It's a lottery for racing at Alexandra Park

If tonight's $25,000 Spring Cup at Alexandra Park was a mobile start you couldn't get enough money on Pembrook Benny.

The only established open-class pacer in the field, he was third in last season's Auckland Cup, a luckless sixth in the Interdominion Final, is racing on his home track with Hall of Famers Barry Purdon (trainer) and Tony Herlihy (driver) on his side.

Drawn barrier one over 2200m it would be his race to lose. But the fact the first open-class pace of the northern season is a standing start makes it far more of a lottery and means punters deserve better than $4 for Pembrook Benny or any of his rivals tonight.

"The standing start will be crucial," said Purdon.

"If he steps away quickly, and he usually does, then he will be hard to beat. But if he settles back sixth or seventh then the whole race changes."

Those words could just as easily apply to key rivals Devil Dodger, Sir Lincoln, Pure Power and River Field, while fitness concerns suggest Taylor Mile winner Gomeo Romeo might be better left for another night.

Pembrook Benny may have only won 13 races but he has amassed more than $425,000 in stakes by proving he is just below the top four or five pacers in the country.

Purdon says he is ready to win tonight after two trials, the last just three days ago, but admits he will improve with the outing.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he won because he is good enough to but at this level they always improve with the outing."

While barrier one would be a blessing from a mobile start it can be a disadvantage from a stand as Pembrook Benny will have to come into line first and stand longest while his rivals organise themselves.

That may work out perfectly, it could cost him valuable momentum - that is the frustration of betting on standing start races.

One thing for certain is that 5-year-olds Devil Dodger and Sir Lincoln have race fitness on their side. They raced through the winter and if either can step to the lead tonight they will take enormous catching.

Devil Dodger is drawn wide but can make a flyer from a stand and could settle handy or even in front for Brent Mangos, who has won this race three times before.

Sir Lincoln is not so foolproof from a stand but was luckless last Friday and looks the each way value in the race providing he steps away in the first four or five.

The race doubles as a leg of the $200,000 terminating Pick6 and Purdon could provide the closest thing to an anchor with Bettor Get Better in the last leg.

The 4-year-old mare is still a maiden but was a huge third from a tricky draw last Friday and has the gate speed to win tonight.