Honest mare Very Trying can continue her good form in today's The Chambers Café Handicap (race 6) at Canberra.

The mare, who was scratched from race three on the card today, has gained a start as an emergency in this 1000m Benchmark 65 handicap and from an ideal draw should prove hard to hold out.

Last campaign, the Mark Wallace trained mare was a model of consistency finishing fourth fresh up before a win and four placings at her remaining five starts.

The win was third up over 1000m at Goulburn where she sat second and lifted strongly to score.

She then stepped up to 1200m there drew wide but boxed on well for third, before finishing runner up over 1206m here on the Acton track after trying to leads throughout.

Last start before a spell, again here on the all weather course, she sat just off the pace and loomed up to take the lead but was grabbed late in the three way drive to the line, finishing third.

Very Trying went for a spell before returning over 1000m in a Benchmark 60 at Kembla Grange.

Drawing wide she settled worse than midfield but hit the line well in the straight, scoring a 1.3 length win over Expatriate.

She looked a leading contender in the earlier race today, a Benchmark 60 with more weight, but Wallace has chosen the tougher race with 55kg now she has gained a start.

The mare has drawn ideally in barrier two and looks a strong each way hope against the older horses.

The Greg McDermott trained Alert Miss is racing well and worth another chance as she drops in weight.

The filly resumed over 1000m at Albury and after drifting back hit the line well to finish third.

It was no surprise to see her improve on that next time out over 1000m there.

Settling second in the run outside the leader, she lifting strongly in the straight and drove to a narrow lead and win.

Last start at Gundagai, also over 1000m, she pressed ahead from the outside gate and turned there but faded in the straight, finishing fifth.

The filly drops in the weights today in this tougher race and is at her top and should give a bold sight.

Material Matters is resuming from a break and should run well fresh.

The John Nisbet trained mare was runner up here on debut before scored an strong win here before a break.

Next time in she resumed with a win on the Acton track by almost six lengths, but then bombed the start from a wide gate at Goulburn and was never in the race.

She goes well fresh and with the claim has a nice weight and a good draw.

Not A Snip A Doubt is resuming from a wide gate but was a city winner fresh up last campaign so must be respected.