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By Neil Evans

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

We start with the male maidens at set weights, and progressive colt 6. Invincible Whip is primed to break through at only his second start. Impressed on debut when charging home on the Beaumont track to miss by a head in what was a very handy maiden, with the final 600m run in slick time. The oen to beat.

Dangers: Keep safe 1. Imran, who has found the line well in two runs, and while the inside draw doesn't do his natural off-speed race pattern any favours, should relish the long stretch here. Expect good 2nd start improvement from metro colt 5. Fields Of Fire; while 7. Savoca is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Invincible Whip to win and quinella 1 and 6

Not much depth here over the mile, and provincial gelding 2. Beetson to bounce back hard. Mystified connections with a very flat run here 20 days ago after a dominant country maiden win. Draws well and the regular rider is back on.

Dangers: Honest mare 3. Tornado Light comes back a furlong in trip deep into the prep; while 4. Injada fourth-up with a 1.5kg claim can run into the money. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Beetson to win

Back to the short course, and it's the return of talented and highly touted home track four-year-old 1. Custo after more than a year off the scene. Even before a dominant debut win here nearly 15 months ago, the wraps for this bloke were big. Bolted in fresh again late last year before weakening after leading in a CL3 Highway, then spelling. Given plenty of time via two spaced trials, and this shapes as an ideal starting point for the new prep.

Dangers: Progressive mare 7. Crown Guinea looms as the clear threat, also resuming off a lengthy spell behind two trials for just her second start. Tracked the speed when winning a handy debut maiden at Muswellbrook back in early February. Almost irresistible each way value about progressive 3. Aquarter after a strong first-up win at Quirindi. Up in weight now, but may have turned the corner after showing ability earlier in his career. Watch the betting on 2. Zakor third-up from the inside draw. Veteran trainer has changed up the gear with blinkers removed, and has dropped him down a level. Another one resuming in slightly weaker company, 5. Briefly goes in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Custo to win

Plenty of market tracking here on a few debutants, but resuming Press Statement filly 11. Altisima looms as the one to beat second-up. Finished all too late from the back here 24 days ago as a hot favorite, but with that experience, an extra furlong in play, and well in on the limit weight, she's ready to win.

Dangers: First starter 2. Last Frontier by Deep Field can figure if he gets across okay from the outside gate. Given two easy trials here a month apart, and Aaron Bullock's booking to ride is significant. Be surprised if the winner comes outside those two, but watch for any money on home tracker 10. Regatta who found the line okay on debut at Muswellbrook when supported in betting; while stablemate 7. Are You Joking begins his career as a gelding with gear additions, and won that recent trial here in front of Last Frontier.

How to play it: Altisima to win

Expecting the locals to defy a decent metropolitan raid on this race, headed by five-year-old mare 1. Dotti On Time who peaks at her third start, with winkers going on. Held her grund okay on debut over a shorter trip at Wyong before hitting the line into a place in a handy country maiden. Shrewd yard has backed her up in eight days, and is very well in after the rider's 3kg claim. Is by powerhouse Group 1-winning US sprinter Air Force Blue.

Dangers: No shortage of those starting with 11. Genzano also trained on the track, and can improve sharply off a disappointing return at Muswellbrook when well in the market. Provincial-based 2. Lady Ichikawa has run above herself in two provincial efforts when closing off well, although has to tuck in from the outside barrier. Both 7. Alpine Kandy and 9. Flying Deel, both improving into their second starts; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Dotti On Time to win

Looms as a progressive battle between two locally-trained rivals, both lightly raced and headed for much bigger targets. Settled on Star Witness three-year-old 7. Harbour Gold after a dominant barrier-to-box debut win at Muswellbrook a fortnight back when clocking a fast 32.79 secs for his last 600m. Goes up a furlong in trip, carries only half kilo over the minimum weight, and gets a map advantage on his main rival.

Dangers: That rival is talented and resuming four-year-old 1. Heika who has been readied for the assignment with a smart trial win. Also bolted in on debut at the 'brook in early autumn before considered good enough to tackle Group 3 company at Doomben in only his third career outing. Asked to carry 59.5kg here, and has an awkward barrier to overcome. Hard to see any upset, but wouldn't dismiss another local, lightly raced five-year-old 2. Magic Statement third-up; or 5. Bullawa Creek who doesn't always produce his best, but finds his pet distance third-up.

How to play it: Harbour Gold to win

Testing affair this one. Provincial-based 2. The Denzil has far more ability than his modest two wins from 21 record suggests. Swept home for a CL2 win when fresh, normally holds that form into the second-up run, and the extra ground is a natural plus.

Dangers: Consistent mare 4. Never Sorry incredibly hasn't been out of a place in six runs since early July, including a CL2 win two starts back. Has been very stiff not to have more wins on the board, and was only a length behind The Denzil in that battle at Muswellbrook. Expect sharp second-up improvement from 7. Justfour who drew inside, and failed to flatter when fresh in a deeper provincial race; while 10. Herne Hill is hard fit, and clear best of the rest.

How to play it: The Denzil to win

It wouldn't be a late program sprint at this competitive level without plenty of chances, but no better value than improving mare 9. Rebel Dreamer back at home third-up. Hit the line late in a good quality BM 58 when fresh before making up some late ground in a tougher CL3 Highway at Randwick. Looks well treated at the weights after the claim back in this company, and the six weeks between runs is key coming back 100m in trip.

Dangers: Another home tracker third-up, 1. Scarzel finds his pet distance, with a crucial jockey change. Must keep safe 8. Sharp Shock also third-up for a leading local trainer. Comes back from deeper metro and provincial opposition, and draws to find a handy trail. Both 7. Sammiballerina resuming off a handy trial; and 10. Manage The Cycle second-up with weight relief; are each-way chances.

How to play it: Rebel Dreamer to win

BEST BETS:
R4 11. ALTISIMA
R6 7. HARBOUR GOLD

BEST VALUE:
R5 1. DOTTI ON TIME

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