Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Scone

An Annabel Neasham-trained filly blitzed her rivals when resuming and can make it two in-a-row at Scone. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Annabel Neasham has an exciting filly in African Daisy who is coming off a big win first-up and looks hard to beat at Scone on Friday.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Scone.

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

BEST BET

Race 3, No.3: AFRICAN DAISY

She won by five lengths first-up at Wyong and it would’ve been a lot more had the jockey not tried easing her up over the closing stages.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.7: CAMINO REAL

She just had to make too long of a run first-up at Warwick Farm and was left a sitting duck on the line. She has form behind Mazu and Tiger Of Malay.

VALUE BET

There’s plenty. Berdibek, Tawfiq Lass, The Rockwell Scale and Amegdul.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 1, 2, 7, 15

Race 7: 4, 5, 8, 17

Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 10, 13

Race 9: 1, 8, 10, 15

James Cummings can start the Scone carnival with a bang with several leading chances on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

TRAINER TO WATCH

James Cummings looks to have placed Ultra, Amegdul, Camino Real and Criaderas very well here.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Hugh Bowman has good rides but will need to use all his champion qualities to get Camino Real, Berdibek, River Danzka and Amulet Street into winning spots from wide draws.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR SCONE

RACE 1

Indicative returns from a spell and should get an easy run in behind the speed from barrier one at his home track and looked the part in finishing off his barrier trial so if he doesn’t get blocked for a run, he’ll be a threat late. Seahaven also looked good in a barrier trial but is on debut from a wide gate which is always a worry. Bootscooter missed the kick first-up and was five lengths off the pack as she struggled to muster speed in a 1000m race but she ran on for third and looks better suited to 1300m now where she can get into her rhythm and not let them get away early.

Bet: Bootscooter to win

RACE 2

The Snowdens would’ve liked what they saw from Hamaki over the final stages of his barrier trial and he’s back as a gelding under Tommy Berry who has trialled him up on both occasions and they should box seat from the gate here. Rock Chant has drawn out but should push forward and looks to be ready to fire fresh on a wet track. Fielding looks the one at odds here and The Rockwell Scale also should start a good enough price based on its barrier trial and he’s got the perfect gate.

Bet: Quinella 1, 16

RACE 3

Baltic Coast is five weeks between runs from a dominant 1400m win and goes up to a mile now which looks an issue but he won like a horse who wanted 1600m and has had a barrier trial since so he should be ready for this and will like it wet. Keen Contributer should’ve won her Highway race three weeks ago but got held up in the Randwick straight. She’s back to her home track where she ran second over 1700m two runs back in what was a record time. Brodie Loy couldn’t hold up African Daisy over the line as she bolted in last time over 1350m. She won by five lengths but wouldn’t won by seven had she been ridden out.

Bet: African Daisy to win

James McDonald rides African Daisy for trainer Annabel Neasham. Picture: Getty Images)

RACE 4

Egyptian Tycoon looked the winner a long way out on debut in town and went on with it appropriately to win by one-and-a-half lengths. He takes obvious improvement out of it and has a good enough gate to get the right run. Hold On Honey has got the right gate to be leading this field and perhaps he can go one better if the track isn’t bottomless. Irish Kisses is drawn out so will need luck but her trainer is sure she’s going to be winning in town soon.

Bet: Hold On Honey to win

RACE 5

Amegdul is back as a gelding and looked the part in just one barrier trial which should have him ready to fly fresh at 1100m before getting out over more ground. Tillotson should push forward with her early speed and she will be in the first few. King Kapa has better form than most here, having run in a Group 2 race and against the likes of Tiny and Zarastro last time in.

Bet: Amegdul to win

RACE 6

At this time of the day being drawn out might be a good thing and Camino Real put the writing on the wall last time at Warwick Farm. He made a long, sustained run and the only horse that beat her had her back and an easier run to the line. She has Mazu form too. Park Avenue wasn’t far off undefeated mare Norwegian Bliss two runs back while the extra 100m suits Cream Rises.

Bet: Camino Real to win

Hugh Bowman partners Godolphin filly Camino Real. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Gossip Torque won nicely on debut in Queensland before being put away for a couple of months to target this fresh and Tommy Berry has booked to ride her but will need to be at his best from gate 12. Seaside Sandy won on debut at Bathurst but only fell in. She should improve off it though. Look for Vegas Raider to sit back and rattle home down the outside. Raging Rush won like a smart horse second-up and was in second gear over the line at Orange.

Bet: Raging Rush to win

RACE 8

Rustic Steel is on the quick back up after winning The Coast and is in career-best form but he was almost handed that race last time out. Kirwan’s Lane put the writing on the wall first-up and came out and won the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and won’t be going backwards here but does go up 3kg at the weights. Stablemate Berdibek doesn’t want it too wet and his eighth in the Hawkesbury Cup can be overlooked after he got held up badly in the straight. Fender will start over on his home track while Dr Drill appreciate the rise in trip.

Bet: Berdibek each way

RACE 9

Amulet Street is in top form and Hugh Bowman is back on now and should look to find cover one or two off the fence in the best ground. See how Keen Contributer goes earlier in the day because Me Hussill beat it home last start. French Marine give away weight to his rivals but has very good form all around him and conditions to suit. Tawfiq Lass drops 6.5kg in weight from her last start and handles wet ground and made the Provincial Championships Final this time in.

Bet: Tawfiq Lass each way