Scone: best bets & tips – Friday 14 May

Race 5

TOTAL RECALL followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same trip, just over a half-length behind the winner. He came three-wide into the home straight that day but was making good late progress over the closing stages. He will have to negotiate a wide draw fifteen out of sixteen, but he does have his peak run after returning from a 21-week absence.

O’MUDGEE also won his penultimate outing, but in his case, this was over six furlongs and then followed that up with a second spot finish next time out over today’s trip, 0.8L back from the winner. He had to be held up approaching the home turn that day, but finished strongly over the latter stages of the contest. He has not done much better in his draw, jumping from gate twelve, but he should be doing his best work late.

SNEAK PREVIEW has a far kinder draw six and had finished third in his two starts prior to ending up in eighth place last time out over six furlongs, just over five and a half lengths behind the winner, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the straight that day and only saw daylight at the 200M mark. Under the circumstances, he did well to finish as close to the winner as he did.

Race 6

MISSILE MANTRA missed out on her hat-trick after wins over 1500M and six furlongs when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs, 1.8L back from the winner. She did however battle all the way down to the wire and whilst having to overcome a wideish draw eight, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today. As such, she is taken to be the best bet on the program.

MORE PROPHETS won her penultimate outing over this distance by four and a half lengths and then finished third next time out when dropping down to six furlongs. She has had nine runs to date, posting a record of three wins, two seconds and four third-place finishes. She goes back over what appears to be a more suitable seven furlongs and could be the biggest danger to the top choice.

ROCHA CLOCK had her consistency rewarded with a just under a half-length victory last time out over seven furlongs. She hit the front at the 150M pole that day and then went on to hold off all the late challengers over the latter stages. She faces a wide draw fourteen but nevertheless should be involved in the finish here.

Race 7

Today’s value bet, MR DEPENDABLE has his hat-trick run after recording wins over 1500M and the latest victory over nine furlongs by one and a half lengths. He went from jump to wire that day and may prove difficult to reel in using similar tactics here. He has drawn gate ten, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

PHAISTOS is seldom far off the action and finished fifth last time out over seven furlongs, but only just under a length and a half back from the victor when returning from a 16-week break. He will jump from gate seven and seems likely to turn in another honest performance today. 

LAURE ME IN has finished fourth in his last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs when 1.2L back from the winner. He was returning from a 15-week rest that day and was denied a clear run in the home straight, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners from that competition having subsequently won. He jumps from gate eleven and should be included in all bets.

Race 8

GRAVINA has consistent formlines to his name and although recorded as finishing seventh in his last outing over six furlongs, he was just 1.3L adrift of the winner. He was bumped shortly after the start that day but recovered well to finish off his race strongly. From his handy draw three, he should be right up there when they hit the line. 

BRAVADO was hampered shortly after the start before ending up in fifth place last time out over 1100M, 3.7L off the winner, but the form of that race has been franked to boost his hopes for success in this line-up. He will have to contend with a wide draw nineteen but gets the cheekpieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should keep the top pick honest. 

GLOWING RED is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three starts, the latest win coming last time out over six furlongs by 0.8L, despite coming four wide into the home straight. She is still lightly raced, having only had the four starts to date, posting two wins, one second and one third-place finish. She has a cozy gate four and has her peak outing after returning from an 18-week break. She seems likely to give the males a good run for their money.