Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Scone on 12 May 2023.
Best Bet: UNION ARMY (Race 8)
Value Bet: WILD PLANET (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
13 | 11 | 9 | 4 |
5 | 12 | 3 | 7 |
9 | 4 | 6 |
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1 | |||
6 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 5
This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. WRITTEN IN CODE is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won by 1.8L when making her debut over six furlongs, despite coming four wide into the home straight. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat, notwithstanding her wide draw nine.
SELOUS has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over 1100M, just a neck behind the winner, but he was bumped at the start on that occasion and had to be switched at the 350M mark to get a clear run, before finishing off his race well. He will have to overcome a wide gate sixteen, but he should be doing his best work late.
CHILADA is another 3yr old filly in the race and also won first time out, but in her case, over 1100M and by four lengths. She jumped awkwardly that day, but recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She faces an even wider draw twenty out of twenty, but she would have come on further with that run under her belt and could be up to the task at hand.
Race 6
RUSSLEY CROWN followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a second-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, 0.8L back from the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his handy draw three, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today and could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages.
AMICUS CURIAE has posted two solid last starts, the latest when second over a mile, just a neck behind the winner. The gelding ran on well from some way back and just failed to snare the victor in the shadow of the post. He jumps from draw six and should be right up there when they hit the line.
RUBAN BLEU has cracked pole position and had his consistency rewarded with a just under a half-length victory last time out over 1500M. He did come the widest of them all into the home stretch, but finished the best to win going away and should be included in all bets.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, WILD PLANET is seldom far off the action, finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, just under three and a half lengths back from the winner, when returning from an 18-week absence and has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial. He jumped awkwardly and was bumped shortly after the start that day and then had to be eased off the heels of another runner shortly thereafter, so he had his excuses. The form of that race has also been franked and he is sure to put his pole position to good use.
BANJU has won two of his last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs by a length. He raced just behind the leaders in that event and then accelerated smartly to secure his eighth career victory. He will have to negotiate a wide draw twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
JOJO WAS A MAN raced three wide without cover before staying on well to finish third last time out over a mile, two and a half lengths adrift of the winner. He is drawn wide in gate nineteen, but 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.
Race 8
UNION ARMY has won two of his last three runs and came the widest of them all into the home stretch when victorious by a length last time out over six furlongs. He finished well from towards the back of the field that day and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, he should be doing his best work late and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
NOSEY PARKER goes for his hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs, the latest when putting six lengths between himself and his opponents. The gelding was slow away in that event, but struck the front at the 300M mark and the result was never in doubt from that point. He jumps from gate six and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
SHIPSHAPE is also on a hat-trick after wins over seven furlongs and the latest over 1300M by 1.8L. He went from gun to tape that day and the form of that race has been franked. He will have to deal with a wide draw fourteen, but he should nevertheless be involved in the finish.
