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By Graeme White

Casino contenders At Witz End ($8 on TAB) and Evopex ($5.50) are well placed to avenge last year’s result when they meet again in the RSM Club Beef Week Cup (1400m) on Friday.

The $35,000 feature race is a chance for both sets of connections to go a few places better after running fourth (At Witz End) and fifth (Evopex) last year.

Trainer Jim Jarvis is pleased to have jockey Matthew McGuren on Evopex after the jockey won the Beef Week Cup last year.

Evopex (Tommy Berry) in winning form at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

“It’s a bonus having Matthew on and I think if Evopex runs up to his best form and the track is a bit soft he is the best horse in the race,” Jarvis said.

“He has won a country race at Randwick and his preference is a slow to heavy track so if he gets that I’m confident he will be right there.”

Potro Duro ($3.50) is the early favourite ahead of Evopex and At Witz End. Jarvis has been satisfied with Evopex’s recent runs even though he hasn’t won in several starts.

“It takes him a couple of runs to come right for fitness. He has had two starts back from a bit of a break and they haven’t been disappointing,” he said.

“The track is rated soft and we have had a lot of rain up this way so that will suit him as he is definitely better when the track is wet.”

It’s a similar story for At Witz End who beat Evopoex to the finish line last year for trainer Owen Glue of Lismore. At Witz End, who will be ridden by Noriyuki Masuda, will be having his first start since January and has only had the one trial which was against the original plan of his trainer.

“I wanted him to have three trials then go into this race first-up. He does go well fresh, but I’m not sure if one trial will be enough,” he said.

“I have been able to give him plenty of gallops and his work on Saturday was very good.”

At Witz End is a past winner at Casino and has been placed twice in five first-up tests. The gelding is the best galloper Jarvis has prepared for owner Vince O’Connell from Kyogle having won seven times with a further seven placings from 30 starts.

“He is one of the first horses Vince gave me. He didn’t come up last preparation after a short break, but this time he has had a decent spell and is a different horse to what he was in his few runs last campaign,” Glue suggested.

“He won last year’s Casino Cup a few starts after he ran fourth in the Beef Week Cup. This time he is going in with only one trial when I would have preferred three.”

Meanwhile, Potro Duro has struggled to make an impression in recent starts, but is tipped by some to hit back. The galloper has drawn favourably in barrier five for apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd.

Topweight The Avenger has earnings of $422,000, but hasn’t won a race since August 2019. He is now with Gold Coast trainer Maryann Brosnan and has finished well back at his past two starts.

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