Quick back-up for Express Pass

Nick Ryan will attempt the quick back up with Express Pass for the first time in his career hoping to capitalise on his recent good form.

The four-year-old gelding ran second, beaten by 0.1 of a length at Sandown last week, after placing third, beaten by under a length at his previous start at Flemington on May 22.

“He pulled up really well from Saturday at Sandown and I told Toby to throw in a nom for him for Saturday,” Ryan said.

“He’s been eating well since and he’s bouncing.”

Ryan will also add blinkers for the assignment down the Flemington straight, where he’s been allotted topweight of 61.5kg, and the trainer is also hoping the weather gods do their bit.

“Bit of rain about wouldn’t hurt him either, he’ll have the claim for Matt Cartwright, so he’ll claim 2kg off him and you think if he shows up and he can back up, he’ll be hard to beat,” he said.

Grand Pope, who two starts ago was running in, and winning, a Benchmark 58, will step out for Ryan in the Listed Creswick Stakes.

An outsider with the bookies, his trainer believes his best could shock a far more-credentialed field.

“He’s been a slow-maturing horse, but I’ve always had a big opinion of him,” Ryan said.

“He was brave the other day, he ran sixth, but he was beaten not even a length I think, so it was a bit of a blanket finish there.

“He’s a horse that’ll sit back and hopefully if he can get the right run, he’ll be motoring home.”

Ryan won’t be there to cheer his stable runners on, instead he’ll be at home recovering from hernia surgery on Wednesday.