Grant is aiming to make it two wins in a row in the cup with five-year-old gelding Lord Averil whereas Colt won the three previous years with Rigamarole (2014 and 2013) and Steel Allure (2012).

Lord Averil has again been set for the cup at Wauchope Jockey Club’s home base at the picturesque Beechwood Road track but this year the race appears a little stronger.

Of course, it is well said by local and rival trainers that horses trained on the Wauchope track seem to have an advantage and win most of the races at the club’s meetings.

But Orlando Jack, from the successful stable of Damien Lane has good TAB form, having won the Spring Cup at Taree on Melbourne Cup day with one kilo less, and in its latest run in a Picnic Cup over 1600m at Gosford it scored by 6.8 lengths on December 17.

“The horse has a lot of ability and won as he liked at Gosford,” said Lane.

“He has had one go at 1800m at Hawkesbury (beaten 23 lengths when fifth of five in a class 2 race) but he didn’t look like stopping at Gosford.

“When he is on song, he is hard to beat and Jesse Graham (local apprentice) who won on him at Taree will ride him.”

Grant isn’t perturbed: “This is my horse’s journey and he wasn’t beaten far last start. Lord Averil, to be ridden by Wauchope jockey Belinda Hodder, only had one run after last year’s cup, was off the scene from January 12 to November 16 and at his last run of three back from a spell was 10th, beaten 4.9 lengths, in a record for 1700m by Mexican Mountain at Grafton on December 2.

Grant also has a sister to Lord Averil, Mother’s Presence, resuming from a spell in the Bago Real Estate Maiden Plate over 1240m.

Another big hope in the cup is Port Macquarie six-year-old gelding Far Out, trained by Marc Quinn and to be ridden by in-form Kendall apprentice jockey Chloe Baker, who claims an important three kilos.

It trialled well before a sixth at Tuncurry last start.

“He ran a creditable race..he just ran out of puff…he should be hard to beat as the distance suits,” said Quinn who is aiming his charge at a 2000m race at Port on January 7 and will be in Sydney on Monday with his promising galloper Cogliere.

The “king” of riding winners at the track, Port’s Peter Graham, is again on nine-year-old Wauchope gelding Xerxes Dream for trainer Michael O’Neill.

Although the gelding was unplaced in last year’s cup, he won on October over 2020m at Port and last start was sixth behind Meishou over 2100m at Tuncurry.

Graham was on Xerxes Dream when he won the last of three Old Boys Cups at the track on the gelding, it having a good record on the tricky turning course.

“I was happy with his Tuncurry run…he just needs the speed on in his races and at least he knows his way around and Pete knows him well,” said O’Neill.

Kempsey’s Brasileiro Macho, trained by Julie Lynch, was second in the 2014 cup and Delagos, trained by Bryan Dixon of Tambo, could snare a place.

Grant Prosser could be in for another good day (he won three races at this meeting last year) as he has a strong hope in Floral One, second at its last start, in the Wauchope Real Estate Benchmark 45 Handicap over 1240m.

DOUG RYAN’S SELECTIONS:

RACE 1: Eyebeastar 1, Rodeo Destiny 2, Autumn Eclipse 3.

RACE 2: My Chinnychinchin 1, Gold Dancer 2, Eireborne 3.

RACE 3: Floral One 1, Clipaholic 2, Finnero 3.

RACE 4: Orlando Jack 1, Lord Averil 2, Far Out 3.

RACE 5: Gold Beret 1, Burgundy Jack 2, Gone Romin 3.