Doomben Preview & Best Bets – 18/05/2024
Scone Preview & Best Bets – 17/05/2024
Scone Tips for Friday, May 17
Our form expert provides Scone tips for today’s horse racing at Scone Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3: No.1 WEMBANYAMA
The John O’Shea-trained WEMBANYAMA has come back in great touch with a hat-trick of podium finishes and with a major gear change today, looks primed to continue with his good form. Last start, the Dundeel gelding beat all but one home in a BM64 Hcp over 1550m on Randwick’s Kensington track. O’Shea slips the blinkers on for the first time today with Sam Clipperton taking the reins as the new pilot for this assignment. At his peak here, and dropping back to the country scene, he looks the testing material in this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 6: No.2 CODE IN TIME
Annabel Neasham saddles-up the top two runners here as we run with CODE IN TIME to finished the better in this contest. Last start, the Encryption gelding was shooting for the hat-trick but missed by half a length when finishing second in a BM64 over 1500m at Kembla Grange. Heavelon Van Der Hoven has been on board for the three-year-old’s last three starts and sticks with him again for this assignment. He has won on soft ground previously so the conditions today look ideal. He draws nicely in gate six here and maps to settle just behind the speed. At his peak after three runs back, he can give this a real shake today at odds.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 8: No.8 WELWAL
A big field of 16 will contest this year’s $200k Cup and we are running with the Chris Waller-trained WELWAL to get the job done at double-figure odds. Last start, the Shalaa gelding was fourth-up off a 19-week spell when he found the podium again, finishing third in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup. The unluckiest runner in the race that day, he was held up at vital stages in the run and when finally clear, hit the line in a three-way go, beaten by two others on the line who had the momentum at the right time. He drew wide (11 of 15 that day) and did well to finish as close as he did. At his peak today, he comes up with gate two and has Jay Ford as the new pilot. Avoiding any dramas here, he should be there at the finish with generous odds on offer.
