Thistledo will carry the hopes of Gundagai in Friday's $100,000 feature race.

Blundell had Thistledo primed for an assault on last year's Snake Gully Cup but the hometown hope failed to make the final field.

Thistledo will return for a second crack and Blundell is quietly confident about the horse's chances.

"I'm happy with him. He worked tremendous through the week," Blundell said.

"He's 100 per cent now. I'm glad he got a run."

Blundell won the 1998 Snake Gully Cup with Carvalin.

The popular Gundagai trainer has not been in the best of health in recent weeks and will not be trackside on Friday to watch Thistledo in action.

Fellow Gundagai trainer Jim Scobie, who won the 2015 Snake Gully Cup with Zero To Ten, has helped ensure Thistledo makes the starting gates on Friday.

"When I got crook there, I thought I've waited 12 months and now everything's gone pair shape," Blundell said.

"Lucky Jim Scobie put his hand up and said I'll ride some for you. That was a big weight off my shoulders. Otherwise it wouldn't have happened. I'm thankful for him."

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Scobie put Thistledo through his last piece of work earlier this week. Blundell was more than happy with what he did.

"On Monday there I got Jim to give him some work and let him roll along there the last 600 and he's run 34 and a bit hard held," he said.

"He's ready to rock and roll and he's 100 per cent now."

Michael Heagney will take the ride on Thistledo. He has drawn barrier 12, but should come into eight, pending scratchings.

"The barrier's a bit tricky but it might pan out because there's a hell of a lot of speed in it," he said.

Thistledo was 12^th first-up in The Panorama at Bathurst, and then has run third and seventh at his past two starts at Wagga.

He returns to Gundagai, where he's got a win and a minor placing from two starts, something that gives Blundell confidence.

"I'm glad it's here. I know he'll go good here on his dunghill," he said.

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