Racing: New Moon can rise to occasion at Ellerslie

Twoeezy. Phto / Greg Bowker

The only guarantee at Ellerslie today is that the punt will be difficult.

Perhaps sort out two or three and anchor everything around them.

New Moon, in Race 9, should be one of them. Forget he went around at Te Rapa last start. Not only did they run a stunning 1.22.9 for 1400m - which is too slick for him - he got no sort of a run at all.

Today's testing conditions and the smallish field will play the right way for him and he should be able to come at them hard in the closing stages.

Kaap Kruis (No 2, R2) finished second in that New Moon race at Te Rapa, good form for the race he's in today.

He's versatile when it comes to track conditions, but the wet conditions today should suit best.

Oberon (No 2, R4) looked an early winner when he finished third at Te Rapa last start. He appeared likely for a while in the home straight and was cut back only late.

You simply have to make the most of in-form claiming apprentices at this time of year, and Rory Hutchings is one of them.

This boy is the real deal - not just a fair rider that can claim - and the 3kg he takes off the back of Matost (No 6, R5) is liable to prove a critical factor. Matost should be fit now after a couple of runs and looks great each-way value today.

Taking The Mickey (No 4) is getting to the weight and fitness level where he's going to be competitive.

Hello, hello, hello, take note of the 4kg converted copper Lisa Robertson removes from Zer Ebeny (No 4, R6).

The Cornwall is not an easy race, but it will surprise if last week's winner The Strutter (No 4, R7) and newcomer Twoeezy (No 7) don't figure somewhere in the first four.

The last is a tricky race, but Desert Lad (No 3, R10) is another of Rory Hutchings' rides.

It means the horse looks well placed at below the minimum in an R70, which he won last start.