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By Graeme White

Leading jockey Blaike McDougall is set to add to his brilliant season when he clinches the first of several premiership titles this season as he rides at Albury on Tuesday.

McDougall is a tearaway leader in the Albury premiership but also heads the listings in the National and NSW titles.

Leading country rider Blaike McDougall. Image by Emma Hillier

The national title is what McDougall desires after going close last season, but winning another Albury premiership is also important given that is where he calls home.

McDougall has ridden extensively across NSW this season and barely a day goes by where he isn’t competing.

A “home game” is always a bonus with no travel involved and at Albury he appears well poised to add to his season tally of 174.5 winners.

He landed 122 winners last season and will easily surpass that figure by around 60 winners when the season concludes in two weeks.

McDougall has a full book of seven rides including two favoured runners for trainer Andrew Dale.

The first of those is Mescaminto ($3.90 on TAB) in the Naughtin Development Group Benchmark 58 Fillies and Mares (1175m).

He will also ride the Dale trained Submission ($4.40) in the Baxters Concrete Benchmark 58 (1500m).

Mescaminto’s main danger is impressive first-up winner, Sunrise Ruby ($3.20 favourite), who could be in some doubt of starting with no jockey declared.

“She has to carry 61 kilograms on a heavy nine rated track which isn’t an easy task,” Dale said. “I think she will be competitive on what she has shown to date.

“All of her racing has been in Victoria, but she did trial at Corowa so racing the NSW way won’t be a problem.”

Mescaminto failed at Sandown at her first start for 10 weeks after winning and finishing second at her first two appearances. The drop back to country grade is more suitable for Mescaminto who will oppose stablemate and last start Echuca winner, Volere ($5).

“She got beaten just under five lengths first-up and this race is far more suitable,” Dale added.

Submission won at odds of $14 at Echuca last start at his first start for four weeks on a heavy surface.

Top weight Willybeafactor ($7.50) for trainer Graham Byatt and jockey Bradley Vale has never raced in better form with three straight wins followed by a closing fourth at his latest stat.

Packer’s Bond ($2.40 fav) is busting to break through at his third start back from a spell after a solid first-up second behind Willybeafactor at Wagga before finishing ninth at Rosehill. The return to his home track and country company is a bonus for the four-year-old who won his only start at Albury.

Dale is confident Submission will be competitive again despite the presence of some in-form opponents.

“He is in good form and is well placed in the NSW system,” Dale said. “He has a nice draw (gate three) and having Blaike ride him is also a bonus.”

Dale will have eight starters across the seven races and feels apart from Mescaminto and Submission that maiden galloper, If You Say So ($4.80) is close to breaking through over 1400 metres.

“He has run some decent races in Victoria and gets out to a distance of 1400 metres for the first time which will suit,” he suggested. Jockey Jake Duffy will ride If You Say So as well as Ali’s Choice for Dale.

Albury trainer Mitchell Beer will take out the Albury trainers' premiership at the club’s final meeting of the season. His best winning chances appear to be Packer’s Bond and Sunshine Ruby if she starts.

Short priced favourite Scarlet Prince ($1.65 fav) could start the program off on a winning note for Beer and jockey Nick Souquet. The topweight ran on strongly to finish second on debut at Gundagai.

His main opposition will come from lightly-raced duo Black Lavender ($4.60) and Kelvedon Road ($3.80). Beer and Souquet will also combine with another early favourite, Sydney Blue ($2) in the Avis Class 1 & Maiden (1600m).

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here