Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday's racing coming your way from Scone on 12 July 2024.
Best Bet: SWEET PROPOSAL (Race 5)
Value Bet: JONNY BE SWIFT (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
13 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
3 | 3 | 13 | 12 |
| 9 | 8 | 18 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
SWEET PROPOSAL is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when third over 1500M, just under a length and a half behind the winner. She raced just behind the frontrunners that day and then stayed on well over the closing stages. The filly jumps from gate seven and could prove to be hard to topple and as such, is made the best bet on the day’s card.
HOMELAND is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1400M, just a half-length back from the winner. He finished strongly from some way back in that event and whilst drawn wider in gate ten, he should be doing his best work late to turn in another honest performance here.
BALMIERRO was bumped at the start when ending up in fourth place in his latest outing over 1500M, 4.2L back from the winner, but that was at a stronger centre and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. Jumping from draw eight, he should be involved in the finish. There is an unraced runner in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether his connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for him should be respected.
Race 6
JOISELLE is a 3-year-old filly taking on males, but she is two for two, winning over 1000M on debut and then following that up with a head victory next time out when stepping up to 1200M. She showed plenty of toe that day, but overraced in the early and middle stages. To her credit, she was able to hold off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has been franked and from her handy draw four, the hat-trick is very much on the cards. She does return from an 18-week break, but won her only barrier trial to prove her well-being.
HELLOVA NATURE on the other hand, missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over 1000M when finishing eighth last time out over 1100M, 5.2L behind the winner, but his trainer felt that he needed to be gelded and so a line should be drawn through that effort. He returns here after the operation and a 26-week rest and has had the benefit of two barrier trials. He gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from a useful draw two and having 1.5kg taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
FOURTH SPARGO is a 4-year-old filly who chased hard when ending up in second spot last time out over 1100M, 2.3L behind the winner. She is drawn wide in gate nine, but nevertheless, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, JONNY BE SWIFT won over 2000M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 1800M and then third again in his latest outing over 1700M, four lengths off the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day and hung in all the way down the home straight, so he had his excuses. He returns from a 20-week break, but has had two barrier trials and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, he looks to be the one to side with in this line-up.
UP AND COMER is a 3-year-old filly taking on boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1600M with a third-place finish next time out over the same journey, 1.3L back from the winner. She jumped awkwardly on that occasion, bumping another runner shortly after the start and from one gate inside the top pick, she could emerge as his biggest danger. She returns from a 23-week absence, but has had two barrier trials to prove her fitness.
RASAY FACTOR has won two of his last three runs, the latest over 1400M by a length, when returning from a lengthy 62-week spell, which was clearly just what he needed, and the form of that last race has been franked. Although drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race. The gelding will also get the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice.
Race 8
HELL’S ITCH was returning from a 22-week rest and jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner, but then battled all the way down to the line to win his maiden race last time out over 1200M by one and a half lengths. He takes on stronger here, but he has pulled a cosy draw two and may well be up to the task at hand.
A 4-year-old and a 3-year-old filly could chase him home, with the slight preference going to SOARING PHOENIX who has consistent formlines to her credit and who finished second last time out over 1200M, just a lengths off the victor. She raced second the whole way in that event and just failed to reel in the frontrunner over the latter stages. She jumps from gate six and will have blinkers re-fitted and should be right up there when they hit the line.
LIGHTS OF PARADISE went from gun to tape to win first time out over 1300M by one and a half lengths and the form of that event has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The filly will have to deal with a wide gate fourteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
