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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Friday’s Scone meeting. Selections based on a soft track.

Playing a straight bat in the opener with debutant 3. Manuscript who has trialled strongly twice at Randwick over the short course. Typical of the Waterhouse/Bott stable really. Expect he’ll be the one to run down.

Dangers: 8. Soho Artist has the advantage of the inside alley for her debut and also comes off some nice trial performances. Commands some respect. 5. Global Miss is another city trained youngster on debut and she looked sharp enough winning her latest trial at Warwick Farm. Has to be considered. 1. Beyond My Ken is a local who trialled in Sydney in February and stayed on well in his latest at Wyong. No surprise to see him run well on the home track.

How to play it: Manuscript WIN ($1.75 TAB Fixed Odds).

Manuscript wins a Randwick trial on March 7

8. Omians was responsible for a big effort at Tamworth last time, while no match for the winner he went right back to last off a wide gate and circled the field to run into fifth. It suggested another 100m won’t hurt and while he’ll need a bit of luck he’s an each-way chance.

Dangers: 2. Ever Was has been around the mark without winning and bumped into Wymark, who has since won at Rosehill, in a Class 1 at Newcastle. Has every chance from a nice draw and just needs to put one away. 4. Silent Russian has been thereabouts as well in two runs back and started favourite in the same race as Omians when runner-up at Tamworth. Had his chance there, drawn out but racing too well to overlook. 11. Just Immortal attracted some support on debut at Newcastle but didn’t quite fire. Blinkers go on and up in trip so entitled to another chance.

How to play it: Omians EACH-WAY ($10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Omians runs fifth at Tamworth on March 10

12. Fuld’s Doubt improved with each run last time in to be a close second over this course on a soft 6 back in October. Powerful trial win recently, albeit in a small field, and this is a good chance for her to break through.

Dangers: 13. Poppy Boxer debuts on the back of a nice trial win at Newcastle at the end of February on a soft 7. Has a nice gate and any support would be significant. 2. Master Miyagi has a run of six second placings on end and for the most part they are by narrow margins. Has another chance here but becoming costly. 5. La Signora Dane is another debutant and she wasn’t disgraced in her only trial here a few weeks ago. In strong local stable and not without claims.

How to play it: Fuld’s Doubt WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Fuld’s Doubt wins a Muswellbrook trial on March 6

7. Gentileschi was quite wayward on debut but still ran well then thrown in the deep end in stakes company before a spell. Fitter for two trials and the latest looked quite comfortable. Very well bred filly who is hard to beat.

Dangers: 1. New Pharoah has placed in three of four starts so far and resumed with an even effort at Newcastle when right in the market. Wide gate but it might not be such a big deal with a soft track. 5. Naahro was placed twice at 1400m here back in the spring and is an interesting runner who has had two quiet trials but the latest was over a month ago. Has a nice gate and one to keep an eye on. 10. Miss Romain is a half-sister to former topliner Le Romain on debut in same stable and she bears close watching after a couple of trials.

How to play it: Gentileschi WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Gentileschi wins a Muswellbrook trial on March 6

5. More Szyslak put the writing on the wall here first-up with a great second behind a talented type then powered away to win at Tamworth up to 1200m. Shapes as though the extra trip will be no issue and is a horse on the way up. Can go close again.

Dangers: 12. Hot Bandit ran a much improved race at Dubbo last time and does appear to handle the soft ground well. Draws nicely and a repeat of that latest effort gives him each-way claims. 8. Sheng Gui ran well at Tamworth two runs back, hitting the line nicely, then tried to chase Elson Boy at Dubbo and knocked up. That form’s not bad now. Capable of showing up here. 7. Agnodice made some ground up in class at Quirindi to run fifth and will be looking for this trip now. Best efforts last prep were on a wet track and also at 1400m so she stays in the mix.

How to play it: More Szyslak WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

More Szyslak wins at Tamworth on March 10

1. Ramones is not far off a win and has the racing style to make his own luck. Went down fighting at Tamworth two weeks ago after drawing wide. Goes up 6kg but that tells you this is a race with less depth. Sure to give a good sight.

Dangers: 5. Hellcibell has a handy record so far and will be fitter for a first-up third at Newcastle where she raced handy and held her ground. Back 100m may be a query but hard to ignore. 7. Shine Your Light was quite disappointing at Tamworth when a well supported favourite, she did have a couple of small excuses but not enough to suggest she’d have been in the finish. As it was only beaten two lengths. Entitled to another chance. 8. Sky Artist was an easy winner at odds-on at Goulburn on a soft 7 before a poor showing at Newcastle in the same race as Hellcibell. Capable of better especially if the track stays on the wet side.

How to play it: Ramones EACH-WAY ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Ramones runs second at Tamworth on March 10

12. Remember Jack looks well placed coming back from a couple of strong Highways including his first-up effort behind Once Again My Girl at Randwick three weeks ago. Big effort after going back from a wide gate to keep coming. Down 4kg and should run well.

Dangers: 6. The Dramatist hasn’t won first-up but often puts in a big late finish when fresh. Stretched to 1800m before a spell so may find this sharp though hasn’t publicly trialled. Expect him to be strong late on his home track. 13. Zanzibar Gem ran an even race fresh at 900m at Newcastle when a drifter in the market. Likely fitter for this, draws the inside and on her best form she’s a chance to be in the finish. 11. Riva Del Sol comes back in trip after tackling the Championships race at Tamworth. Ran well over the 1000m fresh at Walcha and she’s good enough on her best to be competitive.

How to play it: Remember Jack WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Remember Jack’s last run at Randwick on March 2

8. Belvedere Boys picks himself here bringing some strong form from his Highway win at Rosehill a month ago. The runner-up has been Group 3 placed and the third horse qualified for the Final by running second at Tamworth. Draws ideally and will be the one to hold out.

Dangers: 15. One Beat No Beat should have won a Class 2 at Tamworth two weeks ago, was stuck right off the track and only went down by a nose under 59.5kg. Up in class but down in weight and drawn to get her chance this time. Promising and can measure up. 14. Melody Again ran off the track in the Championships at Tamworth which is unusual for her so forgive that. Game effort here prior to that and is still better off at the weights. Capable of bouncing back. 11. Sharp Shock followed his second to Belvedere Boys with a second in the Newcastle Stakes, charging through from last. Barrier really hurts him but if they can run on down the middle he’s a major player on that form.

How to play it: Belvedere Boys WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).

Belvedere Boys wins at Rosehill on February 24

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Country Championships meeting at Scone