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By Mark Brassel

Jockey Rachael Murray will be hoping the near three-hour drive to Walcha on Friday can prove a rewarding exercise.

Murray lives in Upper Dartbrook, not far out of Scone, and will travel up to partner topweight Tom’s Knight ($15 on TAB) in the $45,000 Elders Rural Services Walcha Cup (1440m).

Tom's Knight (Jacob Golden; pink cap) wins the Diggers Cup at Inverell. Image by Bradley Photographers

The rider is hoping to go two places better than in last year’s Cup after an unlucky third on Ah Well, who was beaten less than a length when third behind Valley’s Sister and Flying Mojo.

Ah Well was in last position approaching the bend and was forced to circle the entire field before finishing fast for the minor prize.

Tom’s Knight will be stepping out on raceday for the first time for more than two years, not having raced since winning the Inverell Diggers Cup in November 2020.

The seven-year-old trialled at Armidale recently and has previously won first-up from a spell.

Kempsey galloper Clapton ($6), to be ridden by Mikayla Weir, will be one of the favourites having won his past two starts at Port Macquarie and Armidale.

In-form jockey Luke Rolls, who landed a winning double at Murwillumbah last Sunday, will be riding the Armidale-trained Kingstar Buller ($6) for trainer Stirling Osland which is one of six mounts on the day.

Friday’s Walcha Cup Day is a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting boasting huge prizemoney of $280,000.

The main supporting race on Friday is the $35,000 Tony Williams Machinery Lightning Handicap (1000m) where last start Inverell Shorts winner Cassy’s Sister is topweight.

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