Astute jumps jockey Eddie Lamb spent weeks planning how to beat Royal Ways on Bob Dobalino in today's $100,000 Mercedes Great Northern.
With Bob Dobalino on the injured list, Lamb now can't see Royal Ways beaten.
"I've never seen a Northern trial anywhere near as good as Royal Ways winning here last week," said Lamb yesterday.
"Everything was against him and he cantered in. Last year he won it because he was the best stayer. This year he'll win it because he's the best horse."
Fellow rider Jamie Gillies also cannot see the favourite beaten.
But Rochelle Lockett, perhaps fuelled by loyalty to her stable, is tipping a trifecta comprising Our Jonty, Royal Ways and one of the Browne representatives.
Tina Egan, a winner of the race and recovering from a kidney transplant, fancies All Rhythm ahead of Royal Ways and Drops O' Rain.
Racecaller Keith Haub has never been shy tipping a horse a long way out from the finish, but says he won't be doing it in the big race today.
"I usually like to have a crack at tipping whatever's going well on the hill the last time, but I'm going to give it a miss this time. The going on the flat over the last 600m will be that heavy that the placings will change dramatically.
"My tip would be that if your horse is well out of it going up the hill the last time, don't panic."
Racing: Royal Ways looks the one
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