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Jellybean Jack will resume from a spell at Wellington today when he lines up in the Ray Boden painting Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m).
Photo by Racing and Sports
The four-year-old gelding will step out for the Peter Nestor stable for the first time, formerly trained by Tracey Bartley.
Jellybean Jack was racing in harder than this last preparation which included a win at the provincials and was sent for a spell after being safely held at Canterbury behind Kaypers in June.
His first up record is good, finishing in the money all three times which included a win at Bathurst and he rates very well here on Wight Adjusted Timeform ratings.
Kody Nestor will take the ride for his father and from seven starts at the track, Jellybean Jack has won two of them and placed a further five times. He has drawn a touch wide here but with only eight horses in the field should not find too much trouble.
It appears to be a very competitive race with Dunderry looming as the main danger. He has won two of his last three, the most recent coming in similar company at Orange over 1000m.
The four-year-old has been up for a long time, this being his 14th start this preparation since resuming in February. He has shown no signs of slowing down however and is sure to be competitive again here.
He is likely to use the inside barrier and take up the lead and will be in this for a long way.
I Love Legs also comes into the race with a bit of form, following up two wins with a last start third at Muswellbrook. He has drawn the widest of the eight runners and will most likely push forward and settle up on the speed.
He has a good record at the trip, winning three of eight and looks a strong chance to win again here.
Vigneron probably looks the next best in this small field but still has plenty to find on the three chances. He won three back and has been far from disgraced in two runs since.
He drops back in trip or this which is concerning however and is unplaced from two goes at the trip.
Looks to be a race between Jellybean Jack, Dunderry and I Love Legs but expecting the fresh Jellybean Jack to be too strong here.