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Trainer Barry Campbell will give his talented galloper Alpine Wolf the chance to win next year’s Ladbrokes Devonport Cup after a brilliant return to racing in the Open Hcp (1009m) in Devonport on Wednesday.

First-up from a spell, Alpine Wolf defied a betting drift ($2.50 to $5) to run a track record (58.17s) and gun down his stablemate Julius ($4.40 to $2.10) with Liffeybeau ($6.50 to $8) third.

"It's probably the first time he's ever been 100% right, he's been a sickly bugger for a long time, he's done a marvellous job and that was probably the real Alpine Wolf today," Barry Campbell said.

At this stage Campbell is unsure what he will do with the horse, he may give him another run or two, go across to Melbourne or straight the the paddock.

Alpine Wolf was narrowly beaten in this year's Devonport Cup and Campbell said he would love to give the horse a chance to go one better.

Jockey Daniel Ganderton who allowed Alpine Wolf to settle just off the speed was full of praise for the 4YO after the race.

"He's always been incredibly talented, behind the scenes there's been a lot of battles with him.

"We've approached this preparation a lot differently than we have done prior. We were aware that it was going to be a high pressured 1000m and I thought the key was the first 50 to 100m, he put himself in that spot.

"It was a good win, and we'll see where he goes to now," Ganderton said.

McCoull extends premiership lead

It's hard to argue that Brendon McCoull isn't riding as well as ever and that was evident in Devonport. McCoull 49, showed he is well on track to win his 15th jockeys premiership with a brilliant exhibition to land Risist Capture the winner of the 1650m maiden.

Risist Capture ($4.20 to $3.50) looked to be in a hopeless spot around the turn, but McCoull waited patiently for a gap to appear and the 3YO filly did the rest to score by a head from Falcula ($26 to $15) with One Star Dream ($34 to $16) a close third.

"He's not easy to get at the moment but it is nice to get him, and he proved how good he is there," stable representative Clinton Gaffney remarked after the ride by McCoull.

McCoull went on to make it a double for the day when he won the 0-62 over 1350m on long shot King Island, a late pick-up ride.

King Island ($34) also gave trainer Angela Brakey a double for the day, she bookended the meeting with General Assembly breaking his maiden status in the first.

Strong Devonport form continues

John Blacker continued to close the gap on the trainers' premiership when Blonde Suspect ( $9.50) stormed home from second last around the home turn to score the narrowest of wins in the BM64 Hcp (1880m).

"You've got to ride him a bit ugly and give him a bit of room, he's got a massive stride on him, his Devonport form is good and he's only a 4YO so perhaps next year or the year after he might measure up to something better," Blacker said after the race.

Incriminate ($3.90 fav) set a solid tempo in front and looked the winner until the last stride. Skilendra, a drifter in the market ($5.50 to $9.50) was a close third after being given the run of the race by Chelsea Baker.

For the second time in as many runs jockey Hayley McCarthy gave Square Donut a sweet ride to win the 1350m BM68 Hcp. Square Donut ($7 to $5.50) is somewhat of a track specialist with 10 runs on the Tapeta surface for four wins and five minor placings.

"He really thrives here, the 1350m really suits him down to the ground, he impressed me today, I didn't think I was going to get a run halfway up the straight," McCarthy said.