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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 6 and rail True:

Competitive and challenging opener over the short course. Progressive home track mare 5. Heiress Hera is good value second-up and drawn to get to the middle of the track in the straight. Made up a stack of ground from near last here 15 days ago, and with enough speed up front she can finish over them.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced filly 9. Gold Lover who resumes for a second prep with a new Tamworth stable. Looked very forward in a recent city trial, and blinkers are off. Provincial filly 8. Cauvery comes out of that same race as the top selection when working home okay from midfield. Must keep safe provincial-based Showtime filly 10. Showtime Sassy who bolted in a recent trial, and gets in light after the claim. The betting will tell a story with More Than Ready home tracker 2. More Szyslak who debuts behind two quiet trials, the latest only four days ago when taken back in the field and wasn't tested. At bigger odds, watch the market too on fellow local debutant 1. Giving Delight by Super One who hasn't been seen officially since winning two from three trials earlier in the year. Has been gelded since and starts in winkers.

How to play it: Heiress Hera to win

The maidens battle again at set weights over 400m further, and it shapes as a great starting point for four-year-old Epaulette mare 6. Christa. Won the second of two recent trials in convincing fashion, and is bred to thrive in soft ground.

Dangers: Trained on the track, 4. Piccapeppa can run the quinella fourth-up with a 4kg claimer booked; while 3. Lucky Creed second-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Christa to win.

Progressive Warwick Farm-based filly 8. Sky Artist can strike third-up ridden quieter. Faded out from on speed when resuming in metro company, but improved on a bigger country circuit next start finishing into a place as an odds-on favourite.

Dangers: Local 1. Hayaku comes off a disappointing effort as a hot favorite here on debut, and is drawn off the track, but has ability. Keep very safe I Am Invincible stallion 2. Imran who resumes in blinkers off a long spell for only his second start behind two steady trials, and the top country jockey stays on. Watch the betting on provincial mare 5. Miss Artfire who returns off a 47 week spell for her second outing off two solid trials; while 4. Hot Bandit draws to get a soft run settling closer after charging home late on debut 10 days ago

How to play it: Sky Artist to win

Up to the mile now. Progressive home track mare 9. Omians can continue to build a solid record in her first full prep. Was terrific when charging home late for a dominant win here second-up, then settled too far back over this trip before running home well from midfield to beat all bar the winner. Again stays at the distance, with winkers going on, and from this draw she will get plenty of cover a little better than midfield and produce a dominant final 400m burst.

Dangers: Naturally, 14. Cicada will take some beating after working home well enough on debut in a tougher metro company, but is under the odds from a tricky draw. Better value is the stablemate 12. Balinor who resumes for a second prep behind two quiet trials; while 1. Magic Prophet off a dominant last start maiden win can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Omians to win

Plenty of chances in this one too. Improving and hard fit provincial mare 6. Diva Carolina has plenty going for her in this grade. Came off two fair runs in slightly deeper fields to break through third-up when taken to the front and never looked in doubt against a moderate maiden line-up. Gets a significant jockey booking here, again draws to roll forward and get a cosy on-speed run, and given her more middle distance and staying breeding, nothing will be stronger late.

Dangers: Keep safe improving 5. Boho Chick who draws to get cover up in distance second-up. Honest 4. Adelinda also gets a cheap run in transit, and should be strong late from the draw. Include 1. Velvet Haze drawn inside second-up with a 2kg claim; 2. Keen Contributor reloading off a 10 week break with gear changes; and 3. Harmony Halo behind a dominant last start CL1 win; in wider exotic bets.

How to play it: Diva Carolina to win

The boys edition is also a tricky contest, although promising home track stallion 4. Point Basse is the one to beat ahead of his second start. Looked smart running home to win his maiden here with something in hand as a short-priced favourite, and is bred to relish soft ground.

Dangers: Plenty of respect for 2. Elleves who is well placed from a soft draw back a shade in trip fourth-up, although a query drawn low where rain-affected ground can often be inferior at this track. Tough 3. Crowie's Shout won two straight in weaker grades before sticking on okay in similar company to this. Gets in well at the weights after the junior rider's 4kg allowance. Both home tracker 1. Fanz fourth-up and back a shade in class can figure in the money.

How to play it: Point Basse to win

Tough and deeper grade. In a race of many chances, honest local six-year-old 7. Reach Beyond is ready to win again deeper into the current prep. While his form is mixed against similar-rated opposition, generally saves his best for home, and the blinkers back on is a key and timely gear change. Will settle back in the field, and come with a sustained run late.

Dangers: Provincial-badsed 5. Wealthy Investor is well placed third-up dropping back from a fair effort in the tougher BM 72 Midway company. Watch the betting on capable local mare 4. Angelical who can improve sharply second-up also coming back from city grade second-up. Won her only previous start at this track. Another home tracker 10. Titled Tycoon is an each way shot hard fit, and dropping back a furlong in trip from Highway opposition. Include 12. Mr Severino who comes through that same Highway race as the former; and at bigger odds 3. Smoke Bomb fourth-up; in trifecta and first fours plays.

How to play it: Reach Beyond to win

Competitive sprint to close the meeting. Like sparingly raced home tracker 3. Assiduity despite coming back significantly in distance a month between runs. Dominated from the front as a heavily backed favorite in weaker grade two starts ago before showing speed in a deeper Highway over 1500m & dropping right out under pressure in the straight. That proved he's easily at his best over the sprint trip, and by-passed a very winnable race last week to be kept fresh for this. Handles all ground.

Dangers: Keep safe rival local 6. Clifton Springs who can peak fourth-up also dropping back a furlong in trip four weeks between runs. Just needs to find cover from the wide barrier. Naturally big watch on stablemate 8. The Hanger Cat resuming from the inside draw behind a nice forward trial. Steadily improving 1. Ranuncula can run into the finish dropping in grade, and has a 50 percent winning strike rate from four starts here at home. Both 2. Very Sharp resuming; and 9. Play My Song down sharply in weight third-up; go in wider exotic bets.

How to play it: Assiduity to win

BEST BETS:
R4 9. OMIANS
R5 6. DIVA CAROLINA

BEST VALUE:
R2 6. CHRISTA

All the entries, form and replays for Monday’s Scone meeting