Scone races: Brad Davidson’s tips and extended preview

Conditions are made to order for Hulk to return to the winners’ list, says form analyst Brad Davidson.

Hulk hasn’t won in a while but does perform well fresh. Picture: Getty Images

Sky Racing’s form analyst Brad Davidson runs the rule over every race, including suggested bets, for the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

SCONE

Track: Soft 5. Rail: +3m 800m to winning post, True remainder

R1: TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1500m)

Overview: The Dramatist comes up with a wide draw here but he has been impressive this campaign and should be rocketing home down the outside here. Angelical is unbeaten in three runs to date and while she is yet to break the clock, she is a real winner. Keen Contributer was luckless last start and should also be strong late here.

BETTING ADVICE: Leaning to The Dramatist.

R2: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1700m)

Overview: Lovetheinvasion was a strong winner fresh and she does have form over this distance range last prep. Her second up form isn’t great though. Outlook is a horse that should appreciate the extra trip and she will be running on late. Real Peace was a good winner last start and should have won prior to that as well, while Harvey’s Way and Always Sure also have each way claims.

BETTING ADVICE: Not much between Outlook and Lovetheinvasion.

R3: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (2200m)

Overview: This looks a nice race for Military Mission and he probably should have won last weekend. His run was very good and Hameron had the drop (and weight difference) on him late. Stellar Performer wasn’t far off Hameron last start and that form ties into the favourite here. Travelling Kate is going great guns although this is her stiffest test to date, while Mission Phoenix will also have admirers off the last run.

BETTING ADVICE: Military Mission to win.

R4: VINERY WOODLANDS STAKES (1100m)

Overview: In Secret was a very impressive winner on debut and she looks a filly with plenty of talent. Luna Rocks was dominant last time out and she just has to reproduce that now to go close again. These two look the main hopes here.

BETTING ADVICE: In Secret from Luna Rocks.

R5: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1300m)

Overview: Sacrimony has come back really well this prep and he is a horse you can count on to run well again here. There are a stack of improvers onto better ground in this race though. Different Strokes, I Am Lethal, Sinba, Casino Seventeen, Cotehele, Dynamic Impact and And We Danced can all feature without surprising and this is a pretty deep race.

BETTING ADVICE: Sacrimony the horse to beat but numbers 2,3,6,7,16,17 and 18 are all capable here.

I Am Me has been impressive in her three wins this prep. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

R6: DENISE’S JOY STAKES (1100m)

Overview: I Am Me has been ultra impressive in three runs in Victoria to date and while this is another level, she does look up to it. Najmaty sat wide in Melbourne first up but won with a leg in the air. She should be sprouting wings late once again. There are plenty of fillies capable of causing an upset outside of these two but I want to focus around these two runners.

BETTING ADVICE: I Am Me from Najmaty.

R7: LUSKIN STAR STAKES (1300m)

Overview: We have Tycoonist and Andermatt both in two races at present and it does make doing the early form tricky to sort out. They would be the top two in the market if they run here. A horse like Much Much Better is an underrated galloper and I like what he did fresh. He can definitely run well with 53kg on his back. Bandersnatch is going really well this prep and just has to handle the drop back to 1300m here.

BETTING ADVICE: Much Much Better can improve.

R8: DARK JEWEL CLASSIC (1400m)

Overview: Very open mares race with a host of chances. Le Gai Soleil is a very good fresh mare and she has a sharp turn of foot. She can sit back here and should be very strong late. Brookspire was too bad to be true fresh and she is much better than that. She gets the chance to bounce back here. Faschanel and Mirra Vision also look great each way chances.

BETTING ADVICE: Le Gai Soleil to win.

R9: ORTENSIA STAKES (1100m)

Overview: The race is hard to assess early with Tycoonist and Andermatt both emergencies here and acceptors for an earlier race. They would be top two in the market if they run here (and in the earlier race). The Bopper has trialled well leading in and he has some good fresh form. Malkovich will appreciate getting back onto a firmer deck although 1100m is as far as he wants it. Roheryn is a great first up horse and should be rocketing home.

ABETTING ADVICE: Do Andermatt and Tycoonist run here or earlier? Roheryn runs well at odds.

R10: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100m)

Overview: Athelric has been racing well on wet tracks and he just needs to reproduce that on drier ground here. He has the right jockey aboard and maps well. Hulk is a good fresh horse and he can definitely figure here if the inside is holding up (drawn barrier two). There are other hopes here as well.

BETTING ADVICE: Hulk the value?

Originally published as Scone races: Brad Davidson’s tips and extended preview