Along with a Barastoc Grand Circuit third placing in the Tasmanian Cup, he beat home the likes of Smoken Up, Washakie, Mr Feelgood and Bettors Strike when fourth in last month's $400,000 BIG6 Hunter Cup.

On Sunday he drops back against just seven rivals in the Boort Harness Racing Club's $12,000 signature event, but don't expect trainer Glenn Douglas to declare him over the line.

The Live Or Die gelding's only outing since his fine BIG6 Hunter Cup effort was in the opening round of Inter Dominion heats, when he failed to beat a runner home and pulled up not quite right.

"He pulled up a bit sore after the first Inter heat, but we've had him looked at by the vets and he seems to be back on track and where he was before he went to Tasmania," Bendigo-based Douglas said.

"You'd think he'll be right in the mix, but I never like to go into a race saying they're an absolute certainty."

Notaswethort will have a pipe-opener tomorrow at Maryborough before backing up in Sunday's 2650m standing start test.

He's off 20 metres at Bendigo with the likes of Tony Peacock-trained stablemates Sterlish and Singasongasixpence among his front-line rivals along with the capable Kalypson Kid.

"He was off the front down in Tassie and was able to dictate, but he's off 20 metres this time and in these races when you're off metres it becomes a different kettle of fish," Douglas said of the four-time standing start winner.

"He has gone well from the stand before, though, and when they're off metres they can begin well because they've got something to follow out, so hopefully that's the case on Sunday."

The Loddon Valley Stud Boort Cup carries an $8100 prize for first, but the winner will have the chance to pick up an extra $1000 if they back-up in the following weekend's Gunbower Hotel Gunbower Cup.

The Boort and Gunbower clubs have offered the bonus to any horse that can win the two clubs' feature pacing cups or both trotters' cups.

The $12,000 Doyle's Boomspraying Boort Trotters Cup will also be run on Sunday and has attracted a super 13-horse field in which Thepowerofhealing will have to overcome a 40m handicap if she is to make it four wins on end.

Brad Bishop