Five to follow today in Invercargill

After a highly successful Central Otago circuit, southern harness racing returns to Ascot Park today for Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Day. Racing journalist Jonny Turner has zeroed in on five horses who look well placed on the feature race day.
 
RUSH – Race 9
 
A hard and fit Rush could set up a challenging chase for the backmarkers in Northern Southland’s trotting feature.
It’s well known chasing from handicaps can be a big ask around the tight-turning Ascot Park track.
While others in the Southern Lights Trot have more impressive resumes, Rush comes right into calculations with her front-line advantage.
Plenty of recent racing means she heads south fit and ready and, combined with her manners, she should prove to be a potent force.
 
CAPTAIN AMORE – Race 4
 
The saying goes that gate speed is a beautiful thing. It’s a phrase I believe that was coined by former Canterbury caller Mark McNamara, though I am open to being corrected on that one.
Gate speed was the key ingredient in Captain Amore’s good last-start second at Cromwell, chasing home the in-form Dallas Dale.
With some early toe, Captain Amore looks well placed in an even maiden lineup.
The pacer has all of his key rivals drawn behind him on the second row, setting up the possibility that they could have to give him a decent head-start in the running.
If race 4 pans out that way, Captain Amore could take plenty of catching.
 
MIXED FAITH – Race 5
 
An old favourite of this column looks a strong option yet again.
Mixed Faith has been brilliantly consistent recently.
Though her last-start fourth at Roxburgh had merit, she is capable of better tomorrow.
The key to her chances looks to be her 10m head start on many of her key rivals, who must face the 20m tapes.
Mixed Faith takes on three serious hopes in Hidden Talent, Majestic Love and Missile, but they all must give away a 10m advantage to beat her.
If Mixed Faith can maintain her early advantage over her three main rivals, she should give plenty of cheek in race 5.
Trainer Brad Williamson jumping back in the sulky looks another positive for the mare.
 
MAJESTIC ME – Race 3
 
Another from the Brad Williamson stable, Majestic Me looks to land in a very suitable race.
While many debut winners face a steep rise in grade in their second start, Williamson has avoided that situation with his 3-year-old.
Majestic Me jogged to an easy first-up win at Winton and his trainer has been patient with him since, holding off starting on the recent Central Otago circuit.
That has already paid off with Majestic Me landing in a very winnable one-win event in race 3.
 
BOWLEM OVER – Race 6
 
The timing looks right for Bowlem Over as he approaches his Ascot Park assignment.
The pacer made up plenty of ground in his last-start second placing at Roxburgh, putting a run of patchy form and luck largely behind him.
Though much of the horse’s success has come on the pace, he lands in a grade and a field in which he should be highly competitive, despite drawing on the second row.
Any pace in the race would be a big help to the rugged pacer, but if there is not expect driver Matthew Williamson to put Bowlem Over right in the race.
All in all, he looks a strong each-way threat.