Described by his trainer as “potentially my best carnival horse”, the Gary Hall Snr-trained LENNON (20m) returns from a spell in Friday nights M2 and Better $15,000 BURSWOOD PARK ACADEMY OF GOLF HANDICAP (2503metre stand).

The former high-priced kiwi-import hasn't raced since splitting Cosmic Flight and Hilton Adonis in an M3 and Better Stand back in late May, but just like Commander Whitby in his race, if Lennon is fairly forward in condition, chances are he will prove superior to his opposition.

Last start winner Jake The Mus (10m) appeals as a potential danger and front-markers Demoralizer (1), Turkish (2), Arabarama (4) and Oxford Debate (5) are all worthy of consideration, but when I type these names onto the computer screen, it only serves to reinforce to me that Lennon is better than his rivals. His fitness is the only question mark.

Franco Novella (3) has won more claiming races than I've made roast meals, but to win those races, it's doubtful he's raced against a pacer of the calibre of Massarua (7) and as such, this weeks instalment of the Claiming Race is sure to create conjecture amongst punters and satchel swingers.

The increased claiming prices for these types of races are slowly beginning to be understood by the industry and as such, the quality of the competitors is similarly increasing.

Don't leave a pacer by the name of Dream Softly (6) out of your calculations. This Paul Pullicino-trained gelding is well-suited to the sprint trip and his effort last Friday behind Demoraliser was a “be on me next time run”. Friday's race may not be perfect class-wise, but I reckon he'll perform well.

We have $481 going into the Quinella Pool on Race Three and the healthy sum of $7,930.50 already in the Quartet Pool for Race Eight. Officials expect the pool to reach approximately $50,000 by start-time.

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