Canberra sprinter Handle The Truth has been given the top weight of 61 kilograms for this year's edition of the Town Plate, leaving trainer Keith Dryden unsure of whether the 2019 Country Championship winner will start.

"I'll have to think about that," was Dryden's first reaction to 61 kilograms.

"In my mind I had 60 but 61 I'd have to think about it. I'll ring Louis, the syndicate manager, and have a talk to him about it and see what he thinks."

Dryden said his advice would be to bypass the Town Plate.

"No, not to go," he said.

"There's a listed race on next week in Sydney and he'll get into that with 54, 55.

"I don't believe weight makes too much difference, until you get up over 59 and then it starts to slow them up."

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Albury trainer Donna Scott was also less than thrilled with Lord Von Costa being given 60.5kg.

While the Town Plate has been a long-term goal, she now said he was only a 50-50 chance to go to Wagga.

"I've just had a look at the weights, it's a bit daunting having to carry 60.5," Scott said.

"It's been our long term goal. It would be disappointing not to run him but you can't put apprentices on either, it's not like you can claim off them. It is what it is, it will be a discussion with the owners (Monday night) and see how we go.

"It's a 50-50. The owner is pretty keen, it's been a race we've targeted and wanted to win for some time."

Leading Southern District jockey Blaike McDougall is booked to ride Lord Von Costa.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Open Minded is a certain starter on Friday and gets in with 58.5kg.

The John O'Shea-trained Southern Lad is the $4.50 favourite in TAB's All In Market and is a certain starter despite getting 60kg and also being nominated for Gosford.

Regan Bayliss will ride Southern Lad.

The Gary Colvin-trained Forever Newyork is 20th in the order of entry.

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