There will be two heats of the $30,000 feature at Leeton on Friday night.

Just over half of the entrants are trained in the Leeton Shire.

Seven of the 13 two-year-olds will be racing on their home track with Wayne Sullivan the only trainer represented by more than one entrant.

However a Victorian brings the best form into the race.

Tiger Army has won both of his starts to date for Shepparton trainer Laura Crossland and Leeton president Gary Punch believes he’ll be hard to beat in the first heat despite drawing the outside of the front row.

“He’s the pick of them unbeaten in two starts, but he hasn’t got a good draw,” Punch said.

“From what I’ve seen at the trials Wayne Sullivan’s doesn’t go too bad and Mal Diebert’s goes alright.

“The two of them are in with a good chance.”

The second heat has Sydney visitor Rambunctious drawn the barrier six for Sonya Smith.

Smith and partner Anthony Butt bring plenty of group one experience to the race in their first visit to Leeton.

“It’s gone pretty well at a couple of trials in Sydney and with Anthony Butt coming up he’s no slouch and would know exactly what he’d need to do to have the horse pretty good,” Punch said.

“Harry Croft for Wayne Sullivan has shown alright at the trials and so has Rock Shadow for Rodney Coelli.

“Realnspectacular has gone pretty good but I’d definitely say Butt or Wayne Sullivan would be the two in that one.”

It is another disappointing return for the club who were forced to move the feature from it’s traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Day dates for the first time last season.

Last season only 12 juveniles took part in the series.

Punch said the club would continue to discuss what is the best time frame for the race.

“I’m glad we got enough for two heats and we’ll just play it by ear,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see what the committee thinks later on in the year and whether we stick to the format for next year or look at something else I don’t know.”

The first heat is at 9.03pm with the second at 10.03pm.

The top five in each go into the final on January 25.

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