Hobart hosts its first race meeting since Hobart Cup Day on Sunday, and it will see some of the best young jockeys in the country contesting round three of the of the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS).

The nominated NARS races are five and seven and will see the apprentices chase maximum points for their state. The following jockeys are engaged in the Tasmanian legs of the series:

• Chloe Wells (TAS)
• Felicity Atkinson (SA)
• Lilli Barr (QLD)
• Luke Campbell (WA)
• Maddi Price (VIC)

Tasmania has work to do to climb the 2023 NARS leaderboard after unplaced results for both Brooke Hanham (NT) and Codi Jordan (WA) in the opening two rounds.

Cressy trainer Cameron Thompson is heading south with a couple from his stable in the float. His promising 2YO filly Liberty Rae gets her chance to return to the winners circle in the opening event, the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Maiden (1200m).

Liberty Rae won at her first start over 900m in Hobart in November before finishing down the track behind Sassy Boom in the Magic Millions Classic in Launceston last month.

"We were really disappointed with her Magic Millions run but the horse ended up returning a poor blood (result) so she had an excuse. We thought obviously going into the run she was 100%, so we're hoping now that she's back to her best she can run a really good race on Sunday," Thompson said.

Since recovering from that run, Liberty Rae has stepped out at the Longford trials and could not have been more impressive winning by 3.5 lengths with her head on her chest.

"Siggy (Carr) actually rode her quiet at Longford and she hit the line really well.

"We've always said she goes better tracking a horse and it was nice to see her do that.

"She's got loads of ability and for her not to perform on race day there had to be something going on, she's a very good track worker too, she gives you the most beautiful feel."

Thompson will also saddle-up Not Bluffing in the 1200m Kevin Sharkie Maiden. The former Victorian has had just three runs for Thompson and hasn't started since an unplaced run on New Year's Day.

"He probably should have won first-up for us, he was quite tough there but he's a horse that doesn't have a turn of foot he's a bit of a grinder and I don't think he quite got out at the right time.

"We gave him a freshen up, he goes good fresh, and I think he will be quite competitive."

Looking for a couple of good things, Bold Instinct should win race 2 while Dantes, who was a huge tip on Cup Day when he finished second, can go one better in race 3.

Later in the day, Stelladoni appeals as a nice each way bet in the second leg of the apprentice's series. Third-up from a spell, the mare didn't have a lot of luck last time out in Launceston.