Scone Preview & Best Bets – Monday November 14

Scone Tips 14/11/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 5:  No.7  PARADISE ISLAND  ($4.80 with Neds)

The Kris Lees-trained PARADISE ISLAND has returned in great touch this time in and third-up today, looks a genuine winning chance in this line-up. Last start, the Holler mare wasn’t disgraced when finishing third in a Class 2 Hcp over 1000m at Port Macquarie. Beaten a length on the line, she was held up at a vital stage and finally switching to the fence, she finished strongly (beaten in a photo for second place). Regular rider Dylan Gibbons returns for today’s challenge and from gate three, she maps to settle in the first half-dozen in a field with several early speedsters present. With a clear run to the line today, she should prove hard to hold out.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.3  THIEVE  ($4.40 with Palmerbet)

Locally-trained by Rod Northam, THIEVE returns to his home track today and on his best form can take this contest out. Last start, he took a very ambitious step up in class and took on a Class 4 Hcp over 2100m at Hawkesbury where after a slow start, he never recovered and was tailed-off in the event. Prior to that run, he won a BM58 over the same trip at Gosford on a heavy track that day. He ran that trip out, 2.3 lengths quicker than benchmark which is the better than any last-start effort by his rivals here. Drawn well in gate four, he maps to settle better than mid-field (with cover) and has Grant Buckley sticking with him today. He will find this assignment much easier and looks right in the mix for victory.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 9:  No.1  MYSTERY LAD  ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)

Back from his first shot in the city, Tamworth galloper MYSTERY LAD is in first-class form this preparation and back in country company today, looks a genuine contender for this contest. Last start, the Benfica gelding took on a strong field in a Class 3 Hwy Hcp over 1000m at Randwick. He jumped from the care park that day (gate 16 of 17) and after travelling three-wide without cover to the turn, did a mighty job to cross the line in fifth place, beaten just two lengths on the line. He faces similar class here but at country level and is drawn much better today. His resume shows four-straight top-two finishes before his Randwick effort and that form should match-up here today.