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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

3. Champagne Tonight is an ex-Victorian filly with plenty of ability having her first outing in NSW for a leading Armidale stable since debuting early last spring. Showed speed that day against some handy opposition, and reportedly has been working well. Gets first use of the inside, and likely to start a short-priced favourite after being scratched from the opener at Grafton on Sunday to be saved for this. 9. It Stays In Vegas is a two-year-old trained on the track, and the clear threat fourth-up after placing in his last two. 4. Diva Rouge fitter into her second start, and 10. Vincetio who was well outclassed on debut against metropolitan opposition; can fight for the minor prize.

How to play it: Champagne Tonight to win and quinella 3 and 9

8. Liberty London can improve sharply second-up off a lengthy break, and significantly back on a bigger track four weeks between runs. Never got much room when settling back in her first NSW run, but balances up much better here and can produce a telling final 300m burst. 2. Royal Armada reloads for the new home stable with gear changes three weeks after doing next to nothing from well back at Wyong. 1. Power Through is a big market watch resuming for his second prep behind a tidy trial. 3. Keinbah’s Gift made some late ground on debut at Newcastle in heavy going, and can improve sharply back on top of the ground. 4. Hannah’s Bridge can run into the minor money from the inside draw.

How to play it: Liberty London to win

7. Ichika is an improving mare tracking nicely to peak third-up. Ran home well when having her first run in NSW after transferring from Qld, then again hit the line late from even further back in a Super Maiden at Tamworth. Drawn to settle a bit closer from this draw, and a stronger jockey goes on. 6. Epic Statement is the likely market threat, despite drawing wide third-up. Has also done her best work late in two closing efforts this prep, and another one suited by the big stretch here. 5. Airwalker is over the odds second-up from a softer draw; while 2. Hanoverian lightly raced and second-up, and home tracker 9. Lily Darling resuming off a quiet trial here; can both add value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Ichika to win

1. Big Short is a tough six-year-old who represents the value dropping in class deep into the campaign. Hit the line late two starts ago in this grade before buried away well back in traffic in a handy CL3 at Tamworth. Up in weight, but will relish the long run home here, especially back on firmer footing. 2. Zelestial is the clear one to beat, drawn the fence and shooting for a third win in four starts this prep. Trained here, and comes off a strong closing win at Coffs after being backed from $2.80 into $2.40. 3. Crown Legend is overdue for a second career win, but hasn’t been far away in his last three, and has been freshened. 7. Notabadone deep into his prep with a 2kg claim, and at bigger odds 5. Kalahari Heart also hard fit and up in distance; can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Big Short to win

1. Annoint is a city four-year-old bursting to win again deep into the prep. Has placed in four of his last five, finding the line late two starts back at Gosford before running home again behind a runaway winner at Taree a fortnight ago. Drawn to get the right trail in what is a moderate lineup, and the leading country jockey sticks solid. 7. Spandex will likely jump favourite coming off a dominant second-up win, and drawn to sit right behind the speed with cover. Doubt the winner comes from anywhere else, but expect sharp improvement second-up from 2. City Gold Ready over significantly more ground; while 5. Venice fourth-up, and 9. Fantastic Beast hard fit on an eight day turnaround; head the rest.

How to play it: Annoint to win

6. Lord Protector is ready to win again fourth-up in an open race. Has been working home okay in and around this sort of level, and the drop back a furlong in trip from a draw where he can settle a bit closer, is the right recipe. 7. The Piccolino is shooting for a third straight win, and back-to-back successes at this track. Dug in hard when challenged here to claim a CL1, but facing far more depth this time. 8. Cheap Gas also steps up in grade, but is over the odds after not getting the best of runs at Tamworth. Winkers go on and he drops sharply in weight. 4. Eighty Eight Stars has produced two fair efforts at this level since a dominant BM 58 win, and this is his pet distance. 1. Shamedy is a big second-up improver dropping sharply in grade.

How to play it: Lord Protector to win

6. Sharpen The Knives is an underrated Armidale mare who can pounce here at good odds deep into the campaign. Ran home into a place in consecutive outings against deeper opposition before not getting much room in a BM 58 17 days ago. Afforded a significant drop in weight after the jockey’s claim, and she will relish getting to the outside on a big sweeping track. 2. He’s My Warrior has to overcome a wide draw, but has enough ability back in this class after missing by a nose in a BM 58 when carrying 1kg more. 3. Rail Trail only held his ground last start, but that was off a 38 day break, and he drops in weight. 7. Backward Glance, a maiden winner here two starts ago, and 9. Injair drawn wide fourth-up; are the best of the rest.

How to play it: Sharpen The Knives to win

10. Sagaponack is a capable provincial filly, well placed third-up off a six week let-up. Tracked the speed before going home best, then only got going late from a wide draw at Tamworth a month ago in a similar-rated BM 58. Still progressing, and is suited first outing at this track. 5. Manage The Cycle is a tough sprinter who can claim a second straight win staying over the five furlongs. Twice hit the line late into a place at this course before coming from further back for a smart win in soft ground at Muswellbrook. Loves this trip, and should get enough tempo on to settle back and get to the outside past the 400m. 4. Edge Of Midnight is a market threat first-up despite not having publicly trialled. Draws to get cover, and will appreciate coming back from a tougher provincial assignment. 9. Desirous will relish a furlong further second-up. 1. Too Darn Lovely is very fit and has plenty of natural speed, but big concern carrying this weight down the long run home here.

How to play it: Sagaponack to win

BEST BETS:
R3 7. ICHIKA
R5 1. ANNOINT

BEST VALUE:
R6 6. LORD PROTECTOR

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