Ballarat Racing Tips 20 March — can Neindorf stay hot?
Scone Racing Tips 20 March — can Inazuma Boy keep rolling?
Opening
There’s one horse on this Scone card that forces you to take a stand: Inazuma Boy. He’s not sneaking under the radar either — the recent form screams “progressive sprinter”, and the setup of this meeting gives him every chance to turn momentum into another win.
We’ve only got four races here (all on turf), which makes it a cleaner punting day than most: fewer moving parts, more time to be picky. I’ve leaned into runners with upward form lines, riders who consistently put themselves in the right spot at Scone, and stables who place horses to win rather than to “see where they’re at”. These Scone racing tips are written like you’d talk it through at the pub: what I like, what worries me, and what I’d actually do with my money.
Scone — the setup
Limited course form across today’s fields — most runners either haven’t been here or have only one or two course starts, so treat track records as context rather than gospel.
Where the edge is more actionable is with the riders and trainers who’ve ridden/placed horses here often enough to matter. Mitchell Bell has a proper Scone profile: 9 rides for 3 wins and 5 placings — he hits the frame more often than not. Reece Jones has also been busy here (10 rides for 2 wins), while the Singleton and Neasham/Archibald yards both strike at 40% at the track from five runners — that’s finally a sample you can trust.
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| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Bell | 9 | 3 | 5 | 33.33 | 55.56 |
| Reece Jones | 10 | 2 | 4 | 20.00 | 40.00 |
| Leeshelle Small | 7 | 1 | 2 | 14.29 | 28.57 |
| C Reith | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 16.67 |
| Ashley Morgan | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 40.00 |
| A Gibbons | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 40.00 |
| Shannen Llewellyn | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S I Singleton | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.00 | 60.00 |
| Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 5 | 2 | 2 | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| Brett & Georgie Cavanough | 10 | 3 | 4 | 30.00 | 40.00 |
| R P Northam | 12 | 3 | 4 | 25.00 | 33.33 |
| W T Wilkes | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 40.00 |
Race-by-race
Race 1: Arrowfield Country Boosted Showcase Mdn Hcp — 13:35, 1531m
The question for the opener is simple: who’s still improving, and who’s just taking turns running fourth? I’m with Famahan (gate 3, 121.2) because the form line says he’s close without screaming “one-pace non-winner”. His last five reads 4-6-6-3-2 — that’s a horse edging nearer to the right run, and the draw gives Clayton Gallagher options to be positive without burning petrol.
The danger is Dunquin (gate 6, top weight 130) on profile alone. He’s only had two runs (3-4) and that’s enough to suggest there’s a finish there when things click. Recent-stats wise, he’s had 2 runs in the last 90 days and placed once — again, not a big sample, but it supports the idea he’s competitive at this grade.
Barrier 1 belongs to Envisioned and it’s a cosy run, but the form (7-8-5-3) needs another jump forward to win rather than run on into the minors.
Play: Famahan each-way (or win if you’re a straight-out punter). Small saver quinella Famahan–Dunquin if you want cover for the lightly-raced upside.
Race 2: Coolmore Country Boosted Showcase (Bm58) — 14:10, 1531m
This is the day’s best betting race because the map and the profiles actually line up. I want a horse with a touch of upside in a BM58, and Olympian (gate 3, 132.2) ticks that box. His form reads 2-1, and in the last 90 days he’s gone 2 runs for 1 win and 2 placings — basically, he hasn’t missed. He’s also already been to Scone once and ran 2nd, which is worth mentioning exactly as that: a positive visit, not a “track specialist” stamp.
The danger is Be Guided (gate 12) because the recent work is there: form 3-3-5-1 and he’s 2 runs for 1 win in the last 90 days. The wide gate is the whole story — if Bell can slide in without doing something silly early, he can absolutely win. And Bell at Scone is a real edge: 9 rides, 3 wins, 5 placings.
Corpsman (gate 4) deserves respect too. He’s had two runs at the track and won one of them, and his overall recent figures show he can mix it in stronger than this (2 runs, 1 win over the last 90 days). If the leaders overdo it, he’s the one I see picking them up.
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18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Play: Olympian win. Boxed exacta/quinella Olympian–Be Guided as the saver. If Be Guided drifts because of the gate, I’d flip it: each-way Be Guided, win Olympian.
Race 3: Kia Ora Showcase (Bm82) — 14:45, 1203m
I’ll start with the contender because it’s hard to avoid him: Inazuma Boy (gate 2, 134.4). Form 3-4-1-1-1 is the sort of sequence you pay attention to, and his recent 90-day record backs it up — 4 runs for 3 wins, with three placings overall. He’s drawn to control his own race (either lead or sit outside the lead), and this is the kind of 1200m contest where first rights to the rail and clear air often decides it.
The danger is Cool Storm (gate 5) because he gives you a different shape: he’s not obliged to absorb pressure up front. Northam trains him, and Northam has a proper body of work at Scone (12 runners for 3 wins). If Inazuma Boy gets softened early, Cool Storm can be the one sweeping over the top.
I’m happy to oppose the older horses with patchy recent form. The Extreme Cat brings big-name jockey appeal (McEvoy), but his form tail (…8-0) doesn’t scream “today’s the day”, and you don’t get paid for picking riders.
Play: Inazuma Boy win. If you’re multi-minded, he’s the banker type on this card.
Race 4: Magic Millions Showcase Mdn Plate — 15:25, 1312m
This is the messiest race on the program — lots of zeros and squiggles in the form, and a few that could jump up if they’ve come back from a break in the right order. I’ll frame it as a stable move: when Neasham & Archibald step into a country maiden, I pay attention. Checks’n’balances (gate 12, 124.5) gets the pick because the barn has a strong Scone record (5 runners, 2 wins), and the weight is kind. He’s had one run in the last 90 days (finished 5th), which isn’t a ringing endorsement, but it’s at least a live recent reference point rather than a complete guess.
The danger is Tupakara (gate 8). You can read the form 3-2-3-0-0 as “went off the boil”, but the earlier figures tell you there’s ability there if the stable has found the key again. Mitchell Bell riding is also a plus — he wins a third of his rides here and lands in the placings more often than not.
If you want the “inside run, right race” angle, Crystal Conspiracy (gate 1) is the one to include. He’s been around the mark without nailing it (6-8-5-4), but the draw gives him the chance to pinch cheap lengths while others are working across from wide alleys.
Play: Small each-way Checks’n’balances if the price is fair. Otherwise: watch race, take notes, and keep your powder dry.
The plays
NAP: Inazuma Boy (Race 3, 14:45). Three wins from his last four runs is the right kind of form — and from gate 2 he doesn’t need luck, just a clean 400m kick.
Value: Be Guided (Race 2). The wide gate scares people into overreacting, but his recent win says he’s in the right zone. If he drifts, that’s when I want to be on.
Banker for multis: Inazuma Boy again. In a small Scone meeting, I’d rather anchor to the horse with a sharp winning habit than try to be clever in a maiden.
Each-way play: Famahan (Race 1). The 4-6-6-3-2 progression reads like a horse who’s worked out how to finish off.
Course angle to keep: Mitchell Bell is the rider I want onside at Scone — 9 rides here for 3 wins and 5 placings is proper evidence, not a one-off. If he keeps turning up with live chances at these meetings, it’s an angle worth following into autumn.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Scone today?
Racing at Scone starts at 13:35 with the Arrowfield Country Boosted Showcase Maiden Handicap (1531m).
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Scone on today’s card?
On the jockey side, Mitchell Bell stands out: 9 rides at Scone for 3 wins and 5 placings. Among the stables with enough Scone runners to trust, S I Singleton (5 runners, 2 wins) and Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald (5 runners, 2 wins) both strike at 40% here.
What are the best bets at Scone today?
My Scone best bets are Inazuma Boy (Race 3) as the standout win play, and Olympian (Race 2) as the next-best betting race on the program. Olympian comes in off a 2-1 form line and has run 2nd on his only start at Scone.
Where can I find the best odds for Scone races?
Prices move quickly on small meetings, so I’d compare across the major corporates and the tote close to jump. Live odds weren’t available in the feed for this meeting at the time of writing, so treat early fixed quotes as placeholders and shop around late if you can.
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