This will be the start of a a big series of meetings on the track for the rest of the year with the closure of Port Macquarie Racecourse due to a $3.7m upgrade.

Four-year-old gelding Halfway To Heaven stands out in a field with not many having experience at the distance in the Benchmark 60 Handicap.

The galloper showed his staying ability with a win over 2300m at Newcastle on Boxing Day at Newcastle and since then has won solidly over 1600m at Scone on April 17.

On that occasion he was doing is best work at the end of the race to score by 2.5 lengths and will find this field to his liking.

Most of the nominations are from gallopers having their first start at the journey and one of them could surprise.

Of those which has form over the distance, five-year-old gelding Pressure Drop, trained by Stephen Farley at Wyong, ticks that box with a win over 2125m at Cessnock on March 23 and has since won by 3.5 lengths over 1800m to stamp a justifiable claim.

Another experienced at the distance is six-year-old Port Macquarie mare Miss Kardashian, trained by Glenn Hodge.

She has been coming to hand nicely and was a good second to Walcha galloper Minimos over 1800m in the heavy at Port last Tuesday.

She has had 10 starts at the 2000m for a win and three placings and was only beaten less than a half length at Port.

Eight-year-old Port gelding Goldcoyne, trained by Annette Lee, is another likely at the distance.

The galloper was okay in Grafton company over 2212m on April 10 and has placed five times from 14 tries at the distance.

Interesting runner is Broadmeadow three-year-old filly Kissed By The Sun, trained by Kris Lees, which won its maiden over 1600m at Tamworth on April 13 and the margin of 1.8 lengths might suggest she can stay.

Also capable on his day is Wauchope seven-year-old gelding Xerxes Dream, trained by Michael O'Neill, which was fifth in the race won by Minimos at Port and in seven tries at the distance has two placings as well as two placings at this track from 10 races.

The Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1000m has attracted 20 nominations with a heap of speedsters involved.

One with a wing on every hoof is Wauchope five-year-old gelding Alpine Dragon, trained by Colt Prosser, which won at this track on February 17 and two starts later was second over 900m to The Life at Newcastle.

In between those races, the gelding was second to race rival Hammoon Boy, trained at Wyong by Jeff Englebrecht, over 1000m, that being here on March 17 before it was eighth over 1100m to Aussie Kim at Gosford.

Also nominated are big Port winner from last Tuesday, Dos Santos, trained by Neil Godbolt of Port and track and distance specialist Battle Street, trained at Wyong by Wayne Seelin.

A big watch should also be made on local six-year-old gelding Grey Emperor, trained by Bob Milligan, which in 14 runs at the track has notched three wins and four seconds, three of the wins at the distance,

The gelding didn't race up to expectations last campaign, is resuming, but can run well fresh, especially if the track is rain-affected.

Acceptances for the meeting will be taken on Friday.

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