Double up on Double Or Nothing on Friday night - he’ll enjoy a decent drop in grade

Double Or Nothing might have drawn the outside of the gate at Albion Park on Friday but, dropping in grade, he is the one to beat.

You might have expected Double Or Nothing to have felt two hard runs in a week, when he was placed both times in 1:53.4 mile rate races, but trainer Al Barnes says the horse has been right on top of his game this week.

“The runs seem to have sharpened him up and he may just be too strong for them on Friday.

“It’s a nice little race for him. I”m not sure if he’ll lead - Hayden may have to park out - but we’re both confident he’d be OK breezing.”

Double Or Nothing is strong to the line, running third last Saturday night in a fast-run 1:53.4 mile rate.Barnes says if Double Or Nothing makes the front - and he may have earned enough respect now to get there - he can’t see anything being able to sit outside him on a 1:53 rate and beat him.

“He does have ability and tried really hard in both his races last week.”

Last Tuesday Double Or Nothing led and was swamped in the last couple of strides, going under by a neck. And last Saturday, after being four wide into the first bend, Hayden Barnes landed a one-one trip, challenged three wide turning in and finished on strongly to go down by just 3.3 metres.

Double Or Nothing’s recent times have been much faster than his rivals - last start winner Sir Jujon clocked only a mile rate of 1:55.1 and Whitehaven Lass’ recent win was only in 1:57.6.

At 65, he is rated five points better than the next in the field, Callmedemaro, who has won only three of his 42 career starts, and Soulwriter who has won only one of his last 29 starts - at Redcliffe.

Double Or Nothing races at 3.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.