Saturday best with Ray Hickson and Ron Dufficy

BEST BETS: THE Sportsman’s Ray Hickson and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy analyse the Christmas eve meeting at Rosehill Gardens.

Dwayne Dunn and Snoopy get the job done at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

THE Sportsman’s Ray Hickson and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s form expert Ron Dufficy analyse the Christmas eve meeting at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

STABLE WATCH: ROSEHILL GARDENS

THE EARLY OIL: SANDOWN HILLSIDE

RACE 4: HYLAND BOXING DAY SALE (1350m) 2.30pm

DUFFICY: This is a very tricky race. I want to be with the lightweight Bonny O’Reilly. She’s found her form third-up and I think she can get into a race where she can be ridden properly with some speed up front. Girl Sunday hasn’t put a foot wrong this preparation winning all three races. Dee Nine Elle showed good courage beating Nudierudie the other day and they both have good chances.

HICKSON: I thought I might be on my own with Bonny O’Reilly. She’s a nice promising type on the way up and on the limit weight. I think the race sets up well to her with the speed you mentioned and she gets a lot of weight off those up the top. Dee Nine Elle showed a lot of fight to win first-up and she’s only going to be fitter. Obviously Girl Sunday is pretty hard to knock but it’s also hard to jump on after she’s won three without you.

RACE 5: TAB HIGHWAY (1500m) 3.05pm

DUFFICY: I was quite impressed with I Told Georgie the other day. She had a bit of city form last preparation and has come back a much stronger mare. Third-up off a win she’ll do me. Madame De Ban is the danger from the Matt Dunn stable who has had huge success in these races. Her runs in Brisbane have been around the mark. The other one that caught my eye was Circle Game who resumed with a big win over an unsuitable trip at Canberra.

HICKSON: I’m staying with the Matt Dunn bandwagon, Madame De Ban is in a much more suitable Highway than when she came here at her third start. She’s drawn well and didn’t have a lot of luck in Brisbane. It looks a strong Highway though. Al Cubana hit the line pretty well to run third behind I Told Georgie the other day and they are both in the mix. Circle Game is a good chance as well.

RACE 6: JAMES BOAG’S HANDICAP (1500m) 3.40pm

DUFFICY: I know he has a poor winning strike rate but I want to be with Gold Ambition. He showed good improvement from his first-up run and was just beaten by a fitter horse. He maps well and he will be hard to hold out. I’m terrified of Heartlings, I’ve been on her both times this prep and I don’t think she’s been ready. No knock on Hogmanay who hasn’t done much wrong and maybe Pepperberry can run on with the light weight.

HICKSON: I’m jumping on Heartlings, I think the race sets up well for her with the speed coming across from the outside. She should get some cover in behind and she gets a good chance to be right in the finish. Kandinsky has ability but either leaves it a bit late or things don’t go right. Hard to deny Hogmanay a good chance again and Gold Ambition as well.

Snoopy salutes at Flemington this month. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7: DECEMBER HANDICAP (1400m) 4.20pm

DUFFICY: Looks to be a lot of speed here and I think it sets up well for Bachman. He’s dropping in class and gets a faster race, he’s third-up at 1400m and I have to give him another chance. Snoopy has found his form with two soft wins. Religify has been freshened but he always has a go, with Bowman taking over he should rate him well. I’m wary of Ecuador here who usually sprints well fresh.

HICKSON: I’m going with Snoopy, hopeful he gets a run behind the speed. He’d been a bit costly this preparation prior to his last two wins which have been pretty good. Snippets Land has come back very well and he could be the one ambushing them late. Religify was a late scratching a couple of weeks ago but he will give a sight as he always does. Bachman has to go in just in case things go his way.

RACE 8: #THERACES HANDICAP (1350m) 5pm

DUFFICY: I quite like Invincible Knight, all his form for John Thompson has been outstanding. I know he doesn’t have a lot of fresh form but I’m disregarding that being with a new trainer. I like his trials and I think he can go on with the job in a very difficult race. Dark Steel is another one freshened up. He seems to be going well and Bowman taking over won’t do him any harm. His stablemate We’re Sure has been untouchable first-up. He didn’t trial as well as I thought he should have but the Snowden team can get away with that. Sonic Swish up in distance could run on off a better speed.

HICKSON: Just about anything can win this. I thought Careless was very good last week at his second run for Mark Newnham. He should get some favours from a good gate and if he runs up to last week he’s a good chance. Sir Plush is a model of consistency who can’t draw a barrier but he’ll put himself on the speed. Wary of We’re Sure first-up with that fresh record and I loved Hand From Above’s first-up run so I have to have him in the mix somewhere as well.

RACE 9: TAB HANDICAP (1200m) 5.40pm

DUFFICY: Tough race but I’m a Perfect Dare fan. He has terrific dry track form and has drawn beautifully for the first time and with an in-form jockey Josh Parr. He’s at his peak now. Disgraceful always sprints well fresh and is a danger. Suspense is an honest horse who has had a freshen and a trial since his last run and he’s always competitive at this level.

HICKSON: I quite like Suspense, his fresh record is pretty good and won off a seven week break earlier this year against some handy types. I think Perfect Dare is the obvious threat. Finally gets a decent gate after having to do a bit of work last start from the wide gate. Magic Alibi put in a much better performance last start and Ziggy Willie is hard to leave out, he’s racing in great form and will probably be down the outside again.

RON’S VALUE BETS

Race 6 No.1 Gold Ambition

Race 8 No.9 Invincible Knight

Race 9 No.13 Perfect Dare

Bachman will have to negogiate an extra 200m on Saturday. Picture: Simon Bullard

THE JUDGMENT

RACE 7: DECEMBER HANDICAP (1400m) 4.20pm

Gerald Ryan (trainer) Bachman/Dances On Stars: “Bachman is going back (up) to 1400m for the first time in a while. Dances On Stars has now eight on his back after the claim but it might be a tad short coming back from 1500m to 1400m.

Glenn Munsie (TAB): ‘’Speed galore here with Snoopy, Religify, Ecuador, Dylan’s Rojo and possibly That’s A Good Idea all wanting to go forward. Sets it up for Snippet’s Land who comes into this race 2nd up and the way in which the race will be run suits him. Dances On Stars is huge value with no weight and pace on.’’

Grant Palmer (bookie): ‘’Ecuador looks primed for a first up kill with the benefit of 3 strong trials, at each-way odds he will give a great site. Bachman, who maps to get a dream run of the speed, looks the main danger.’’

Blake Johnston (bookie): ‘’Snippets Land will be fitter for his first up effort when he conceded the winner plenty of weight. He looks well suited here and will prove very hard to beat.’’

Terry Kennedy (Sky Sports Radio): ‘’Looks to be really good pace here, which will hopefully suit Snippets Land. He’s been freshened up since a good second at Rosehill and can storm over the top of this field. Snoopy will take some beating.’’

VERDICT: SNIPPETS LAND

RACE 8: #THERACES HANDICAP (1350m) 5pm

Gerald Ryan (trainer) Brewery/Star wars: “Brewery’s fresh form is all good but he needs a form track. Star Wars was good first-up and will improve off it and he getting back to something like his journey.

Glenn Munsie (TAB): ‘’Sir Plush gets his chance here and is better suited coming back to 1350m. Bumped up in weight but is dropping back from a BM 85 to this BM 77. Just found the 1500m a little bit too far last start and there looks to be a lack of pace on here which will enable him to come across and dictate. Huge watch on We’re Sure resuming and is 3 from 3 fresh but will have to come from well back so way track is playing is vital.

Grant Palmer (bookie): ‘’Sonic Swish was set an impossible task last start and only just missed. The extra trip suits and looks to be enough pace up front to see him finish over the top.’’

Blake Johnston (bookie): ‘’Sonic Swish is flying for this stable and could be on a hat trick of wins with more luck. He will get back again but will be charging home once again. ‘’

Terry Kennedy (Sky Sports Radio): ‘’Could throw a blanket over this lot. Settled on Sir Plush, who has the ability to overcome barrier 11. He’ll appreciate the drop in class and fought hard when a last start second at this track.’’

VERDICT: SONC SWISH

Gold Symphony (red silks) outguns Demonstrate to win at Caulfield in 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch

RACE 9: TAB HANDICAP (1200m) 5.40pm

Michael Hawkes (co-trainer) Elemenohpee: “We’ve freshened him up and he has had a couple of hard runs going into (today). He has drawn well and will be competitive.’’

Glenn Munsie (TAB): ‘’Really keen on Perfect Dare here. Draws wide in Brisbane so should take his place in this. Worked from wide draw last start and seems to get a much kinder run here from a better draw. Fourth run in 7 hasn’t put in a bad one this time in. Kudero can run a cheeky race from inside barrier going forward with no weight.’’

Grant Palmer (bookie): ‘’Hard to have any real confidence in the race but happy to have something on Suspense. At his best he would be pronounced favourite here and he still looks like he has something to give. Last chance saloon. ‘’

Blake Johnston (bookie): ‘’Gold Symphony has the ability and he has been gelded since last prep. His trial suggests he has come back well and he represents good value.’’

Terry Kennedy (Sky Sports Radio): ‘’ I’m sticking with the expertise of the in-form Matthew Dunn stable. Perfect Dare was a good second last start, before that won at Eagle Farm and should get the run of the race. ‘’

VERDICT: PERFECT DARE

SCONE BEST BETS

BEST BET: SUNCRAZE (Race 5, No. 4)

Is a very exciting horse who blitzed his rivals on debut at Dubbo and has so many excuses for his first-up 2nd at Tamworth att he $1.40. Has the potential to win a Country Championship in 2017 or 2018.

NEXT BEST: TEST THE WORLD (Race 2, No. 14)

A Testa Rossa trained by Bjorn Baker who has had major success with the breed. This filly has won both of her trials is fabulous order and looks to have a future well beyond a Scone maiden.

READY TO WIN: CRISTALLO ROSSO (Race 3, No. 9)

Fourth-up here and out to the 1300m on the big track all of which adds up to her breaking her maiden status this afternoon in the Gerry Harvey colours.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW: GRANT ‘BUCKO’ BUCKLEY

Never lets his army of fans down no matter where it is. Bucko has a great book as always at Scone tomorrow, Marmaduke’s Lady will take a power of beating for one.

SUGGESTED BETS: QUINELLA Race 1 Nos 2 & 3

EXACTA Race 2 no, 14 (standout) to beat no, 4

DAILY DOUBLE 1st Leg no, 4, 2nd Leg no, 2 & 6

Originally published as Saturday best with Ray Hickson and Ron Dufficy