Scone Preview May 13 – Saturday Best Bets & Tips

Scone Tips 13/05/2023

Our form expert provides Scone tips for Saturday’s horse racing at Scone Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 8:  No.9  OPAL RIDGE  ($5.10 with BoomBet)

Local galloper OPAL RIDGE has won five of her ten career starts and looks well placed here to return to the winner’s circle on her home track. After winning the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill three starts back, the Rubick filly then finished just behind the placegetters in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 JAMES H B CARR STAKES (1400m), both run at Randwick. Both of those races were also run in heavy conditions. Ironically, she has had just one start here which resulted in a victory (by three lengths) in BM58 company when first-up last preparation. She has success in Listed company and has Dylan Gibbons in charge for this contest. Nicely drawn and down in weight here, she looks right in the mix and should be there at the finish.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4:  No.12  SHIPSHAPE  ($10 with Palmerbet)

The James Cummings-trained SHIPSHAPE is in blistering form this time in and looks set to bring up the hat-trick here. Last start, the Astern gelding came off his Maiden win at Hawkesbury and franked that effort by stepping up to BM64 company and blowing them away over 1350m at Wyong. He steps up in grade again here but drops 2kgs and is joined by Chad Schofield for the first time who boasts a 35% success rate for the Cummings stable. Rock-hard fit after four-straight podium finishes, he looks well placed here and is well worth an each-way ticket.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.2  SOLAR APEX  ($15.20 with BoomBet)

There’s value to be had here with the Chris Waller-trained SOLAR APEX, third-up and ready to rock. Last start, the Deep Impact gelding was second-up and not disgraced when finishing fourth (of 13) in a BM88 Hcp over 1800m at Rosehill on a Heavy 9 that day. He does his best work on top of the ground (with 12 starts resulting in three wins and five minor placings), and a forecast Soft 5 looks ideal for him here. He is also dropping in grade and after the claim carries just 1.5kgs more than last start. He has won once and placed three times from five previous third-up starts and now fitter for two runs back, he looks great value at (currently) double-figure odds.