Racing: Presido prepares for northern assault

In driver Colin De Filippi's eyes, Presido's chances in tonight's $55,000 Franklin Cup have improved before he even arrives at Alexandra Park.

De Filippi, the most in-form reinsman in the country, returns to Alexandra Park tonight for the first of seven consecutive meetings as the premier harness racing season comes north.

And the change from Addington to the northern track caught De Filippi unawares this week.

He was mulling over his options with Presido starting from the outside of the front line in tonight's 3200m event before informed only nine horse start across the front in standing starts at Alexandra Park.

Which means Presido will start from one on the second line, following out favoured rivals Badlands Bute and Tribute.

"That is a lot better because you don't want to be doing too much work early in any big 3200m race," said De Filippi.

"It will still be a very hard race to win but if he can get an easy time of it for the first section of the race then he is in with a chance."

Presido has not started since finishing down the track in the New Zealand Cup two weeks ago but this field is a long way off that calibre.

"He is a fast little horse and I think the one we are following out steps pretty good so we are in with a good chance."

While Presido is a virtual newcomer to open class and Badlands Bute and Tribute are also taking the step up, the established open class pacers of this season, Napoleon and Myron, appeal as the pacers the rest have to beat.

Napoleon raced through the grades three years ago as a sprint specialist and is still regarded as best placed over distances up to 2200m.

But he has finished fourth in an Auckland Cup and drops back a long way in grade here after leading and being run down in the shadows of the post in the New Zealand Free-For-All in his last start.

A good standing start horse, he is likely to settle handy and the way he hit the line at the end of a hard 2700m here two starts ago suggests he is the horse to catch tonight.

Myron finished second in that 2700m event before racing well and without luck in the Cup and Free-For-All at Addington.

He should be better for that experience and comes in well enough placed tonight as the 20m handicap is less than he would be giving many of these under different conditions.

With some rugged stayers in the field he should be able to secure a cart into the race at some stage and be very hard to hold out.

Badlands Bute is the interesting runner after failing in three easier races this time in.

He has excuses on all of those occasions and has been aimed at this race for some time. As a dual Derby winner last season he has shown he loves the consistent tempo of group racing and his manners are usually good.

If he is victorious tonight he will provide driver Tony Herlihy with some consolation after he was forced to scratched his stable star Sly Flyin from tonight's Miracle Mile.

Prince Of Peace could be the best longshot in the field after some gutsy runs since joining trainer Eric Matthews this year.