The Canberra trainer is hoping to claim back-to-back wins with the defending Kosciuszko champion, but concedes the $1.3 million race will be "a fraction better" than last year.

Handle The Truth has won two Canberra trials since returning from the paddock, as well as finishing sixth in a Benchmark 88 Handicap at Royal Randwick.

That was his only race this preparation, with Dryden mimicking last year's successful Kosciuszko roadmap - heading into the race second-up.

Should the five-year-old gelding maintain that form, Dryden thinks he'll be a competitive chance.

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"He had a good spell and came back, he's had the one run which was very encouraging a fortnight ago. If he repeats that run, he'll be really competitive," Dryden said.

"The preparation is going well, I have got him as good as I can have him I think. We've done all the work, he'll have an easy four days before the run now.

"It'll be a harder race. I think this is probably a fraction better than last year. I think there's six really good chances at the top of betting, after that there's four strong each-way chances and a couple who don't really have a chance."

Handle The Truth sits third in the line of betting at $7 to win, behind Its Me ($3) and Front Page ($5). Matthew Dale's Man of Peace, who's won six races at Randwick, is fourth at $11.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a 40 per cent chance of shower for Sydney on Everest Day, with a heavy track to suit horses like Man of Peace.

Dryden hopes it'll hold off until Sunday, saying the son of Star Witness prefers a dry track.

"That's a negative for us. If we get rain, I think it will take two to two-and-a-half lengths off the horse," Dryden said.

"He's a lot better horse on top of the ground."

Nash Rawiller will retain the ride on Handle The Truth, having guided the gelding to victory last October.