A swap of barrier draws might have made Matthew Williamson's Harness Jewels drives at Cambridge on Saturday rather interesting.
But instead, Williamson (25) will have to figure out the best possible scenarios for Luisanabelle Midfrew (race 5) and Blazing Under Fire (race 7).
Trotter Blazing Under Fire is not blessed with much gate speed, so barrier 3 might be slightly wasted on the Phil Williamson-trained colt in the $100,000 3yr-old ruby division.
"The mile probably doesn't suit him because he doesn't have much gate speed, but if they go hard and he can get to that two-out line, he could be in the first five, which would be good,'' Matthew Williamson said.
The concern for Williamson is the gate speed immediately outside him, which could place his colt in an awkward spot.
Marcoola has been at his brilliant best in a front-running role this season, and his driver Clint Ford, has already declared he will be looking for the front.
"Marcoola gets out so fast I would say he would be straight across most of them,'' Williamson said.
"And Donegal Bettorgretch will come across as well. They're both quick beginners.
"We'll just look to get out and keep going forward for as long as we can. He is tough enough; he just lacks a bit of speed.''
Blazing Under Fire, the only pacing-bred trotter in the field, was brave running second to Donegal Bettorgretch last start after sitting parked for almost two laps.
"He just lacks that wee bit of speed to go with them - he stays good.
"He's more of a roller. The harder they went, he would just keep going.''
Give Luisanabelle Midfrew a front-line draw like Blazing Under Fire, and she could have made the 3yr-old pacing fillies category a fascinating affair.
While it will still be a tactical affair with Dream About Me stuck at one on the second line and looking for a way out, Williamson is wondering why the barrier gods have deserted the filly in group races in the past month.
She drew barrier 14 in the Nevele R Fillies final, finishing fifth, before drawing barrier 7 in the Oaks in which she produced another brave fifth.
Barrier 14 over a mile at Cambridge though, is even worse.
"If she can finish in the first half, that would be a good effort from there,'' he said.
"Outside the Purdon ones [Golden Goddess, Piccadilly Princess, Dream About Me], she's up to any of the rest, but she keeps drawing so much worse than them, it makes it even harder.
"She can run the time, so if she had a good draw and we could have led over the mile, we would have given them a bit of a hurry up anyway, but instead we're going to be stuck in behind.''
