But regardless, the club should be congratulated on the fields it has attracted for its premier race day.

The cup field boasts plenty of quality and after studying the form I've whittled the field down to four main chances.

Let's put them under the microscope.

The top-weight in Ho Ho Khan is the class runner of the field and has won in excess of $1.4 million in prizemoney.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Ho Ho Khan has previously done all his racing in Hong Kong and is having his first Australian start for trainer Mitchell Freedman.

Obviously he has won some big races previously but only the stable would know whether he is primed for his Australian debut.

If he is anywhere near his best and being such a highly credentialled galloper Ho Ho Khan could easily beat this field by a cricket pitch.

I guess you can only watch the betting to see if there is any stable confidence surrounding the horse and whether he firms or drifts will give you some indication.

The Peter Moody-trained Akecheta is the pre-post favourite at around the $4.60-mark.

Akecheta is coming off an impressive win at Moonee Valley which is a good form pointer for a Wodonga Cup.

The son of So You Think is yet to race on a heavy track but has two wins to his credit in soft going.

Another thing in his favour is that he likes to race on the pace and will be suited by the track.

If the leaders get an economical trip, I can see Akecheta fighting out the finish providing he handles the heavy conditions.

Vungers is back to defend his crown and is another runner with an undeniable chance.

You just have to forgive his most recent run in the Donald Cup where there was a stack of pressure on the leaders early and the race wasn't run to suit.

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If Vungers can replicate something like he did two starts back at Bendigo, they may not be able to catch him.

The Michael Moroney stable has always got to be respected when it makes the trek from Flemington to Wodonga.

The big Kiwi has a two-pronged attack on the cup in Keats and Rainbow Thief.

I rate Rainbow Thief a huge chance.

The six-year-old has arguably the best wet track form in the race and finished second in the Donald Cup at his most recent start.

Vungers won the Donald feature last year before going on to win at Wodonga.

I know Rainbow Thief was being touted as a Cox Plate hopeful by the stable at one stage so obviously Moroney has a huge opinion of the horse.

And while injury may have curtailed those lofty expectations, horses are a bit like footballers in that form fluctuates but class is permanent.

Rainbow Thief finished fourth in the Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill in group 3 company which indicates how good the horse is when fit and firing.

I think that Rainbow Thief getting in on the minimum weight is another huge tick in the horses favour.

Speaking of the weights, there are quite a few runners that are disadvantaged with only Ho Ho Khan and Ready To Humble the only two runners weighted above the minimum of 54kg.

It means the rest of the field are weighted on the minimum despite their handicap rating ranging from 82 down to 59.

It places the horses down in the ratings with a huge disadvantage.

But in saying that I don't think weight will determine who is the winner rather the horse that handles the conditions the best.

I've got This Skilled Cat in the cup this year after taking out the sprint on cup day last year.

This Skilled Cat is an 80/1 chance in betting but I give him a much bigger chance than that.

"The Cat" gets in on the minimum weight and is such an honest galloper and is looking for the mile.

I've set him for the race but the heavy track is a query.

For the record I'm finding it hard to split Akecheta and Rainbow Thief.

I expect those two to be fighting out the finish with Keats and hopefully my bloke, This Skilled Cat, charging at them late.

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