Bathurst Racing Tips 17 Aug — can Italus repeat here?
Scone Racing Tips 17 August 2026 — can Bullock boss this card?
Scone racing tips: the one rider you cannot dodge today
Aaron Bullock isn’t just “on a few” at Scone today. He’s the rider whose booking shapes the entire meeting, and it matters because he actually converts here: 17 wins from 58 rides at the track, and he lands in the placings more than half the time. That’s enough volume to treat it as a real edge, not a cute stat.
The card itself is a tidy little four-race meeting on turf, starting at 13:20, and the betting angle is simple. In the maidens, you want runners that have shown they can hold a position and keep coming when pressure goes on. In the middle-distance benchmark, you want the horse that controls where it lands in running, because the 1859m at Scone can turn into a tactical squeeze if the tempo drops. I’ll give you a clear pick in every race, plus where I’d save, where I’d stay out, and the one play I’d build any multi around.
Scone, the setup
Limited course form across today’s fields. Most of the runners have one or two Scone starts at most, so I’m leaning harder on current form, barriers, and which stables are repeatedly productive here.
Odds note: no bookmaker odds were available from the feed at publish time, so this is a pure form and map piece rather than a price hunt.
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Where the reliable track angles sit is with the people, not the horses.
Jockeys worth respecting at Scone (min 5 rides)
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bullock | 58 | 17 | 30 | 29.31 | 51.72 |
| Jean Van Overmeire | 14 | 2 | 9 | 14.29 | 64.29 |
| Mitchell Bell | 42 | 6 | 22 | 14.29 | 52.38 |
| B Looker | 4 | 1 | 2 | 25.00 | 50.00 |
| MS M Weir | 49 | 7 | 23 | 14.29 | 46.94 |
Trainer-wise, Brett and Georgie Cavanough and S I Singleton both have proper sample sizes and proper strike rates here, but the one I’m actively watching for placement intent is R P Northam. He’s had 57 runners at Scone for 7 wins and 19 placings, so when he lands multiple runners on a small program, that’s not accidental.
Race-by-race: Scone predictions
Race 1: Kia Ora Country Boosted Mdn Plate — 13:20, 1203m
Highland Dancer (gate 1) is the one I want to start the day with. This is a race full of unknowns and first-look profiles, so I’m siding with the runner who’s already shown it can put itself in the fight repeatedly. The form line of 223 says it all: it holds form, it holds a spot, and it keeps coming. From the inside draw, MS M Weir can make the race simple, park in the first few, and force the others to go past it rather than out-sprint it late.
The danger is Yeah Buddy (gate 6). That 3-25322 profile screams “maiden that finds one better” but it also tells you it turns up and runs to a level. Northam has a meaningful body of work at Scone with 57 runners and a one-in-three placing strike, and Reece Jones knows the place well even if he doesn’t win often here. If Highland Dancer hesitates when the pressure comes, Yeah Buddy is the type to keep grinding.
Little note for your multiples: Lope de Luna carries 130 and looks more “placement” than “killer blow” to me in a race like this.
Play: Highland Dancer win. If you want insurance, save a small quinella with Yeah Buddy.
Race 2: Pryde’s Easifeed Mdn Plate — 13:55, 984m
Here’s the puzzle: do you trust the older, exposed maidens, or do you lean into a lightly raced three-year-old who might have a jump in it? I’m leaning to Sir Boom A Lot. He’s only got the one run on his card (finished second), and that kind of debut often improves sharply second-up at these short trips where confidence matters.
The map helps too. From gate 8 he’s not hostage to the rail, and if the inside draws get cluttered, a horse with tactical speed can slide across and avoid the worst of it.
Long Live is the obvious danger purely because Bullock climbs aboard. Bullock wins nearly three of every ten rides at Scone and hits the frame more than half the time, which makes him the jockey you don’t want to bet against in a maiden. Long Live’s form reads honest rather than sharp, but this is the kind of race where a good rider can manufacture two lengths.
Play: Sir Boom A Lot each-way. If the market really chases the debut hype, a saver win bet on Long Live is the sensible cover.
Race 3: Scone Rsl (Bm58) — 14:35, 1859m
This is the best betting race on the program because you can actually anchor your opinion in something solid: current form, reliable stables, and a clear pecking order in the weights.
Magic Merlin is my pick. The form line 432241 says he’s been building and then delivered, and the last 90 days back it up: four runs for one win and three placings, averaging a finishing position around the top two. That is a horse in form, not a horse fluking one result. Add Mitchell Bell, who places better than half his Scone rides, and you’ve got a pair that rarely wastes a good setup.
Feazabeel has to be respected as the on-paper leader, but I’m happy taking him on at the likely top of the market. He’s got 136.6 on his back and will need to be tough again giving weight away at a trip where positioning matters.
The danger I actually fear is Exorbitant Miss. The form 123511 tells you she finds a way, and while she’s only been to Scone twice, she has at least placed here once. From gate 4 she should get the right run without spending petrol early.
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Play: Magic Merlin win. Exacta saver with Exorbitant Miss for protection if she gets the soft run.
Race 4: Scone Equine Hospital Hcp (C1) — 15:15, 1312m
The market will probably make this look harder than it is. For me, Iron Fury is the horse you bet around. He’s been knocking on the door (2-4423) and the last 90 days suggests he’s holding his level: four runs, three placings, average finishing spot around the top two. That profile wins plenty of these C1 handicaps when the race doesn’t fall apart.
The only knock is the jockey course record. Liberty Smyth rides Scone often enough (21 rides) but hasn’t jagged a win here yet. That doesn’t make Iron Fury a lay, it just keeps me from getting silly with stake size. From gate 6, he should still get the chance to build into the race rather than being trapped.
The blow-up horse is Bees Knees. He’s two from two this prep (form 31), and even though he’s only been to Scone once, he did place. Gate 10 means he’ll need luck and timing, but if he’s the one with the best turn of foot, he can overcome it.
A sneaky knockout if you’re playing multiples is Excessor from gate 2, drawn to get every favour if the speed comes off.
Play: Iron Fury win, but keep it sensible. If you prefer less sweat, go each-way Iron Fury and save on Bees Knees.
The plays
My strongest push is Magic Merlin in the 14:35. He’s the only runner on the card with a clean, recent form spike that’s backed by hard numbers in the last 90 days, and the Bell booking at Scone is always a positive. If you’re building a multi, he’s the one I’d trust as the banker leg.
The value angle is Sir Boom A Lot in the 13:55. One run doesn’t give you a full picture, but a debut second in a short-course maiden is often the foundation for a quick win second-up, and you should get a better price than the Bullock runner by default.
The each-way play is Highland Dancer in the opener. That 223 profile is exactly what you want in a maiden where several rivals can miss the kick, over-race, or flat out not run the trip.
Course angle for the day: when you’re split between similar form lines at Scone, break the tie with the riders who repeatedly cash here. Bullock and Bell give you fewer bad surprises.
Next time we get a bigger Scone meeting, keep an eye on how the inside draws perform in the sprints, because today’s map sets up to test whether leaders get a cheap time or whether the outside lanes get their chance late.
FAQ: Scone today
What time does racing start at Scone today?
Racing starts at 13:20 with the Kia Ora Country Boosted Mdn Plate over 1203m.
Who are the top jockeys and trainers at Scone on today’s data?
Aaron Bullock stands out on volume and strike rate at the track: 17 wins from 58 rides and 30 placings. Mitchell Bell also stacks up with 6 wins and 22 placings from 42 rides. For trainers with real sample sizes, Brett and Georgie Cavanough have 12 wins from 55 runners at Scone, and S I Singleton has 11 wins from 56.
What are the best bets at Scone today?
My Scone best bets are Magic Merlin (Race 3, 14:35) as the main win play, with Highland Dancer (Race 1, 13:20) as the safer each-way style runner based on the consistent 223 form line.
Where can I find the best odds for Scone races?
Shop around with the major corporates and tote pools close to jump time. Odds weren’t available from the feed for this preview, so check your preferred bookmaker’s market screen and compare against the totes before you bet. You can also browse more Scone racing tips and updates on RacingBase as markets firm.
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