This was among Gunnedah trainer Gavin Groth’s comments as he prepares five runners for Saturday’s Christmas Hams race meet at Gunnedah’s Riverside Racecourse.

There will be three races of 1000m while the other distances are 1300m, 1400m, 1600m and 2050m, with the feature race being the Mannion Drilling/Ultra Fleet Christmas Hams Mile Handicap 1600m at 3.21pm.

The opening race will be at 1.31pm before the final race is at 5.16pm.

“You can guarantee they’ll all be strong races,” Groth said.

Groth’s runners will be About Time, Red Hot Dane, Leica Boot, I’m Snazzee and Deadliest Catch.

“I think my best chance is probably in the 2050m race,” Groth said, referring to Leica Boot which ran second at Inverell last month.

Groth also reckoned I’m Snazzee should perform well after its most recent race was at Tamworth where it too came second. Red Hot Dane and About Time haven’t raced for nearly four months, with the latter having twice won in July.

The winner of last year’s main race, Buck Rogers, with Gunnedah’s Sally Torrens as its trainer, will compete in the 1300m race as no Gunnedah trainers will be involved in the feature race.

Buck Rogers won at Tamworth in August before having placings of seventh, third, sixth and fifth since.

As A Hawk will be Torrens’ other runner, having won in a dead heat at Tamworth on Melbourne Cup day.

Now based in Gunnedah, Alex Martyn has two runners listed: Jazzy Belle and Giovanetti.

Gunnedah Jockey Club secretary manager Mark Storey is excited to see what is shaping up as an all time bumper crowd on track for one of the best days on the clubs calender.

“I’m expecting it to be a big day and a successful day,” Storey said.

All the signs are pointing towards that way after all the trackside marquees were booked out a fortnight before the meeting as a growing number of local businesses are choosing to use the day as their Christmas party, while several others are simply out to enjoy the festive season.

Storey indicated that this years event could be the biggest on record.

Visitors are expected to come from Moree, Newcastle, Sydney and Port Macquarie, while lots of regular locals are expected to turn out in full force.

Storey also alluded to the temperature which is expected to be closer to 30 degrees than 40, while the track is rated a Good 4.

In addition to the races there will be plenty of other activities including fashions on the field, Santa, and live music until 5.30pm.

There will be lucky door prizes, while an Ultra Diva competition will involve photos of people going on the MyGunnedah and the jockey club Facebook pages, with the person with the most “likes” earning a prize.