Troy O'Neile's optimism that his five-year-old gelding Beckford can win back-to-back Armidale Cups on Sunday is tempered by what he views as impediments to that happening.
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The Tamworth trainer said that based on Beckford's recent form, he was going to be "very competitive back in this grade" in the $60,000 1900m race.
However, O'Neile said he had "concerns" over the short straight at Armidale.
"He is a backmarker," O'Neile said. "We are carrying a big weight - 60kgs.
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"And the majority of the field's carrying 55kg. So that's another hinderance.
"And we went ahead and drew the outside barrier. So that's sort of playing against us a little bit as well."
Despite those obstacles, O'Neile said Beckford - who will be ridden by Serg Lisnyy - was "100 per cent ready to go". "And he's good enough to win that race. He won it last year."
Beckford - who has seven wins in 29 starts for $152,000 in prize money - was on the second line of betting at $5.50 (NSW TAB fixed odds).
The Stirling Osland-trained Point Counterpoint (Aaron Bullock) was the $4.20 favourite.
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Mark Bode
I’m passionate about writing stories that resonate with people. And I’m genuinely interested in the people I interview; I want to know about them and present their stories in a meaningful way.
I’m passionate about writing stories that resonate with people. And I’m genuinely interested in the people I interview; I want to know about them and present their stories in a meaningful way.
