Scone Preview & Best Bets – Monday March 20

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 20 Mar 2023

Scone Tips 20/03/2023

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7: No.12 LISZTOMANIA ($4.80 with Ladbrokes)

Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan has half a dozen stable runners entered for the big race here but its jockey Ashley Morgan’s mount that we are running with as he partners LISZTOMANIA who is third-up and in red-hot form. Last start, the Dream Ahead gelding was second-up when he accounted for them in the Championship Preview (at Class 4 level) over 1206m at Port Macquarie. Off a six-week let-up that day, he covered his last 600m, 7 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this field. He also posted the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals as well. Ash Morgan remains aboard today and fitter for two starts back (and a recent trial), he is ideally drawn in gate two and dropping 3.5kgs for this, will take beating here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6: No.3 DOLLAR MAGIC ($3.20 with TAB)

Locally-trained by Scott Singleton, DOLLAR MAGIC is second-up today and ticks enough boxes here to be considered a real threat to this field. Last start, the Shamus Award mare was fresh off a lengthy seven-month break when she beat all but one home in a Class 2 Hwy Hcp over 1000m at Randwick. She covered the journey, 5 lengths quicker than benchmark, setting a new personal best and that was more than four lengths better than her rivals here. She has drawn wide today, but with early scratchings and her early gate speed, she maps to cross and settle in the first half dozen. Reece Jones sticks with her here and already a winner when second-up, she looks a genuine winning chance in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 3: No.3 RIVA DEL SOL ($6 with Palmerbet)

Local galloper RIVA DEL SOL is second-up today and having her first start for new trainer, Cameron Crockett. Last start, the Press Statement mare was resuming from a 21-week absence when she finished down the track in a BM72 over 1000m at Warwick Farm on Australia Day. While missing the podium that day, she still ran her last 600m, 3 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best last-start effort here by more than 3 lengths. The four-year-old was then transferred from the Con Karakatsanis stables and lines-up here sporting gear changes with Crockett removing the (near-side) blinkers and slipping on the tongue tie for the first time. Drawn nicely here in gate four, she is already a winner when second-up and a two-time winner over the trip and coming off a recent history of city of city class racing, the move to country competition could see her figure in the finish here today.