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Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson has opted against starting his talented mare Reward Achiever in the benchmark 62 handicap over 1400 metres owing to her drawing a wide barrier, but he still has two top winning chances on the eight-race card.

In Brief

• Grey gelding was set for Wednesday's race.
• Rhyme Writer has done well since shock win on Devonport Cup Day.
• Alana Fulton-trained Perun has been set for the assignment.

"I can't keep running Reward Achiever from outside gates because it's just too hard on her, so we'll scratch and aim her at another suitable race next week," Stevenson said.

While Reward Achiever will stay at home, Stevenson will saddle up Lesnar in the benchmark 76 handicap over 1600m, a race for which the grey gelding has been set.

"I had this race penciled in for Lesnar a while back and he goes into it in top order.

"His last start third was a terrific effort over 1350m and he is now ready for the 1600 metres."

Lesnar should relish the step up to the mile and if in-form stale apprentice Codi Jordan is able to get the lightly raced eight-year-old to settle and not spend too much energy early he should be too strong for his rivals.

Stevenson's last-start surprise winner on Devonport Cup Day, Rhyme Writer, will tackle the 0-62 handicap over 1100m (race 5) and goes into the race at the top of his game.

"Rhyme Writer is bucking his brands off at home and I wouldn't be surprised if he did the job again, although we know there is two of him."

Longford based trainer Alana Fulton mapped out a program for her consistent middle distance performer Perun after he finished fourth in a benchmark 62 handicap in Launceston early in December that included the 0-66 in Launceston on Wednesday night.

But with almost seven weeks between runs she needed to find a suitable race for Perun in the meantime.

She chose the Longford Cup and the seven-year-old gelding almost pulled off a surprise win.

Perun hit the front at the top of the home straight in the Longford Cup and it took a good horse in Super Swoop to run him down.

Fulton is quietly confident Perun can atone on Wednesday night.

"This is the race we had the horse set for all along and to nearly win the Longford Cup that was pretty much used as a gap-filling run, was pretty amazing," Fulton said.

"Perun has done very well since the Longford Cup and it looks a very winnable race, although I'm a bit worried that there isn't any genuine pace in the race and that might bring about his undoing.

"But if they run along at a fair pace then I think my horse is the one to beat."

Perun has won five and placed 13 times from 55 starts for over $120,000 in stakes, so he is clearly the best-performed and most experienced runner in the field of eight.

John Blacker will saddle up three in the race with General Maintenance and Moshama the best of the trio and the Tegan Keys-trained Kel's Star could cause an upset at odds if she happened to find the front and can dictate a modest tempo.

Peter Staples' tips for Launceston tonight.

R1: 6-14-9-3.
R2: 3-5-8-14.
R3: 4-6-2-1.
R4: 7-3-4-10.
R5: 9-2-7-10.
R6: 1-7-4-5.
R7: 3-1-6-5.
R8: 3-5-4-2.

Best Bets: R6 – 1. Perun, and R8 – 3. Lesnar.

Quaddie: 2,6,7,9,10/1,4,5,7/1,3,5,6/3,5: $160 for 100%.

Best Roughie: R1 – 9. Gee Gee Little Jo.