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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Lyle Chandler was spoilt for choice when it came to deciding which race Country Championships Final placegetter Rapbidash would make her spring return in at Kensington on Wednesday.

After accepting in three races, and with next month’s $300,000 Barn Dance as her immediate target, Chandler said the Maurice At Arrowfield Handicap (1300m) gives her the best chance to make a positive start.

Trainer Lyle Chandler (Pic: Steve Hart)

Chandler said the five-year-old, who ran third behind Kosciuszko runners Asgarda and Gallant Star in the Country Championships, will appreciate the smaller field which is something she’s rarely seen racing in Highways and feature country races.

“It’s a lesser grade, a 72 rather than a 78, and with the apprentice claim she comes in well,’’ Chandler said.

“I thought she’s tackling a field that has potentially a more middle distance type horse rather than rock hard sprinters.

“She gets back a bit so she’s prone to getting in the thick of it.

“Every run she’s had recently has been messy, she’s been bumped or had bad tracks, I just want her to have a bit of confidence and keep her out of trouble and find the line.

“I said to Mitch (Stapleford) I want her to have a nice run and if that means she wins that’d be great.”

Rapbidash followed her Country Championships placing with a fourth under a big weight in a TAB Highway on a heavy track and Chandler said those successive heavy track runs took it out of her and meant she was in need of a good break.

The mare, $6 with TAB on Tuesday, has trialled twice in the lead up to her spring campaign and Chandler is pleased that she’s come back stronger and a lot brighter.

With the 3kg claim for Stapleford she’ll carry 55kg and the Scone trainer is optimistic about the campaign ahead.

“When she was going to the trials last prep she had a virus so she ended up back in the paddock then she won first-up at Newcastle,'' he said.

"She was badly hampered in a Highway after that so we put her away with the Country Champs in mind so it ended up being a long preparation.

“She’s still a little bit fat and she’s ended up having two soft trials. They went very slow in the trials then sprinted home.

“Overall I’m very happy and I think there’s more improvement to come."

The Barn Dance (1300m) is run on Big Dance Day, November 5, at Randwick and is for country trained horses only.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting