BETTERNBETTER will aim to become the first Central region horse to post four wins under the revised new racing model at Lord's Raceway on Monday night.
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The Keith Cotchin-trained four-year-old has been in scintillating form since his return from New South Wales, piecing together three consecutive victories, all with Tayla French in the sulky.
A former star juvenile, Betternbetter has won exactly half of his 22 career starts and been placed on four occasions and is arguably in career- best form.
The gelding will tackle a solid NR 67 to 81 field that includes plenty of chances with winning form.
Gobsmaked has won three of five regional racing starts for his trainer Shaun McNaulty, while the Glenn Douglas-trained Torrid Saint and Ace Duigan for Michael Mannix have two wins apiece.
Cotchin said it was good to see Betternbetter, who survived a near-fatal colic attack in 2018, back in such impressive form.
"It's a nice little field he is up against, but he will be right in the mix," he said.
"He's getting up in grade each time and they can all run along a bit. It's a bit better field than he has been meeting, but he's doing what he does well.
"They are probably all dangers if they get the right run, you really have to respect them all and hope that we get the right sort of run and we are there at the finish."
The Elmore-based trainer credits young Heathcote reinswoman French as integral to Betternbetter's recent run of good form.
"She has really clicked with him and is driving him well," Cotchin said.
"Tayla will no doubt work out what the best line of attack is and is doing a very good job."
Betternbetter will be the third of three chances on the night for the Cotchin and French combination.
The pair will team up in the opening race with the three-year-old Kenny's Killer and will later target the four-year-old and older maiden pace with fourth-starter Elysian Palace.
Cotchin is quietly confident Kenny's Killer can go close to breaking through for a win.
"He came down from Sydney to win his three-year-old and has come pretty close on plenty occasions to winning one," he said.
"He's run a heap of seconds (five) and I'm expecting him to go better.
"He's not one who can do a heap of work, he's better sort of sit-sprint, but I'm sure he will go better this time.
"He's always thereabouts. The other day he finished fourth but got caught in the breeze.
"Had we gone back at the start he would have run second or third, he wouldn't have beaten the winner (Madam Reactor), but he had to do all the work.
"He seems good within himself, so hopefully he can find that line."
Meanwhile, a win for Sundons Courage in the NR 56 to 120 trotters handicap would push the seven-year-old beyond the $250,000 mark in prize earnings.
The Brad Angove-trained and driven gelding will renew his exciting rivalry with the Ross Graham-trained Nephew Of Sonoko.
The pair have met twice under the regional racing format for a win apiece, with Nephew Of Sonoko boasting a pair of victories and two seconds in four starts under the format.
Sundons Courage could not have been more impressive at his last start in breaking the Lord's Raceway 2150m track record with a blistering mile rate of 1:56:9.
Elsewhere, Glenn Douglas has Diesel Don and Motu Cullen chasing back-to-back wins after impressive performances last Monday, while Tim Mannix is also searching for consecutive victories with All Whitey Then in the final event on the program.
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