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Sitting outside the leader proved too tough for Argyle last week but he still paced a mile rate of 1:53.17.

At last, good front row draw gives Argyle his chance in Brisbane on Saturday night

Argyle looks a solid top four chance after finally drawing to get a sweet run on the pace at Albion Park on Saturday night.

While the third race has at least five winning chances, trainer Mark Dux says, for the first time since Argyle’s comeback from injury, Lincoln Farms’ six-year-old is well placed to feature.

With claiming concession driver Layne Dwyer in the cart, Argyle sneaks into the band 5 race and his luck was in, landing two in the random draw.

From there, Dux believes he has an excellent chance of leading.

“The one horse (Congo Line) hasn’t shown a heap of speed off the gate. If they revved him up, the 2138 metre start point (at the top of the home straight) would be where he could hold up, but I think we’ll cross him.

“If we can, good, if not, it’s not the end of the world. A couple out wide, like Collect A Dime, will keep pressing forward so I’m sure cover would come. Either way, he won’t have to work to get there, which makes a huge difference, and should get a good trip.”

Dux says he’s been happy with both of Argyle’s last two runs, when he carried a flat tyre and, last week when he sat parked outside the leader.

“Even though a couple got past him, I thought he was pretty solid. He did all the work and the winner, Hiranya, is a pretty decent horse.”

Argyle, himself, was clocked to run sectionals of 27.5, 29.78, 27.77 and 28.45, his mile rate for the 1660 metres a slick 1:53.17.

“He keeps coming and will be suited by the extra distance this week.

“I rate him a top three or four chance for sure, barring bad luck.”

Argyle races at 9.51pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.Argyle races at 9.51pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm

“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”

Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm

“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”

Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm

“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”

Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm

“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”

Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm

“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”

Whales Harness