Drawn to break recent stint of 'close calls'

A FAVOURABLE draw has placed Lils Nightmare in a solid position to break a recent stint of 'close calls'.

Runner-up in three of his past four starts, Lils Nightmare will begin from the coveted pole at Club Menangle this afternoon.

The Brian Portelli-trained son of Rocknroll Hanover was second at the world class venue on January 6 before filling the same spot the following week.

Unplaced as a result of a luckless run on January 20, Lils Nightmare was runner-up yet again last week.

Victory will also end a three-month drought for Lils Nightmare, which hasn't been successful since scoring in Newcastle on October 14 when driven by Robbie Morris.

Vaughan Duncan, who has partnered Lils Nightmare during his last four starts, will once again hold the reins behind the eight-year-old.

Capable of showing gate speed, Lils Nightmare led from barrier two before being eased to take a trail behind eventual winner Wills Way during his January 13 outing.

Elsewhere on the card Portelli and Duncan will join forces in search of glory with A Vapar Storm, which has drawn difficultly in barrier six.

Still racing consistently as a sprightly 10-year-old, A Vapar Storm will "need his share of luck" against an even field.

Trainer Brad Abbott appears set to dominate the 1609-metre sprint in strength of numbers and horseflesh.

Abbott has four runners in the field, with What For, Classicmajor and Halloween drawn one, two and three.

In the best form of the quartet, Vespa Stride didn't fare as well in gate nine.

Another chasing a well-earned win, Vespa Stride has a pair of seconds, a third and a fourth from his last four starts.

Duncan will then round out his day when he sits in the cart behind Cash And Bling for trainer Darren Binskin.

Although drawn awkwardly in barrier six, the son of multiple Group One winner Bling It On will appreciate the drop in class thanks to Duncan's concession driver's claim.

Winner of his last two starts, Dontletfearstopya shapes as the one to beat despite drawing eight over a mile.

Prepared by Joe Connelley, the son of Fear The Dragon was impressive during his last-start Bathurst win after working to the lead from barrier six.

Rating 1:54.8 over 1720 metres, Dontletfearstopya was never seriously challenged on his way to a soft eight-and-a-half metre win.

Also impressing with a win from her latest outing, Millie Me is expected to play a strong role in the finish even from gate nine.

Boasting five wins and a third from 10 starts, the KerryAnn Morris-trained four-year-old led throughout in 1:57.6 over 2030 metres in Newcastle.

Millie Me will be driven by Morris' husband, Robbie, with the prominent couple rarely leaving Menangle on a Tuesday without a winner.