Despite drawing gate 4 in Hobart, the toppy basically raced wide without cover for the last half of the race. He showed his class by hitting the front early in the straight but was a sitting shot for the quinella who had far more economical runs. Given he started favourite last time, meets the winner 2.5kg better, and champion jockey Blake Shinn retains the ride, I think there is a strong case he should be favourite here as well.

The Hobart Cup winner chases a $100,000 bonus here backing up in Launceston. He was given the gun run from an ideal draw by Winona Costin and draws similarly this time around. The way he powered away over the last 200m was very impressive and It's hard to argue his 2.5kg penalty isn't fair. Worth noting though that Eastender in 2019 as the last horse to do the cups double carried just 0.5kg more in Launceston than he did in Hobart.

The 2022 winner takes the same path in 2023 by winning the Colac Cup at his previous start. He carried 54kg in that race last year and had an extra 5kg this year. He was deep into the preparation last year but arrives to Launceston in 2023 second-up with 1.5kg more than when victorious last year. The low draws allows him to stalk the speed as he did a year ago and he looks a great chance of going back-to-back, something that hasn't been done since St. Andrews in 2002/03.

The 8YO had good race day support in Hobart and justified that with a fourth placing after being flushed wide a lot earlier than the quinella in particular. I think he snuck under a few guards in Hobart, something that is less likely this time around, but there is no denying he appears a loser from the barrier draw.

It wasn't pretty viewing for Glass Warrior supporters in Hobart, she would've been sporting the speed about 20 lengths exiting the home straight the first time, and tried to round the field down the back, mirroring Brighton Cup winning tactics against a far inferior field. Connections stick with apprentice Chelsea Baker who has been with the horse all campaign. Glass Warrior won this race two years ago and would need everything to go right to produce a repeat.

He was the first of the locals home in Hobart, given a 10/10 by David Pires who didn't spend a penny in the run before angling to the outside in the home straight. All six of his career wins have been in Hobart but of his four previous Launceston starts, none have been over a staying trip which is clearly what he is after. Hard to see him not being in the money again if Pires can secure a similar transit.

The popular veteran was a huge run in this race last year when finishing fourth after being a clear last passing the winning post the first time. Not going as well this year though, which was evident by his eighth in Hobart where admittedly he had a pretty tough run.

Did a great job to finish fifth in Hobart after settling in the first few, clearly ending up ahead of those that settled around him. Makes his own luck on speed, but in a field of this depth is entitled to be longish odds, and I think his Hobart SP of $31 is about where he should be in Launceston as well.

I doubt bookies wrote many tickets about the 8YO when they posted $9 in the antepost market. He's enjoying a great preparation as a winner of his last two starts, but one of those was in BM68 company and as veteran of 65 starts he is hardly working quickly through the grades. He will run an honest race, but I think a midfield finish looks best and he's fared poorly with the barrier draw.

Edged out in a narrow photo in the Sydeston Cup but unlike the winner of that race, it's easy to argue her best racing may still be ahead of her. The 5YO showed staying ability last time but needs to rise an extra 300m and that lead-up formline looks inferior to the better chances in this Group 3 field.

The youngest horse in the field, Miss Charlie Brown was ridden aggressively in the Sydeston Cup and boxed on well to be beaten just over a length. A winner of her first two career starts, her only other victory came in the Strutt Stakes, meaning she's yet to taste success outside of her own age group.

Racing well enough to justify connections wanting a cup runner and there is little doubt he will run the 2400m. If this is brutally run, and a few are paddling late, than the 8YO is an outside chance of running into prize money.

Last year's St Leger winner hasn't looked the same horse this campaign, and outside of a second place in Hobart back in November, has largely been disappointing. Blinkers come off and this is a stable known to have horses peak for a Grand Final.

$151 outsider in Hobart and will be similar here. Entitled to take some improvement from last start though given he was over a month between runs.

Heavily supported in the Sydeston Cup, backers didn't have much luck as he was caught wide before being narrowly beaten in a busy finish. Flying for something much easier but very aggressively placed as a 63-rater.