But 1100km away at a small country race track there will be one Maitland trainer trying his own luck on Cup day.

Muswellbrook may be a long way from Melbourne but that won’t stop Noel Boland searching for his own winner or two.

Boland, more commonly known as Joe to those in the racing game, has two runners from his Branxton stables competing on Muswellbrook Cup day.

While he has no runners in the $40,000 feature race, the 53-year-old, who has been training for 30 years, will be chasing glory elsewhere on today’s card with Not On My Time and Cloudcraft.

Not On My Time will wear number 13 and jump from barrier 12 in race four, the Gavin Gidley-Baird Memorial, over 1450m while Cloudcraft will wear number eight and jump from barrier six in race seven over 1280m.

Boland said both of his charges were looking good and the track conditions should suit their style.

Not On My Time – a “monster of a horse” at more than 17 hands – had its first run back from a spell at Cessnock on October 20 and finished sixth over 1150m.

But Boland said his runner would suit the longer distance today.

“Expect him to do something to run on at the end,” he said.

Cloudcraft, who will be ridden by Andrew Gibbons, will back up from an unlucky showing at Newcastle on Saturday when the five-time winner was checked into the rail four times in the final race after starting from barrier one.

A wider start gate will be a test for Cloudcraft today according to Boland.

“He had the one alley on Saturday and it was a lovely run on the rail before the interference started...it (today’s race) will be a chance to form some legs and get into the box seat,” the trainer said.

There was no interference for Boland’s second charge on Saturday.

Husisname won the second last race and paid an incredible $51 for the win – reportedly $100 in the betting ring on track.

Boland – up against trainers such as Kris Lees, Peter Snowden and Peter Eggleston – said training one of the longest priced winners at Newcastle in the modern era was a highlight of his three-decade career.

Also at Muswellbrook today, Maitland’s Diane Lumsden will have Darkzero in the opening race and Adsila in race two.

Newcastle trainer Paul Perry has a runner in each but will have most of his attention focused upon Newport in the Melbourne Cup.