Cotchin, like plenty involved in harness racing, was left disappointed when last year's cup meeting, traditionally run on Boxing Day, had to be cancelled, albeit understandably due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least for this year, as has been the case at various stages in the past, the cup meeting has found a new host, with the Bendigo Harness Racing Club agreeing to help stage the meeting this Tuesday night.

Cotchin, who has been based at Elmore since 2003 and also serves on the local harness racing club's committee, couldn't be happier.

His delight has been doubled by having a runner in the cup with Brackenreid.

The consistent six-year-old and winner of 12 of 95 career starts is certain to make his presence felt starting from gate two in a 12-horse field.

Bendigo region trainers are well represented with Kate Hargreaves targeting the feature race with Lost Four Words, Leigh Graham pinning his hopes on Azza and Julie and Glenn Douglas taking aim with Rick Reilly.

Cotchin said after no cup meeting in 2020, the meeting's return had been warmly welcomed by the committee, harness racing participants and the Elmore community.

"It's disappointing we can't have it on our normal Boxing Day, there's no doubt we would have liked to," he said.

"But with the COVID and the changing times there's not much we can do about it. You can't fight the change and it's happening everywhere.

"It was really disappointing missing out last year, but indications are we are in for a good night.

"It's a shame things have not opened up completely and people can't come down to the stalls to see the horses, but at least it's a start."

A failure to secure all-important Sky Channel coverage on Boxing Day also figured prominently in the committee's decision to seek an alternative date for this year.

An outright bonus from the move to Bendigo has been a significant rise in prizemoney for this year's meeting.

The pacing and trotters cups, previously worth $4500, will carry $10,000 in stakes, while six of the other nine races will be worth $7000, up from the normal picnic meeting stakes of $4500.

Cotchin expects Brackenreid to give a good account of himself.

While the Western Terror gelding has not won a race since his victory at Echuca on New Year's Day this year, he has been a model of consistency with four placings from his last six starts and rarely runs a bad race.

"He's better than what his form reads, he's been running into bad luck. He's been in the back half of the field and lacks that little bit of speed, so it's hard to make up that ground," he said.

"I expect him to be in the first half of the field this time and from there he should be up in the thick of things.

"We're in the running line drawing two, hopefully he can hold his own out of the gate. I'd expect there will be a few looking to press forward.

"He can stay a bit and will continue whacking away. He always gives you 100 per cent."

Cotchin is no stranger to Elmore Pacing Cup success.

He won the race in 2009 with Lady Octavia, who was driven to victory by Jodi Quinlan.

That race was run at Tabcorp Park Melton after the Elmore track was one of several country tracks closed by the former Bracks Labor government in 2005.

It goes without saying that Cotchin would love to add another Elmore Cup to the resume.

"They are hard to win - it would be great if he could," he said.

"Being the home cup, it makes them a little bit more special.

"Lady Octavia was a nice mare and a good honest horse. She won the Tasmanian Oaks (in 2008), but she's been a bit of a bridesmaid at stud.

"We do have one out of her now by the sire Betterthancheddar that we like. I'm sure she will come good."

Cotchin will be hoping for some better luck than with his last Elmore Pacing Cup starter.

The stable's 2018 cup foray was pretty much over before it got going with Far Too Gone, driven by Monique Burnett, being severely checked at the start before galloping and being tailed off by 70m early.

Brackenreid will be driven by Charlie Castles, from Exeter in New South Wales, who is in Victoria with a team of James Rattray-trained horses.

The 20-year-old will have two other drives on Tuesday - Regency in the second race and Jigamaroo in race seven.

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