Despite another significant class rise the Leeton trainer is confident of a strong showing while racing the gelding out of grade.

After his first defeat in six starts in the Griffith Pacers Cup, Onthestraitenarrow takes on a harder field in the Young Cherry Festival Cup. 

Griffith’s feature was restricted to C3-C6 pacers, but this time around he races an field open to those no better than M1s.

However Hughes is more than willing to have another throw at the stumps.

“I threw him in the deep end big time, and I know I’ve thrown him into the deep end, but he is fit enough, working alright and eating good,” Hughes said.

“Why not have a crack?”

Even then the race was a back-up plan.

Hughes had entered the six-year-old in a M0 at Menangle on Saturday but didn’t get a run.

After looking over the program he decided to give it a shot.

“The only reason I threw him in at Young as an after thought is that there is basically nothing up until the Christmas Cup on the 16^th (of December),” Hughes said.

“I thought I’d throw him in a race where I know they are going to go hard, which will suit him, even though he is well out of his grade and they should got harder than they did in the Griffith Cup.”

Onthestraitenarrow had won five races straight heading into Griffith’s feature earlier this month and despite finishing fifth Hughes rated it the best run he’s had for the stable.

Heza Bromac finished 17.5 metres in front, but Onthestraitenarrow was only 3.7 metres off Badge Of Gameness in second and was doing his best work late after settling well back in the field.

“I reckon that was his best run since I’ve had him,” he said. 

“He went 56.3 (seconds) for the last half off the track and on a track where you usually have to be in the first three or four on the corner to make ground.

“Stephen (Maguire) said to me that he went super.”