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Northview Hustler is lethal in front as he showed when winning at Albion Park two starts back. PHOTO: Dan Costello.

Speed wobbles behind him, Hustler can lead and be very hard to beat on Saturday night

Northview Hustler might have got the speed wobbles and galloped last start but trainer Al Barnes is confident he can go close to winning at Albion Park on Saturday night.

The Hustler draws six on the front line, the same handicap that saw him taken back off the gate last start, but Barnes says with nothing like the same speed drawn inside him this time the plan will be to blast the gate and lead.

“He should cross them without using too much petrol and find the fence first and from there he’ll be very hard to beat.

“I can’t see anything having the speed to hold him out. The one (Chevron’s Reward) should take a sit on us.”

Barnes says the Hustler is “good as gold and ready to go” after being treated for sore feet and having his troublesome fetlock injected since his last race.

“He just got the speed wobbles last time and whacked himself on the home turn, galloping just when Hayden thought he was going to run straight past them.

“On Saturday he should be leading and going very close to winning though Secretagent Tycoon will be hard to beat.”

Hayden Barnes brings back Larry Lincoln after scoring in a 1:54.6 mile rate last month. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Hayden Barnes brings back Larry Lincoln after scoring in a 1:54.6 mile rate last month. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Larry’s big test

Barnes is also looking forward to Larry Lincoln’s first test against stronger company in the third race and he is confident he can make the step up.

“It’s a much harder field than he’s beaten in his last two starts but I’ve always said that this class will suit him. The time they run won’t matter.”

Under the preferential barrier draw Larry Lincoln, as the lowest rating horse, gets the pole, from where Barnes says he should be in front or behind the leader.

“I don’t think the two (Feelingforarainbow) will hold him out and the three (Maywyns Courage) should take a sit.

“We’ve just got to play our cards right and hand up to the right horse or we’ll end up three fence. We might even lead, we’ll have to see.”

Larry Lincoln, who has won his last two starts and has been the subject of overseas interest this week, will need to be right on his A game as while he has scored in mile rates of 1:54.6 and 1:54.7 for 1660 metres, his rivals have been pacing much faster.

When Maywyns Courage scored two starts back he ran a mile rate of 1:52.1 and the newcomer to Queensland Our Wall Street Wolf clocked 1:50.6 in winning a mile at Menangle in January before pulling up slightly lame in the near hind leg at his last start.

Northview Hustler races at 8.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.Northview Hustler races at 8.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.Larry Lincoln races at 9.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.Larry Lincoln races at 9.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Addington

Debbie Lincoln.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
6.39pm

“She was very good first-up - Harry said she was still coming at the line - and I’m sure she’ll go pretty well again. The way she trains over 2400 metres, you’d think the extra 500 metres will help.”

Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.39pm

“I was quite happy with her last run at Cambridge, she’s improved a lot since Auckland. It’s a shame she’s got a bad draw this week but if she can hit the line well again, I’ll be happy.”

Race 5: Dreams Of Eric
7.34pm

“I think he’ll be a good chance because he continues to train very well. I’ll leave it up to Harry how he drives him this week but you’d think he’d lead again.”

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Tyson
6.52pm

“He had to do a bit much work last time - from a niggly draw he went round and sat parked. He’s drawn three on Friday, which is perfect, as he can just mooch up there. He keeps going good races in stronger fields and needs two more starts and some more points to qualify for the Golden Gait.”

Race 8: Kevin Kline
9.24pm

“He’s up against the better ones now, like Cold Chisel, but he keeps doing a good job. He’s a tough horse who keeps improving and he’s training really well. I thought he’d be a chance.”

Whales Harness