The 10-year-old, which has had a whopping 102 starts in a long career, lines up among a tough field in the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 58 Handicap (1108 metres) after a third finish at the same track on July 30.

He resumed after a 10-week freshen up that day, and was forced to battle hard to claim the minor placing over the same trip he’ll make on Friday.

“I worried about the 1100 last start,” Theobald admitted.

“I would have rather had the 1000. He ended up peaking about 50 out on that run but the 1100 shouldn’t be a problem now, he’s tightened up and he’ll run the distance.

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“It’s a handy field but he’s pulled a good gate and there’s a two-metre cutaway rail (but) he’s working the house down (so) if he runs in that first three then I’m happy, really happy.”

Dean Mirfin’s Prince Planet is one of the better-looking runners among that “handy field”, while Bjorn Baker’s Tony’s Reward ran second to Newsfan first-up last time in work.

Graham Brown’s Lass Vegas has claims at the Bathurst track too, while Bernie Kelly’s Atum saluted at Cowra two starts ago but wasn’t suited to a rain-impacted track at Scone last run.

Of the handful of Orange runners at the meet, there’s one looking to continue some strong recent form.

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It’s not last-start winner Lily’s Little Girl either, at time of publication Michael Plummer’s mare was still an emergency in the eighth.

Alison Smith’s gelding Panuara has produced excellent results in this preparation, running for a win and three placings in his last four starts.

The six-year-old does step up in distance to 1200 metres in the Bathurst Carpet Court Class 2 Handicap, his last four runs have been over 1100 or less, but looks well-placed to handle that extra 100.

So does Deal Master, though.

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The five-year-old had his first run for Mitchell and Desiree Kearney at Bathurst on July 30 and produced a fast-finishing second that day. While he looked like he wanted a longer trip, in his 16-start career he has had six runs for no results over the 1200.

The eight-race meeting at Tyers Park starts from 12.10pm.

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