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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail True

Keen on three-year-old local Astern filly 6. Alenia who has won both lead-up trials four months apart, the latest by nearly four lengths. Trial jockey sticks and claims 3kg.

Dangers: Provincial four-year-old Snitzel stallion 1. Beppe gets first use of the inside on debut coming off a dominant trial win in soft ground. Tamworth three-year-old 5. Scarzel has been given 11 weeks via a soft trial after fading late at Newcastle, but gets in light here after the rider's 3kg claim; while included in exotics home-track filly 9. Kiss And Shout on debut off a smart trial win; and improving mare 3. Only Need Time second-up with blinkers added.

How to play it: Alenia to win and trifecta 1,5,6/1,5,6,9/1,3,5,6,9. Odds and Evens: Split a special

Got plenty of time for improving three-year-old 4. Nadaraja who showed speed on debut at Muswellbrook before lugging off the track and presenting a dream run through for the winner who has since scored convincingly again. Improves over a little further first time on home course, and had previously trialled well on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Emerging metro three-year-old 2. Hauraki Gulf will be hard to stop from the draw five weeks after a fair debut, and was scratched from Bathurst on Monday to run here. Keep safe local three-year-old 5. Hiraishin who held his ground okay on debut.

How to play it: Nadaraja each way. Odds and Evens: Evens

Now the girls' turn, and progressive Randwick filly 7. Smokeshow is primed to break through at her third start. Has finished strongly from well back in two provincial runs so far, and although likely to be forced well back from the wide gate again, will love the long sweeping run home here. Has heavy track trial experience.

Dangers: Home track three-year-old 11. She's Contrary made a sound debut here, and had previously scored in a trial on rain-affected ground.

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

Talented provincial colt 13. Geisel has been heavily backed before going down narrowly both starts to launch his career. Punters, though, should keep the faith. He had very little clear room at Muswellbrook, and is actually better off drawn further out where he can be given plenty of time to get home. Superior rider has been booked.

Dangers: Improving metro four-year-old 10. Hoost got through Soft 7 nicely first-up, and can progress here over more ground; while honest mare 9. Sure Strategy is best of the rest.

How to play it: Geisel to win and box exacta 9,10,13. Odds and Evens: Split

Open affair here. Promising provincial mare 3. Ciccina let rip with a terrific finishing burst to win first-up at Taree, and has been given four weeks since. Bound for better races, although the handicapper has shown no mercy up sharply to 61kg.

Dangers: Talented local mare 11. Spritza Seritza has to overcome a tough gate, but if she can slot in for cover, has the necessary finishing sprint to figure. Local mare 15. Stellar Blaze has been strong to the line in her last two at CL1 level, and draws to get good cover; while including 12. Black Jade and 9. Belle Of Portugal in exotics.

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

The boys' edition is not as open, but still competitive. Got plenty of time for emerging three-year-old 8. Harlem Groove who loomed to win second-up at Coffs before peaking late. Drawn very wide, but on rain-affected ground that's usually little or no concern here, and strong and more aggressive rider hops aboard.

Dangers: Consistent six-year-old 5. Heredero has found a new lease of life this prep winning two from his last four in and around this class, although up sharply in weight. Look for 6. Spilia to be running on late.

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

Typical high pressure and open sprint for this grade. Like the value about progressive Exosphere four-year-old 7. Ballistic Moon who easily ran down a tough sprinter here three weeks ago, and that horse then bolted in his next start. This is tougher and drawn wide, but he has plenty of upside, and the more it rains the better he shapes.

Dangers: The first-up provincial win of exciting Exosphere mare 12. Perlant was all the talk before she got well back at her next run and finished only fairly. Draws to get a stack of cover back in the field, and will relish the big track. Improving mare 10. Ashre Jahre was unwanted in betting first-up and ran accordingly, but hit back hard cruising home from the front in a CL2. Gets in light after the claim and will give a big sight on speed. Expecting a big fourth-up run from metro seven-year-old 4. Moralist coming back from provincial company.

How to play it: Ballistic Moon each way. Odds and Evens: Split

It doesn't get any easier in the finale. Local five-year-old mare 12. Birdonawinningpost has had three improving runs back in deeper Highway company, and can strike back at home fourth-up in ground she relishes. Draws to get a trail off the fence, and blinkers have been added.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 9. Tinka's Lad shoots for three straight wins stepping up in distance, and carries 1.5kg less for this tougher grade. Local five-year-old 1. Eiger has boxed on well from the front in his last two, and this is a slight drop in grade, although much better when ridden with a sit. Keep safe local eight-year-old and last start winner in this class 8. Itasca who loves it wet.

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

BEST BETS:
R4 13. GEISEL
R6 8. HARLEM GROOVE

BEST VALUE:
R5 3. CICCINA

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