UNCLE Taf, consistent as they come, can close the two-day racing carnival with a long overdue win in the Reynold ‘Ren’ Gonsalves Memorial Cup, an Overnight Allowance feature at Caymanas Park today.

Nine races are carded with two trophy races at stake: the Reynold Gonzalves and the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy, along with seven other well-supported races for an entertaining Sunday afternoon programme.

The day’s main feature is set to go to post at approximately 4:20 pm with first post at 1:10 pm

The Reynold Gonsalves Cup is run annually in memory of the champion trainer of 1971-72 and a past two-term chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission. ‘Ren’, as he was affectionately called, was one of local racing’s great innovators. One who had worked assiduously and continuously for greater improvement of standards in the sport at Caymanas Park, helping to rid it of its many ills.

As an astute trainer, he like Mortimor ‘Morty’ Heron had made winning at the distance of 2,000 metres an art. Hence, a field of eight will run in the day’s Reynold Gonsalves feature for the major cut of a $715,000 purse, going 2,000 metres.

While there are other worthy runners than Uncle Taf who could go all the way, including Franfield, Brawn, Royal Vibes and stablemate Fill’s Fancy, the Solomon Sharpe-conditioned five-year-old chestnut gelding, has established greater claim to winning the event than most following a series of frame-entering performances from his four starts for the season.

Leaving very little chance Uncle Taf was also well drilled to meet the occasion of the extended trip — one that he won last year after finishing a good second to Typewriter in the Superstakes race.

Demonstrating his readiness for today’s combat, Uncle Taf, while sprinting in his last race, lost narrowly to the speedy imported runner Rio Cobre, going 1,100 metres after being slowly into stride. For that matter, he went slowly away on all four occasions for his five-year-old season. Conversely, with the journey now extended and the pace easier, he is expected to have more time to recover and settle should the blip at the start continue. He will then be in a better position to mount a serious challenge to the leaders, just before rounding the final bend for home.

Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles, who rode Uncle Taf to victory last year over 2,000 metres and was again in the saddle for the gelding’s last two mounts, will again ride.

The Richard Azan-trained Franfiald, with Omar Walker up, could provide Uncle Taf with his sternest test in the event having been also well drilled for the occasion and is a great lover of the 2,000-metre run.

Brawn is another runner who could impact positively on the event with Walker choosing to change places with Ellis aboard Franfield for Brawn, who is trained by Gary Subratie.

The quiet entry of Royal Vibes, from the stables of champion trainer Wayne Dacosta and ridden by Shamaree Muir, could prove much more competitive than is acknowledged in a race such as this.

Race 1 Lord Storm

(Orlando Foster)

Race 2 Onefineafternoon

(Ryan Nelson)

Race 3 Aldebaran

(Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 4 Blue Eyed Boy

(Shane Ellis)

Race 5 Turbo Machine Cat (Richard Lunan)

Race 6 Classy Prospect

(Marc Griffiths)

Race 7 Uncle Taf

(Ameth Robles)

Race 8 Force De Jour

(Shane Ellis)

Race 9 Demolition Boy

(Ameth Robles)