prep. More depth here, but he's at peak fitness; while 5. Capital Venture has the tough task of jumping from a maiden win to a CL2, but he's strong and carries 2kg less.

How to play it: Oakfield Hiawatha to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Back to the short course, and that augurs well for well bred local three-year-old 9. The Sherpa who resumes with blinkers removed. Hasn't publicly trialled since campaigning in tougher metro two-year-old company, and draws to get the right run on speed.

Dangers: Progressive mare 4. Obey is primed to strike at her fourth start and first time at the track. Did well to finish as close as she did at Dubbo after striking trouble, and drew to get to the outside. Consistent ex-Victorian short course four-year-old 1. Akaka Falls has plenty of speed to off-set the wide draw, and will take some catching second-up for the new stable over this distance. Watch the betting closely on predominantly US-bred filly 11. Red Boulevard on debut off two progressive trials, and sire was a Group 1 winner in the US as a three-year-old.

How to play it: The Sherpa to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Very weak race depth-wise. Improving provincial four-year-old 1. Bonython can strike fifth-up after working home okay in his last couple.

Dangers: Both 3. The Dramatist and 7. Montari can run a place at their second starts.

How to play it: Bonython to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Now that Ceasefire has been preferred in the last, exciting three-year-old 6. Nadaraja can nail three straight here after running them into the ground at his latest. Stays at the distance, but surely they won't let him get away with grand larceny again.

Dangers: Tamworth five-year-old 2. Absolute Legend resumes from the inside barrier off a runaway trial win at home; while four-year-old 5. Street Power has trialled since failing badly here last start, and can run into a place.

How to play it: Nadaraja to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Keen on smart and lightly raced Kermadec four-year-old 3. Raoul first-up for a new local stable, with the blinkers coming off. Was strong through the line in a recent trial, and can settle well back here from the wide gate, and finish over them.

Dangers: Local mare and ex-Victorian 6. Top Critic is four weeks between runs via a trial win; while 10. Amazing Nicci can improve at her third start.

How to play it: Raoul to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Sticking strong with progressive home track filly 10. Loversfield who was dynamic at her third start, coming from a tailed off last to circle the field and dash away. Hasn't missed a place yet in three runs, and blinkers have been added.

Dangers: Progressive local four-year-old 1. Freedom Square was very good from the back first-up for nearly a year, and has plenty of scope returning home where he was a dominant maiden winner last spring. Will need to find early cover though, drawing the widest barrier in a big field. Improving filly 3. All Girls improved sharply second-up at BM 64 country level. Keep safe provincial colt 7. Heights who charged home for a dominant win on debut.

How to play it: Loversfield to win. Odds and and Evens: Split

Very open race. Got plenty of time for provincial three-year-old 13. Harlem Groove who can take the next step third-up en route to a metropolitan start. Swept home late to miss narrowly in a handy race at Coffs before too strong from midfield in a weaker race here, and is a month between runs.

Dangers: Talented six-year-old 3. Free Rider returns home third-up after having no luck under a huge weight at Armidale. Big threat over this trip. Keep safe improving local mare 12. Time To Target third-up, and down in weight after the claim; while seven-year-old 8. American Salute has more to offer than his modest record suggests.

How to play it: Harlem Groove to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Local four-year-old 15. Ceasefire resumes here instead of an earlier race, and he's the one to beat behind two forward trials.

Dangers: Rival four-year-old 12. Foxstorm can strike third-up with blinkers off. Has been narrowly beaten in two runs this prep hitting the line impressively, the latest in race record time, and drops 2kg for this. Gap to the rest headed by honest five-year-old 3. Standing Bear fourth-up; and local six-year-old 6. Joey's Chance third-up.

How to play it: Ceasefire to win and quinella 12 and 15. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R2 9. THE SHERPA
R5 3. RAOUL

BEST VALUE:
R7 13. HARLEM GROOVE

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