This afternoon in country New South Wales one of the most anticipated provincial cup clashes will take place with the Scone Cup 2014 scheduled to run as Race 7 at 4:02pm (AEST).

There was a capacity field engaged for this year’s $200,000 Listed Emirates Park Scone Cup (1600m) however the early scratching of #10 Said Com and the only emergency #17 Shadowofexcellence has left 15 hopefuls.

When the Scone Cup final field and first odds came out there were two co-favourites installed at $6.

Since then however the money has poured in for the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Mecir who has firmed in from $6.50 to $5.50 favouritism.

They have to share top spot in the Scone Cup odds too however with market mover Wistful who was also out to $6.50 earlier in the week.

Drawn out wide in barrier 13 with James McDonald to ride, Lonhro five-year-old Mecir has run top four in their past five starts this year starting with a 1400m win at Rosehill on January 4.

Their other victory in that time was over Strawberry Boy in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) on March 19.

It is that run the bookies are tipping them to repeat then today when they look to bounce back from a fourth to Sistine Demon in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield a month ago.

Wistful meanwhile has been well supported in from $6.50 to $5.50 after drawing ideally with barrier two, Kerrin McEvoy to ride the Darley-owned Tiger Hill mare.

The John O’Shea-trained four-year-old is out to beat the boys here after two close second place finishes.

The first was behind Destiny’s Kiss on Anzac Day before she went up against Doomben Cup fancy Leebaz in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at fortnight ago and finished only three quarters of a length away.

Former favourite was then the Joe Pride-trained Destiny’s Kiss who beat Wistful to the line last month, the five-year-old easing out from $6 to $6.50 to now occupy the third line of Scone Cup betting.

Drawn in gate eight with top jockey Blake Shinn retaining the ride, the Power Of Destiny gelding is after successive wins and comes into the race fresh with three weeks between runs.

They have to carry the equal 58kg top weight, shared with Mecir and Prince Cheri, however and so have to be at the top of their game.

The other single figure fancy at $6 is then second elect Prince Cheri, David Vandyke’s French import tipped to return to form after a back injury plagued their last start eight in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill back in March.

They did share top spot in the markets with Destiny’s Kiss earlier but have remained steady while the odds on some of their rivals have come in.

The other notable Scone Cup market mover meanwhile is Loaded ($15 into $12).

Drawn in gate 10 with Tim Bell in the saddle the Grant Allard-trained six-year-old ran a nice second at Randwick last start behind Kaypers, an effort they are tipped to improve on here.

Easing out in the markets meanwhile are then the horse that beat Loaded home in April Kaypers ($10 out to $11) for Greg Bennett and the Gai Waterhouse-trained The Great Snowman ($13 out to $15) coming off a Hawkesbury Cup fourth.

The latest Scone Cup 2014 odds are found below so follow the links to get behind your favourites at the guaranteed best odds online t Ladbrokes.com.au for the feature race this afternoon leading into the weekend.

2014 Scone Cup Markets