Bianco Vilano and Asgarda – which filled the quinella in the Albury Country Championships and have a huge date ahead in next month’s $1 million Final – are set to showcase their strengths in Thursday's Albury City Handicap (1175m).

Buoyed by a Kembla Grange breakthrough at his new home base, trainer Mitch Beer heads to Hawkesbury on Thursday where he has enjoyed previous success on the club’s biggest day.

Trainer Mitchell Beer is happy to give the Country Championships a miss with talented mare Sunrise Ruby in favour of targeting a couple of feature country sprints in the coming months.

You know it’s Country Championships time when the preview races start popping up around the countryside and Thursday’s Albury program will lead the charge.