The Bob Haire-trained galloper ticks all the boxes to make it two wins in a row in the Gooch Agencies Gloucester Cup over 2018m.

He and local apprentice jockey Kaylee Kirkwood, who claims two kilos, combined with the gelding to score by 2.5 lengths over 1600m at Scone on April 17.

The step up in distance shouldn’t be a worry as Halfway To Heaven on Boxing Day won over 2300m at Newcastle.

All the gelding needs is a cosy run and a reasonable track to be hard to beat.

Its biggest threat could come from Wyong five-year-old gelding Pressure Drop, trained by Stephen Farley.

It has won two of its past three starts, one of them over 2125m at Cessnock on March 23, so can handle the distance, and has won by 3.5 lengths since.

Interesting runner having its first start at the distance is Gold Bonanza over 1300m on March 17.

The Taree galloper from the strong stable of Cliff Bashford, then ran 7th over 1710m at Grafton and has been kept fit with a trial win at Port Macquarie.

“I always thought my horse would get 2000m and now he is fit enough to try.

“He should be improved by recent racing all he needs is to settle in the race to do his best,”said Bashford.

Port trainer Glen Hodge has given a pointer to six-year-old mare Miss Kardashian’s chances by engaging a rider for the Taree race, also having engaged one for the non-TAB meeting at Kempsey on Saturday.

Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees is throwing three-year-old filly Kissed By The Sun in the deep end by accepting for this race.

She has only had five starts but did show staying ability with a maiden win over 1600m at Tamworth on April 16.

One of the better bets on the card should be Wyong two-year-old Kikimora, trained by Allan Denham and to be ridden by Robert Thompson in the XXXX Gold 2YO Handicap over 1007m.

Kikimora in three starts has had two seconds and a win at Coffs Harbour before going for a spell.

It should be a good race with Port’s Neil Godbolt having Cospy resuming from a spell after a Grafton win, Broadmeadow’s Bold Ara, trained by Steve Hodge, having had two seconds in trials at Wyong and Newcastle, and another trial winner at Wyong being Miss Bobby Dazzler, trained at that track by Allan Kehoe.

A big betting plunge on Port galloper Cavell, trained by John Sprague, just failed at Port last week when second over 1500m but the extra distance (1614m) of the Gooch Agencies Benchmark 55 Handicap should give the stable a consolation win.

DOUG RYAN’S SELECTIONS:

RACE 1: Kikimora 1,Bold Ara 2,Miss Bobby Dazzler 3.

RACE 2: Allzin 1,Timing’s Essential 2,Catnap 3.

RACE 3: Akamin 1,Magnakali 2,Stimuli 3.

RACE 4: Kanguru 1,Moon Symbol 2,Can Dominate 3.

RACE 5: Cavell 1,Averil’s Gift 2,Regarding Henry 3.

RACE 6: Halfway To Heaven 1,Pressure Drop 2,Gold Bonanza 3.

RACE 7: Hammoon Boy 1,Grey Emperor 2,Battle Street 3.