Drawing a horror barrier (22) might not be as bad as it looks either, said Muswellbrook trainer Todd Willan.

Four-year-old Artlee decimated his rivals to win last Sunday’s 1280m Wild Card by five lengths and gain a late entry into today’s $300,000 Final.

Six days later though he has to run out an exacting 1400m at Randwick.

“I just got off him 10 minutes ago,” Willan told The Leader on Thursday morning after a little bit of pacework.

“He’s recovered well, pulled my arms off again. He’s feeling real well, hasn’t left a grain of oats either.”

The short six-day back-up might not be a major problem.

“It could work in our favour because he has a tendency to over race.

“It might take the edge off him.

“And the barrier draw might  not that bad either. He should come out of 14 (if all the emergencies don’t run). All the good horses have drawn wide too. Voodoo Lad (16) will probably want to cross and take up a forward position so we could track him. Tarangower (19) will probably get back so we can cross him.”

Bathurst winner Binalong Road (15) will also be looking to cross somewhere as well.

Todd has also retained Mitchell Bell as Artlee’s rider too while others have opted for Jaoa Moreira (Tarangower), James McDonald (Voodoo Lad) and Hugh Bowman (Binalong Road). “I’ve known Mitch since we were kids,”  Willan said.

“He’s as good as any of them and he knows the horse.

“Artlee is not the type of horse you can just throw anyone on, he can be awkward.”

Mitchell Bell, who began his racing career apprenticed to Mark Mason in Tamworth, has ridden Artlee to victories at Scone and Muswellbrook.

While today is Artlee’s “grand final” he could go for a short spell and then maybe look at Queensland and the Scone Cup carnival.

“We’ve got plenty of options,”  Willan said.

“At the end of the day we’ll just look after the horse’s best interests.”