We’re back to the Clarence River Jockey Club on Thursday for the main event, Grafton Cup Day.
This year’s time-honoured staying test is a typically wide-open Grafton Cup betting affair comprising of respective Group 3 winners Spirit Ridge and Luncies, as well as last-start Tatt’s Crown runner-up, Deny Knowledge.
For thoughts on every race across the program, check out our 2024 Grafton Cup Day Preview below.
This is a big step back in class for the Toby Edmonds-trained Burning Bell.
The Bel Esprit mare resumed on the poly surface on the Gold Coast in May, gunning down the front runner off a three-wide sit in transit to win by a decent margin in the end.
She stepped up to tackle the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic last start at Ipswich, beaten nearly four lengths but still giving good chase in the run home.
She’d probably like the track to stay in the soft range but looks to have most of her rivals covered in terms of class.
Night Fighter was placed over a touch further here a fortnight ago where he was given every chance along the rail.
The Smart Missile gelding still fought on well to run third in trying conditions, an improved effort after winding up midfield at Scone the run prior.
Ashley Morgan was in the saddle when the pair placed at Newcastle earlier in February and combine again here from a nice soft draw.
Armed with some late speed and likable soft track form, he’ll do me in a very open race.
Sparkingly has experience racing here at Grafton having placed on debut as a two-year-old last year.
The recent form around Damian Lane’s gelding has been just as likable, finding the money in three consecutive starts before being rewarded with a handy win at Scone back over 900m.
This is tougher again up to BM66 level, but with conditions to suit and Ben Looker back on board, the pair might be one of the main dangers to the favourite.
Superstitious is down to race on Wednesday but if he lines up here he’ll likely prove hard to beat.
Kervette could be next best if you’re willing to overlook her first-up attempt at Newcastle.
The Kermadec mare blew the start and was a long way back at the turn, beaten 5.6 lengths over 1200m.
This slight step back in distance suits and she’ll likely a spot closer to the speed with Todd Marshall taking over in the saddle.
Ferinzo was strong through the line on debut when runner-up over slightly shorter here a fortnight ago.
The two-year-old by Group 2 winner Cosmic Force was a little wayward at the top of the straight, eventually finding his stride to pass another runner and finish within half a length of the winner Aquafire.
Jake Hull’s gelding has drawn an identical gate under Ben Looker and is likely to appreciate a firming track after tackling heavy conditions in his first start.
If he gets across early and lands in behind the speed, he should be dangerous late.
Self Indulgent is a Saturday grade mare that should find this step back in class more than suitable.
Matthew Dunn’s five-year-old by Foxwedge hasn’t won in well clear of a year, but she was far from disgraced on return at Doomben nearly a month ago when making up some late ground from a long way back to finish midfield.
Four of her five wins have come around the 1200m mark and she does tend to do her best work with some sting out of the track.
Just needs luck early on from the wide gate to play a part.
Thalassophile strikes this race at the right time for Chris Waller.
The Not A Single Doubt mare improved to run third in the Tatt’s Gold Crown at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, settling a long way back before looming large along the rail among a wall of horses charging late.
She’s hard fit now for four runs back, which should come in handy as she tackles her first race out past 2100m.
Needs a touch of luck from out wide, no queries on a slightly wet track, and will likely prove tough to hold out if James Orman can settle handy to the speed.
Hard to fault recent hat-trick winner Compelling Truth here in the last.
The lightly-raced four-year-old by I Am Invincible put the writing on the wall winning by more than five lengths at Dubbo back in May, rising through the grades in impressive style to claim the Cannonball last start over 1100m.
This is probably his toughest test since resuming in a Class 3 at Rosehill earlier in the year, but down at the weights and likely to appreciate some slight juice in the track, he should be hard to beat.