A very small but competitive field of seven runners will match strides for parity in today's renewal of the $245,000 Lester Davidson Memorial Cup low-end claiming feature at Caymanas Park.

To be run over the minimum trip of 1,000 metres round, the event is for three-year-olds and upward who have started for a claiming tag of $160,000 since October 11 last year.

Of the seven runners, Shade of Jade partnered by Peter Bryan, Bushy Park Raja with Trevor Simpson up, Futz ridden by Peter Clunis and Crop Over with Wesley Henry in the saddle, are equipped with the speed credentials to fight out the finish. The other runners, Making Waves, the mount of Percy Williams and Patas De Fuego with Milton Powell astride, could also run well enough to add the competitive edge to an event, while Tiftavia can be safely ruled out.

Bushy Park Raja will more than likely start the favourite, having recently beaten a good field of runners including Goingtokansascity over the straight five course at the beginning of the month.

Though getting on in age, the eight-year-old son of Restless Thief is just as effective on the round course. However, the minimum trip specialist has had problems with his legs throughout his racing life and riding the bends at this stage could be his undoing.

His trainer Robert Darby Snr has been working wonders with his charges of late, and should he be able to get Bushy Park Raja to negotiate the quarter bend without much difficulty, then his chances are as good as any.

However, Futz, a five-year-old American-bred, is the only one in the line-up with the most recent win over the distance. This was done on a $210,000-tag on July 9 last year with the seven-year-old mare Shade Of Jade placing second to him on that date.

The two again renew rivalry down in class, but Shade Of Jade who was not disgraced behind Bushy Park Raja a week ago has a 7.0kg weight swing in her favour and she looks the right choice as she has been well-trained for the race.

Futz, who ran a fair race in the first week of January, is also down in the weights sufficiently to have a decent chance, but with the visors and Lasix removed, he may have to wait even though the minimum trip is to his liking.

At a glance the trip may appear a bit short for Patas De Fuego, but now fitted with the blinkers, the eight-year-old Royal Minister gelding, who seemed to be rounding in some amount of form, being a better class animal than these, could use his good early pace to get the better of his more-fancied rivals up the lane.

Crop Over, who finished a quarter of a length third ahead of Patas De Fuego on last over 1,300 metres, is another with good enough credentials to make his presence felt.

The nine-year-old sly mare Making Waves, hailing from the camp of Gary Subratie is not to be discounted. She ran well over 1,100 metres on December 3 and, being no chicken over this minimum trip, she could chart the course from the moment the starter lets them go and refuse to give way until the wire arrives.

Observer's Selections

Race 1: Achilles
Race 2: Desires Of The Sea
Race 3: Meteor Man
Race 4: Marinero
Race 5: Shade Of Jade
Race 6: Queen Of My Heart
Race 7: Kermit
Race 8: Twin Star
Race 9: Señor Gato
Race 10: Rigmarole

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World