Ever-consistent galloper Nohoaks looks very well placed to return to the winners stall today when he steps out in the sixth race at Bairnsdale.
Photo by Press Photo
Finishing well back behind Tokugawa at Mooney Valley in open company last start, the Allison Bennett trained galloper can be somewhat forgiven for that mediocre performance after he was squeezed out between runners coming around the turn and was never in the hunt thereafter.
Prior to that effort his form had been very good, finishing just two-and-a-half lengths off Brian's Honour and was beaten only a similar margin by the highly touted Callanish three starts back.
With no other trainer electing to claim on their respective gallopers, the son of Statue Of Liberty appears to get in very well at the weights with apprentice ride Patrick Maloney claiming three kilograms.
With no obvious leader set to line up in the affair, expect Maloney to press forward from the good gate and prove very hard to catch in this small field.
The former Darley trained Henshaw looms as one of the main dangers after he continues to show good improvement with each run for his new stable.
Coming into this after finishing third at Ararat last start, the son of Ad Valorem was severely hampered during the running and would not take much notice of the beaten margin after a runner broke down in front of him.
On the quick back up he should have no problems carrying the big weight and is expected to be fighting out the finish.
Eight-year-old gelding Mosseltov has been racing consistently of late and remains the query runner dropping back to the mile after finishing fourth at Cranbourne last start over 2080m.
Coming into this race off a five week let up, he possesses a solid record over this trip and if either of the two more favoured runners prove to have any chinks in their armour expect him to be right there to pounce.
Cheronbutch is also expected to show sharp improvement racing third up on firmer footing and cannot be entirely dismissed.
Good luck and happy punting.
