TOPWEIGHT Rain Dancer (Nap) can put Irish champion jockey Mick Kinane back on the winning trail at Happy Valley tonight.
The seven-year-old gelding is a long-time inmate of the David Oughton stable and contests this Class Four, 1,600-metre equitrack event as a Class Three horse eligible to compete in the lower grade.
That is significant as the horse has generally been regarded as a solid Class Four galloper who finds it a little tough at a higher level although it must be emphasised that he has run some decent races in Class Three.
He will carry 140lb, an obvious steadier, but the son of Epsom Derby winner Henbit has lumped 139lb in the past and run second.
Significantly, he has been working particularly well since finishing third at his last start for visiting Irish apprentice, Mickey Fenton. That was back on January 20 and he ran on well for third to Golden Emperor, a winner since, on the grass.
Rain Dancer's equitrack form has always been sound and he gets a solid chance to break through tonight and end a brief, winless run for Kinane.
Brent Thomson remains with Jungle Deer who won, course and distance, early this season and has been freshened up after a long break for a crack at this event.