With the scratching of Captain Ravishing, Stephen Maguire's charge is the only horse coming into the second heat of the two-year-old feature without a last-start victory

However Noble Trick is winner of three races this season, and he has been placed at group level.

Maguire is pleased with how he comes into Leeton's feature event.

"I'm real happy with him actually but it will be hard," Maguire said.

"His work has been good,I'm happy with him and he's got a nice draw so it puts him into the race."

After a third in the Breeders Challenge Blue at group two level, Noble Trick finished fifth in his heat of the regional series.

Maguire took plenty of the blame on that occasion but was still pleased with the son of Bling It On's performance.

"His run was better than it looked so I was happy with his run," he said.

"I probably should have driven him a little different, I probably should have went to the pegs but I lobbed the one-one and stayed there when I had an opportunity to get behind the leader.

"It would have worked out to be the better option."

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Noble Trick has drawn barrier two with Sweet Apple, who is on the hunt for four straight wins, drawn barrier one for Inter Dominion-winning trainer Jason Grimson.

Maguire labelled him the one to beat but with so much winning form in the race he expects plenty of tough competition.

"There are some nice horses in it and with the best out of the two heats it will be a nice little race," Maguire said.

"The one inside of me it's two runs have been real good so it will be hard to beat."

Noble Trick only needs to beat one horse home to qualify for the $30,000 final on Boxing Day

Maguire, who won the group three feature with Major Roll in 2018 believes the timing of the group three feature has been improved by the latest change.

Not only is it a return to the more traditional race for crowds but it's also seen a big change in the form of most of the horses involved.

"I think it is better for the horses - they are more mature and go into a tough race more seasoned," Maguire said.

"It is just a shame it clashed with the Vicbred but I don't think you could put it in any other timeslot really.

"I think it should work although I did think there would be more heats and more nominations for it."