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By Ray Hickson

It’s not a bad fallback to have a $150,000 country race to aim at if things don’t go to plan and that’s where Tim Donnelly found himself at the end of Cliff House’s spring campaign.

Trainer Tim Donnelly (Pic: Bradley Photos)

After the five-year-old recorded his fifth career win at Canberra, Donnelly sent Cliff House into a race at the Gong meeting at Kembla Grange knowing a win would rule him out of the Country Championships.

That didn't work out and Donnelly said Cliff House presents well to resume in Sunday’s Newhaven Park SDRA Country Championships (1400m) at Albury - and he has no regrets about flirting with ineligibility.

“I was quite happy for him to win it and take the prizemoney,’’ Donnelly said.

“The timing worked out well to have a little break and get back and ready for this first-up.

“It’s been a faultless preparation. The 1400m fresh is okay for him, a mile is probably his best distance but he has won over 1400m first-up.”

Cliff House was snapped up by Donnelly, on the advice of his son Alex, for just $7000 unnamed at an Inglis Digital sale and among the owners are a group of the trainer’s school friends.

It didn’t take the gelding long to prove a shrewd buy, winning at his second start, as he’s already collected $145,000 from 11 appearances.

Donnelly is a firm believer that Highway form is a prerequisite for Country Championships success and Cliff House ticked that box back in June when he beat the likes of Swift Charm, Chase My Crown, Bootscooter and recent Moruya Cup winner Zouatica at Randwick.

He’s also buoyed by the form out of his recent barrier trial, where he ran last in a field of five and did more than enough to tell Donnelly he’s on target.

“It was quite a sharp trial. Three horses have raced out of that trial and two have come out and won,’’ he said.

“He was at the back, they ran home in really quick time and he’s not a sit and sprint type of horse.

“He probably didn’t have a heap up his sleeve but in a 1000m trial he didn’t need to either.

“Definitely class wise he’s up to it. If you’ve won a Highway I think that’s a good starting point.”

Cliff House drew a middle barrier in the Albury feature and that would please Donnelly given where his big chance last year, Participator, found himself after drawing near the inside.

It’ll allow the gelding to wind up and race to his strengths.

“If you look at the way the race was run last year, I had Participator in the race and he started favourite and he was slightly worse than midfield with the winner outside him,’’ he said.

“We didn’t get a run but the winner came from that spot and I reckon that’s the spot we might be in.

“There’s always good pace and that’s what he loves. He hasn’t got a big sprint but he keeps wearing away. He just doesn’t run badly.”

Imported galloper Guess could easily have been joining Cliff House in the Championships but timing hasn’t been on his side so he’ll debut for the stable in the Twin City Truck Centre Handicap (1175m).

Cliff House wins a Randwick Highway in June

The gelding, owned by Richard Pegum, hasn’t raced since October 2022 due to things not going his way shortly after arriving.

“He came over 12 months ago and was in work a couple of days then had an injury and needed surgery to his fetlocks,’’ he said.

“He’s going well. I originally entered him for the Country Championships because I think he’s up to the class but he had to have a run so I had to withdraw him.

“He’d appreciate a bit of give in the ground which we won’t get on Sunday but I quite like him.”

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Albury