For over two decades the Albury Gold Cup has proven to be an itch for trainer Barb Joseph that she just hasn't been able to scratch.
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And while the Canberra trainer has tasted plenty of success over the Albury carnival the $180,000 feature has so far proven elusive.
The closest Joseph has come to snaring the Riverina's richest race was with Goodwood who finished runner-up in 1999.
The popular trainer's last runner in the cup was over a decade ago when Fire At Will finished midfield with Peter Robl aboard.
Joseph said this year represented a golden opportunity to finally add her name to the honour roll with recent Canberra cup placegetter Almost Court.
"I think we are among the top four chances in the race," Joseph said.
"It just looks like one of those races where luck in running is going to have a big say in the result.
"The one of Gai's (Taikomochi) that beat us in the Canberra Cup for second - it's drawn right off the track again like it did at Canberra.
"It will roll forward from the wide gate and sit on the pace and hopefully we won't be sitting as far off it as we did at Canberra.
"Then you have got Snowden's horse (Emperor's Way) and a couple of good chances from Melbourne (Ambitious and Valac)
"So it's a strong field and the Albury Racing Club should be happy with the quality."
Almost Court was only second-up in the Canberra feature and Joseph said her Kiwi galloper had derived enormous benefit from the run.
"Everything has gone to plan since the Canberra Cup," she said.
"He has improved and will be that much fitter for the run.
"He hadn't had a run for a month before Canberra so third-up he will be closer to peak fitness.
"A lot of his owners from New Zealand are coming across for the cup so it would be extra special if he could win for them."
Almost Court is quoted as an $8.50-chance in fixed odds markets but will shorten after the scratching of the Ciaron Maher-trained Thunder Cloud.
Christian Reith will make the trek to Albury and is in good form after partnering Dixie Blossoms to victory in the group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill last weekend.
Almost Court has drawn ideally in barrier five. "It's a perfect ally," she said.
"The rail used to be a no go zone at Albury before they did the track renovations last year.
"But it's no longer a problem so Christian should be able to stalk the speed and just needs to get out at the right time."
