The winner of the Prelude over 1600m is exempt from ballot for the big one over 2000m and many trainers are using Tuesday's Benchmark 70 race as an important stepping stone.

Gallopers from Gosford, Wyong, Broadmeadow, Scone, Muswellbrook, Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast are among the strong nominations not only for the cup but many of the districts also have entries in the Benchmark 55 over 2000m in the hope of qualifying for a start.

Port Macquarie and Taree gallopers have shown good recent form to give them a good chance of figuring in the Prelude finish.

Last season's leading Mid North Coast trainer Neil Godbolt has nominated six-year-old gelding Get On The Grange whereas fellow trainer Tas Morton has New Divide in winning form two starts back over 1700m at Grafton.

Morton's six-year-old gelding then didn't get the best of runs when beaten over 1850m at Newcastle behind Shaftesbury on July 25.

He bought the former Sydney gelding to be aimed at country cups and Taree could be first cab off the rank.

Godbolt has always had an opinion of Get On The Grange and in three starts at the distance it has won two and in nine starts at the track it has a win and four placings to its credit.

The gelding is capable of improving vastly on its 10th to Taree mare Shazza's Bubbles in the Sawtell Cup over 1500m last month.

Taree trainer Bindi Cheers won the cup with Quadri and could again play a part with in-form seven-year-old gelding Rapidus which won three in a row at Taree, Grafton and Ballina before finding the class too strong when 14th behind Sydney galloper Bonfire in the Grafton Cup over 2350m.

The gelding has had 13 starts at the distance for two wins, two being at the track.

Taree trainer Bob Haire has always thought his five-year-old gelding Halfway To Heaven is up to city class and it has had wins at the cup distance and was a handy third to Kareem's Edge over 1600m here on July 24.

Taree five-year-old mare Marmaduke's Lady, trained by Pablo Shultz, didn't get the best of runs in the same race when four lengths eighth after a good third to Shazza's Bubbles over 1400m at Grafton,the winner then scoring in the Sawtell Cup over 1500m.

Track specialist, Gosford five-year-old mare Bettabet Red, trained by Fred Cowell, has seen the track four times for three wins and a second and gave a promising show when not far away from Dylan's Rojo over 1300m at Newcastle last month after a slight let-up.

Wyong trainer Jeff Englebrecht has a love for coming to Taree and he has eight-year-old gelding Bonus Spin firing with a win at Wyong and another over 2100m at Gosford on July 23.

Other visiting trainers with contenders include Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees with Unique, fellow trainer Steve Hodge with Lucky Ima Cugat and French Gift and Wyong trainer Damien Lane with last start winner Pirate Ben.

Chances in the 2000m race on Tuesday include four-year-old mare Rushall, trained by Lees, which has had two wins at the track from its past four runs, five-year-old Taree mare Parchoise, trained by Greg Drury, a winner at Cessnock two starts back and last start Kempsey winner Rio De Janeira, trained at Port by John Sprague.

Acceptances will be taken today.