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Tamworth trainer Sue Grills is hoping a turn-around in the weights can make a big difference to Couperin in Monday’s $40,000 Coonabarabran Bowling Club Coonabarabran Cup (1600m).

The six-year-old gelding is coming off an excellent last start third to Dark Mojo and Sooner Or Later in the Coonamble Cup (1600m) on October 11.

He meets both horses better at the weights on Monday.

The Brett Thompson trained Dark Mojo rises 4kg to 59.5kg and Sooner Or Later, prepared by Mark Milton at Gulgong, rises 3kg to 61kg.

Couperin went up only 1kg to 55kg.

“He meets the other two better at the weights. Hopefully that’s enough to turn the tables,” Grills said. “I was really happy with his run at Coonamble and the horse is really well.

“Being a back marker you always need a bit of luck. These cup races are never easy to win.”

Apart from the Coonamble Cup placegetters the remainder of the field suggests it will be a harder race.

Grills said Couperin, a Darren Jones mount, is ready to peak after three runs back from a 174-day spell.

“The Coonamble Cup run topped him right off,” she added. “The plan was always to go to both cups and I’ve been very happy with his work.

“He’s only a small horse but a strongish horse.

“He’s a nice little horse, easy to train and while he had a few problems when we first got him from Melbourne, we’ve sorted them out now.”

Grills said the gelding’s first run back in the Moree Town Plate (fifth, beaten 4.4 lengths) over an unsuitable 1000m was “probably his best run this preparation.

“He made up about ten lengths. He flew home.”

Couperin then finished runner-up to So You Know over 1300m at Armidale on September 29 before his Coonamble cup effort.

Couperin is certain to get back again at Coonabarabran, that’s just his pattern of racing, but given the breaks when needed Grills suggested “He’s a good each-way chance.”