KEY POINTS:
Jim Curtin isn't quite as confident in his weekend drives as the TAB bookmakers are.
Curtin will start today's Westport meeting as the warm favourite to win the Hot Holiday Driver's competition for the leading reinsman in the country between Boxing Day and January 2.
Curtin opened at $15 for the promotion but was heavily backed early and that support looked justified after he drove two winners at Westport on Boxing Day.
That put him equal in the lead with Dexter Dunn and Colin De Filippi but Curtin says while he has a good book of drives today, he rates Dunn as the driver to beat.
"I have four or five drives who could win on Friday but most of them are going to need a little bit of luck.
"And I think Dexter will end up having more drives than me over the new few days as I am going to Winton on Saturday and Alexandra Park on Monday, where I will only get a couple of drives at best at each meeting."
Curtin rates Rosie J in the first race today as his best winning hope after her fighting second from a poor draw on Wednesday.
Dunn's best chances appear to be Wild Storm, who has been aided by scratchings in race eight and Sandinyourpocket (race 10).
Curtin has only one confirmed drive at Winton tomorrow but says it is worth the trip.
"I am driving Hone Heke (race two) and I think he is a pretty nice two-year-old," he said.
"He won well on debut and while he has a second-line draw last time I drove him down there some of the opposition were pretty inexperienced so he should be able to get off the markers."
Today's feature at Westport sees most of those who clashed the in the Westport Cup on Wednesday returning and it is the unlucky runner in that race, The Gigolo, who appeals most.
