Try ‘N’ Run A Muck will have to overcome a few hurdles if he is to add the Jacob and The Campbell Family Butchers Glen Innes Cup (1400m) to his Inverell Cup triumph, but the gelding’s trainer is confident he can.
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“There’s a few things up against us that we weren’t up against last time,” trainer Troy O’Neile said.
“He’s up in weight and drew the widest barrier.”
The six-year old will jump from barrier nine in Saturday’s feature and carry an extra 5.5 kilograms on what he did on New Years Day.
After carrying 51 kilograms with jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor’s 3kg apprentice claim, he was given 59.5kg, although Reece Jones’ claim will take that down to 56.5kg.
Jones will jump aboard on Saturday with Wilson-Taylor, who O’Neile praised for his ride at Inverell, out with a broken wrist courtesy of a fall a couple of days later.
O’Neile is expecting a tough race with the first four runners from the Inverell Cup all in the field.
“I think it will be run a very similar race although I don’t think they’ll let him get to the front so easily,” he said.
The Pure Theatre-Gossip Maid bay jumped virtually straight to the front and dictated terms before kicking away in the straight.
That will be the plan again.
“He’s always raced at the front,” O’Neile said.
Hope Island and Redraw are similarly coming off last start wins with the Daniel Bowen-trained Hope Island winning at Lismore on December 29, and Redraw saluting in the Class 1 Handicap on Inverell Cup Day.
The latter is one of two starters for local Glen Innes trainer Paddy Cunningham.
He also has Love Time.
O’Neile couldn’t really single out one threat.
“They’re all a bit of a threat.
“They’ve all got their merits,” he said.
“I expect Medal Afrique (Luke Morgan) to give us a run for our money a bit.”
Desert Marshal (Jane Clement) is another he is wary of after a good run in the Inverell Cup.
It will be O’Neile’s first crack at the Glen Innes Cup, the bigger picture for Try ‘N’ Run A Muck next month’s Walcha Cup.
“Ultimately we’re building towards the Walcha Cup,” he said.
“We won that last year and we’re looking to try and win that again this year.”