Consistent Double Or Nothing looks good for another minor cheque tonight
By Barry Lichter • 21 February 2020
Consistent pacer Double Or Nothing may have to sit parked at Albion Park tonight but he should still earn a cheque, says trainer Al Barnes.
Double Or Nothing, nabbed in the last few strides last week after leading from seven, moves in to gate five in the opening race but Barnes says he’s unlikely to get the front this time with Im Norma Jean drawn one inside him.
“There’ll be no lead for him with Nathan Dawson driving but we’ll go forward anyway and park out. It’s not worth taking a sit with him, he’s not the greatest from behind.
“But he should earn another cheque. He’s a great bread and butter horse that you’d love to own.”
In six Queensland starts Double Or Nothing has racked up a win, three seconds, a third and an unlucky fourth when bottled up.
“He’ll do a good job again but it will be a tough race for him to win.”
Double Or Nothing, who is rated 66 in the rating 65 to 75 race, has most of his main opposition drawn inside him with Grant Dixon’s Cherrys The Best in three and Jack Butler’s Handsome Hero in one.
The rangy Sweet Lou gelding boasts a record of three wins and 15 placings from his 26 starts for A$49,067 in stakes.
Meanwhile, Barnes says all reports from Sydney are good on Northview Hustler.
The infections which burst out of his heels last week are healing nicely and he fast-worked yesterday in preparation for his next start at Menangle on Saturday week.
Double Or Nothing races at 9.19pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
