By MICHAEL GUERIN
Where Eagles Dare would hardly seem the ideal standing start horse but that won't stop him from being the horse to beat in the feature at Alexandra Park tonight.
The three-year-old has been one of the exciting talents to emerge in northern harness racing in the latter half of this season, and now looks certain to one day join his half-sister, Flight South, in open class.
But it hasn't always been that way.
Where Eagles Dare gave punters heartburn early in his career and even when he broke through for his first win he had to overcome a gallop 1000m from home that would have put a lesser equine out of the race.
Since then his hanging tendencies, inherited from his dam, have made even his wins look difficult but they haven't stopped him winning.
But driver Lynn Neal is convinced that the recent improvement in Where Eagles Dare's manner will continue right through to his first standing start in tonight's fifth leg of Pick Six.
"We have been giving him some standing start practice at home and I am confident he will step," said Neal, who trains the gelding with her husband Andrew.
"I know his manners weren't perfect early on but he drove a lot better last start at Alexandra Park and he is getting better all the time.
"I think only having two horses on the front line will also help."
Where Eagles Dare burnt punters last start when favourite in a premier race but Neal says that was not the horse's fault.
"He was dragged back when the leader tired and he flew home once he got clear. he worked hard that night and they went 2:43 for 2200m and he was still going well on the turn.
"I would have actually pushed off the trail with him at the 700m but he has had a slight hoof problem leading into the race so I wanted to save him as long as possible.
"But don't let that last-start sixth put you off."
Where Eagles Dare was to have started in last night's Cambridge Cup but that race was abandoned after not drawing enough entries so he will round off his season tonight instead.
"He has really improved with every run we have given him this season and if he does step tonight I would like to stay in front because he would the one to beat."
The Neals' only other runner tonight is Treglorii, who has been the punter's enemy more often than not.
"I think she will win races but perhaps she has been a shade disappointing," said Neal.
"She can be a funny horse and last time we were sort of forced into leading at Cambridge because she was well drawn and was a hot favourite but she is probably better driven with a sit.
"We would like to try that this week because she is a handy stayer and could win with the right sort of run."
Where Eagles Dare is not alone in having a question mark over his standing start manners in race eight tonight, as his two most favoured rivals are also unproven from behind the tapes.
Prince Of Flight has looked a winter star with his booming finishes but has no standing start racenight form. while John Stewart, a premier grade winner two starts ago, has had two standing starts for a hit and a miss.
Whichever of the trio makes the safest beginning tonight will hold the upper hand in the key leg of Pick Six.
Tonight's trotting feature brings together two of the stars of last Friday's Great Northern Breeders Trot, in Lanson and Duchess Of Whiz, and logic would suggest Lanson is the one to beat.
While both she and Duchess Of Whiz worked hard before finishing second and third respectively in last week's hard-run feature, Lanson would appear more likely to improve as the outing was her first in four months.
Duchess Of Whiz has been a big improver in the last two months and should lead tonight. She would be hard to catch once in the lead but Lanson's cause is helped by the small field, as she should not get too far from the second favourite.
Racing: Where Eagles Dare one to beat despite waywardness
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