Ryan Mania is looking forward to riding Coral Scottish National runner-up Auroras Encore in the feature race at Perth on Sunday.
Sue Smith's gelding shoulders top-weight in the £30,000 Aviva City of Perth Gold Cup 50 days after his gallant head second to Merigo at Ayr.
Borders-born Mania said: "It was a great run in the Scottish National and a lot of people, including me, thought we were going to win. He's very well at the moment and he's had plenty of time to recover from Ayr.
"I schooled him the other and he felt good - hopefully he should run well. He's got a big weight and he's conceding upwards of 10lb to everything else but I believe he's a good enough horse to pull it off."
Auroras Encore faces 16 rivals in the three mile contest including David Pipe's Shoegazer and Gordon Elliott pair Castle Oak and Trendenlenburg. Both trainers have won the race before.
Mania is also looking forward to recent Kelso winner Stags Leap in the ETPM 5th Birthday Novices' Handicap Hurdle. He said: "He's gone up 5lb since Kelso and should run well again. He's with Dianne Sayer now and it was good to see him finally win as he hasn't been the easiest horse to train."
George Bewley's recent two-mile course winner Inoogoo is back up in trip for the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap Hurdle and Mania added: "I've ridden him twice before and he's a horse I really like. He's gone up 10lb for last month's win but hopefully it should stop him going close again."
