5 To Follow: Hannon Day 26

Jonny Turner Harness Racing Journalist

Brilliant fields for the Hannon Memorial meeting couldn't have come at a better time.
With the future of regular Otago harness racing in the balance, Oamaru is set to put on an outstanding show on Sunday.
Check out five horses from a stacked card that racing journalist Jonny Turner has his eye on.

Marble Arch

All of his form suggests this three-year-old will be one of the best bets on Hannon Memorial Day.
He's footed it with quality horses of his own age including running a creditable fourth in the Southern Supremacy Stakes.
He returned at Addington with a good second, running on wide on a good closing 400m, which isn't easy to do there.
With a huge upgrade in draws in barrier 1, Marble Arch should take all sorts of catching on Sunday.

Secret Wish

Gate speed is probably the only query around Secret Wish because her class can't be questioned.
But it's not a big query considering she led easily from barrier 1 in her last start win at Group One level.
She's not known as a brilliant beginner but it is clear that she is improving in that area.
From barrier 1 again she will take plenty of pegging back if she can muster early.
With two strong trial efforts to prepare for her spring return, she looks ready to fire.

Franco Sinatra

Stat chat isn't something I rely heavily on, though sectional times most definitely need to be factored into assessing a horse's performance.
Outside of the winner The Lazarus Effect, I thought Franco Sinatra produced the run of the race in the recent New Brighton Cup.
His closing sectionals back up that claim.
Despite all that, he opened the 5th favourite of the Hannon's eight-horse field.
If he's in front by the winning post, his fans will be laughing.

Franco Light

This emerging trotter could barely have been more impressive in his first two starts at the races.
He worked early in his maiden win at Addington before charging home late in his last start at Ashburton.
Franco Light's main challenge on Sunday is starting from the unruly over 2000m.
It won't be any picnic and will require a good beginning and a slice of luck.
But the horse's talent isn't a worry, he just needs a decent passage to be hard to beat.

Patriot

No, I am not tipping Tour Party to get beaten at microscopic odds.
But I am interested in how Patriot can measure up with him.
He showed real promise last campaign and shaped as a horse that can compete in the big two-year-old races in this part of the year.
If that is going to be the case he should be filling the quinella with Tour Party with reasonable luck.