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By Neil Evans

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

We start over the mile on a surface that should improve to a Good 4. Like local five-year-old 5. Second Half who is right at his peak now fourth-up, and bred to get further. Finished off well in a smarter field last start, and will be given time to find his feet on the big sweeping circuit and work home strongly.

Dangers: Honest 3. Moorabinda Mick didn't finish it off at the 'brook third-up, but will find this a little easier back at home, despite climbing to 62.5kg. Provincial mare 4. Miss Santorini pushes out sharply in trip third-up, with good weight relief after a 2kg claim. Last start BM 58 winner 8. Lanova fourth-up; and 6. Forever Jude back in grade; head the rest.

How to play it: Second Half to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The wraps are more than handy for home track filly 12. Melody Again who starts her career in blinkers behind an impressive trial win on firm ground.

Dangers: Resuming three-year-old 6. Ollie's Secret is a big threat first-up from a soft draw with the "Raging Bull" booked to ride. Lightly raced Speith three-year-old 4. Bear's Best is over the mark second-up from an underrated Tamworth stable. At bigger odds, include in exotics 7. Silver Onyx who finds a more suitable race third-up in his first prep.

How to play it: Melody Again to win and quinella 6 and 12
Odds and Evens: Evens

Very tricky mile battle, with a couple of the early fancies coming out. This shapes nicely now for improving provincial filly 12. Yamba's Award who draws to get good cover back in the field at third start, and will relish the big open stretch here.

Dangers: Honest seven-year-old 11. Supra Marnium showed nice improvement third-up off a very long break at Hawkesbury; while big watch on 7. Righteous Feeling improving second-up over more ground.

How to play it: Yamba's Award to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Competitive race, with three runners in a good fight for favouritism. One of them, progressive Scissor Kick mare 7. Ella Te Ama can return off a 22 week break with a bang. Took big strides winning two from five in her first prep, including a dominant heavy track win at the provincials before spelling. First time she's seen a firm track, but the breed normally handles all conditions, and she was good through the line at this track in the second of two recent trials, forced to close off in a slow lane through ultra chopped up ground.

Dangers: Resuming mare 1. African Daisy has plenty of class, and fitted with two trials to run this trip out hard. Watch too tough four-year-old 2. Transformation who has been battling away well enough in city company, closing off nicely in a deeper Highway only nine days ago. Stablemate of the top selection 5. Lonely Power with a key jockey change; and 6. Just Jacky third-up from a better draw and down in weight; are both in the each-way mix.

How to play it: Ella Te Ama to win and box exacta 1,2,7
Odds and Evens: Split

Back to the sprint trip, and improving five-year-old 3. Extra Flash is well placed from a soft draw second-up. Held his ground chasing when fresh, but much better off with a run under his belt and especially getting to the bigger circuit. Was scratched from Warren on Sunday to run here.

Dangers: Home tracker 4. Lightfast has plenty of ability, and was dominant on debut for the stable back in late April. Has trialled okay, but still has a task from a wide draw under a hefty weight. Watch the betting on locally-trained 2. Unpredicted fifth-up; while 5. Back To Front resuming; and 6. Shikanic second-up; both go into exotic bets.

How to play it: Extra Flash each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Toughest and widest race on the program, with a stack of chances. Got plenty of time for progressive country mare 10. Tandem who can go back-to-back deep into her first prep. Has pushed on nicely since winning her maiden three runs ago, and freshened up since bolting in a weak CL2 field five weeks back. Pattern suggests she will thrive on the bigger track and long run home, and a leading country rider taking over is a further show of confidence in what is a weakened race.

Dangers: The betting will be a solid indicator for emerging three-year-old 2. Bat Out Of Hell who did best to win on debut at the provincials, although up sharply in weight from a wide barrier, and first time on dry ground. Must include home track filly 13. Dolly Jayne second-up, with blinkers back on.

How to play it: Tandem to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

The restricted sprinters close us out, and in another wide affair, it shapes nicely for progressive and lightly raced metro mare 3. Miss Hoff second-up. Resumed off a long break and a change of stable in a BM 60 at Canberra on a Heavy 9, and her effort was very good going under by a long neck. Typical of the stable, she's been given plenty of time, and trialled quietly a month back on the synthetic. Likes dry ground, and capable of stringing wins together.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with well bred filly 13. Quilting who launched her career with a narrow win in mid June, and looks well fitted, winning the second of two trials in smart fashion. Keep very safe 2. Lambdoma Energy back in class second-up for a provincial stable having a very good run. Improving 8. Iron Hat is a knock-out chance from a soft draw, with blinkers being added; while 12. Deep Opinions is first-up behind a quiet trial.

How to play it: Miss Hoff to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R1 5. SECOND HALF
R2 12. MELODY AGAIN

BEST VALUE:
R5 3. EXTRA FLASH

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