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By Tony Megahey

Clint Lundholm can't understand why his proven TAB Highway winner Smooth Esprit is such enticing value while he says the much shorter stablemate Let Me Reign has the talent to overcome some hurdles at a booming Newcastle The Hunter race day on Saturday.

The young Dubbo trainer has an abundance in his favour into the $120,000 Class 3 Highway (1600m) where three-race winner Smooth Esprit ($13) has 56kg for Kerrin McEvoy and dual winning three-year-old filly Let Me Reign ($5.50) 54kg for Grant Buckley.

Trainer Clint Lundholm.

“He’s weighted the same as when he won, no harder race gets a firm track and out to ‘mile’ - has to run well,” Clint enthused.

However, starting a three-year-old filly from an extreme barrier 19 and jumping grades in a capacity field indicates Lundholm’s level of confidence even though the race wasn't in his original plan.

“She’s a talent, we’d intended to spell but she’s progressed super since a big win so we thought we’ll see how far she can take it,'' he said.

“Obviously the barrier makes it tough, but you deal with what you get in racing and she gets back anyway.

“On the limit she’ll be really strong with any luck.

“But we think we’ve got two realistic winning chances so looking forward to a day trip.”

Smooth Esprit has been scratched from rain affected tracks since dominating a Rosehill Gardens episode (1500m) in late September with 56kg for McEvoy.

She's enticing at the odds with the same weight and extra distance again with a two-time The Everest winning rider.

Meanwhile Let Me Reign, a Real Impact (JPN) protégé, elevates to a Class 3 after winning a Dubbo Class 1 at 1600m with 55.5kg by a widening three lengths two weeks ago after winning a home track maiden.

Also advantaging Lundholm’s duo is the moderate recent form of Highway regulars suggesting they have reached their limit.

Saturday’s race lacks the depth of recent Highways. The exception is The Dramatist, $4.60 favourite following an unlucky second in a recent 1200m Highway won by Pokerface, fitter second-up and a trial.

The Dramatist will also appreciate the extra distance and the claim and skill again of crack apprentice Reece Jones.

Since transferring to John O’Shea, Reece links again with his former master Rod Northam who has multiple Highway wins.

At present Newcastle is a good four track in fine weather with a booming crowd anticipated for the annual $1,000.000 The Hunter feature.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Newcastle meeting