Tips and race-by-race guide for Scone on Monday

Track heavy 9 and rail out 5m.

Race 1

7. Hard Rattle is a provincial mare very well placed in a weak maiden to finally break through fifth up and four weeks between runs. Has shown steady improvement this prep, sticking on into a place at Wellington last start, and her best form is on rain-affected ground. Was scratched from Narromine on Sunday to be saved for this. 2. Bonoyster has not done much this prep, but will appreciate a thinner race, and is very fit deep into the prep. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Cool Bee Bee, a three-year-old debutant that has trialled OK on the track, and 9. Raw Gold deep into the campaign and prefers heavy going.
How to play it: Hard Rattle to win.

Race 2

1. Empress Tsarina is a consistent and honest mare ready to break through and cap an encouraging first prep. Was placed in three consecutive races early in the campaign against better provincial opposition before a let-up, then failed to fire on a shifty track at Muswellbrook. Again battled away just 13 days ago when dropping back to 1000m, but this is a far more suitable trip where she can be ridden a little quieter and get to the outside. 5. Wanavan is an improver, also well credentialled to win this fourth-up, but has to get over from an outside barrier. Be surprised if the winner comes from anywhere else, but include local mare 4. Rockadeel, improving into her second start, 6. Alchemia, resuming off two trials, and 14. Torquin, which finds a weak race third-up, in all exotic plays.
How to play it: Empress Tsarina to win.

Race 3

1. Blue Kingdom is a home-tracker primed to break through at his fourth start. Hit the line nicely on debut at Taree before covering ground at Dubbo, but still worked to the line nicely in what was a more than handy maiden. Suited getting up to the mile, leading jockey sticks, and right at home on soft and heavy tracks. Keep safe 4. Fantastic Beast, which has mixed his form this prep, but did not have a lot of luck in a useful class 1 last start over further, and the drop in trip is key. 14. Redaluca Girl is trained on the course and reloads a month between runs via a nice trial win. 11. Pathelia has drawn wide, but an improver in a thinner race and can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Blue Kingdom to win.

Race 4

3. Sebilla is a progressive home-track mare that finds the right race over a furlong further to finally capture a third win. Campaigned in three consecutive and tougher Saturday Highways before reloading off a break and running home late in a better race than this at Dubbo. That form is a good guide for this, despite going up in weight and being drawn wide. 5. Ghaznavi has enough ability despite a lean win rate. Swept home to win his maiden here three runs ago, and was good late when missing narrowly at Tamworth 10 days back. Looks the clear threat, especially after bypassing Narromine to run here. 1. Big Short is hard fit and over the odds coming off a tough front-running win in similar company at Tamworth. 9. Set To Prophet from the inside draw fourth up is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Sebilla to win.