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By Graeme White

Cootamundra husband and wife Les and Kerry Hawking have a realistic chance of winning their hometown cup with Almost Persuaded.

The mare has gained a start as the emergency following the scratchings of Classy Joe and Departing Bullet.

“She is right down in the weights and from the inside barrier I can see her running really well the way she has been going,” trainer Rob Potter said.

Almost Persuaded ($12 NSW TAB) has gained a run along with the first emergency Bonus Tempus.

Almost Persuaded has won six of her 33 starts with a further 15 placings giving her a better than 50 per cent top three finishing strike-rate.

Almost Persuaded (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The second favourite Louie’s Legacy will start from a wide draw and is rated a $4.20 chance.

His last start victory came off the back of some consistent efforts after improving with each run this campaign.

Offspring ($10) was a second-up winner this campaign, but her latest effort left trainer Keith Dryden a little disappointed.

“I think because she was backing-up and stepped up in distance maybe it was a bit quick,” he said.

“She has worked well since and on her best efforts she would be in a race like this.

County Kilkenny is the favourite to add his name to an impressive honour roll for the Twin Hills Cootamundra Cup (1600m) on Sunday.

The gelding is rated a $3.80 chance on the NSW TAB with in-form apprentice jockey Molly Bourke aboard.

Bourke started her career in the region at Tumbarumba and later Wagga before establishing herself in Sydney.

Trainer Tim Donnelly has County Kilkenny perfectly placed with 55 kilograms after a recent win in Sydney.

County Kilkenny ran second in two Sydney Highways before winning on the Kensington track.

He beat one horse home in his latest start in Sydney over 1900 metres with Bourke aboard.

“It’s a nice race for him and won’t be easy to win,” he said.

Meanwhile, top weight Stonecoat isn’t a confirmed starter as he is also listed to race at Warwick Farm on Monday.

The gelding ran an improved race when leading last start in Sydney and finishing fourth.

Trainer Mitch Beer and one of his main stable clients Patriot Bloodstock are hoping for a feature race double within three days.

They will start Cream Rises in the Cup who will be at his peak after three runs back from a spell.

Beer and the Patriot Bloodstock syndicate captured The Legend Of The South with Clever Art at Moruya on Friday.

Patriot Bloodstock’s Mitch Lloyd said it was one of the group’s biggest wins and he was upbeat about the chances of Cream Rises.

“We have had a few horses with Mitch and we were pleased for him to win a big race especially since is move from Albury to Kembla Grange,” Lloyd said.

“The best of Cream Rises is good enough to win.”

All the fields, form and replays for Cootamundra on Sunday