Racing: Sno's Big Boy has plenty to do

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You could almost feel sorry for Sno's Big Boy.

Tonight at Alexandra Park the 7-year-old takes his first step on the comeback trail after 14 months away, up against just four rivals in the main trot.

As the winner of 12 races and $180,000 in stakes, Sno's Big Boy was a genuine open-class force before injury forced him off the track and into the stable of expert rehabilitator Michelle Wallis.

But since he has been sidelined he has gone from being one of the best trotters in the country to not even the best trotter in his own family - by a long way.

Because Sno's Big Boy's little brother, one year younger, is I Can Doosit, who has won two Interdom Finals, a Rowe Cup and nearly $700,000 since his big brother went missing.

While he will never win the family title back, Sno's Big Boy has shown enough at recent trials to suggest he still has some bullets to fire.

And he has definitely found the right comeback race, meeting second tier open-class horses, albeit off a 20m handicap.

Wallis admits she doesn't quite know what to expect from Sno's Big Boy tonight.

"He is forward and I have been happy with his trials but not many horses win in this grade fresh-up after 14 months off," said Wallis. "I wouldn't be surprised if he won but I also get the feeling his lack of racing might just tell against him."

Safely through tonight, Sno's Big Boy could head to the Rowe Cup on May 4, where he would meet his little brother.

He gives Wallis a shot at a trotting double tonight with Superbowlcheerleader one of the favourites in race 10, the penultimate leg of the $50,000 Pick6.

The 3-year-old filly was an effortless winner at Cambridge last start and stays in the same grade, but with one small warning from Wallis.

"She might be just a fraction more comfortable left-handed at this stage but she can definitely still win."

Her major opposition could come from the resuming Cyclone U Bolt.

The night's pacing free-for-all will be dominated by the Ian Small stable, with four of the six starters over 2200m mobile.

The stable's No 1 driver David Butcher has chosen to partner Jarcullembra so he will undoubtedly start favourite.

He was a solid eighth in the Auckland Cup last start and drops a long way in class tonight while chasing an Alexandra Park bonus, so could be a Pick6 anchor.

While the Alexandra Park meeting will be the key focus for most harness racing punters tonight, the best pacer racing could be at the minor Addington meeting.

Superstar filly Twist And Twirl returns after a quiet month in a heat of the Nevele R Series.

Winner of the Pascoe's Northern Oaks and Sires' Stakes Championship already, she could cement herself as a champion filly in the busy next two months.