Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Seven top-class horses are slated to contest the season's second grade-one feature, the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup, over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Despite the small field, there is much quality present with reigning champion sprinter AHWHOFAH back in town, recent Eros Trophy winner MEDICAL REPORT, the classy five-year-old mare OUTSTANDING - winner of the Abe Issa Memorial Cup over the distance on January 31 - as well as the consistent MUCHO GUSTO and not least, ENGLISH STORM, winner of the valuable CTL Imported Mile on Superstakes Day, last November.

They should ensure a highly competitive race and even though one would be tempted to rule out NASATOL and THE GUARDIAN, it is not beyond either to find a place.

The Noel Ennevor-trained MEDICAL REPORT bounced back to winning form on February 28 with a fighting victory over MUCHO GUSTO in the season's first grade-one race, the Eros Trophy over 1400 metres, and should prove a tough opponent with favourite rider Paul 'Country' Francis aboard.

Favourite in fifth

In winning by a length, MEDICAL REPORT not only had MUCHO GUSTO behind, but THE GUARDIAN (third) and then favourite AHWHOFAH in fifth.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained AHWHOFAH showed up prominently for a long way before weakening in the straight to finish nine lengths adrift. Although well prepared for that event, AHWHOFAH ran as though she needed the race and, moreover, was squeezed for space at the halfway stage and lost some ground.

The classy filly by Royal Minister out of Executive Profile continues to move impressively at exercise in preparation for today's encounter and only needs to reproduce her Caribbean Sprint championship and Gold Cup winning form from the backend of last season to fight out the finish successfully.

OUTSTANDING should also make a brave bid based on her running in the Caribbean Sprint when caught close home by AHWHOFAH.

Looked razor sharp

Trained by Gresford Smith, the five-year-old mare by Law Of The Sea out of Tropical Magic has looked razor sharp at exercise and, given her speed, will have to be caught.

The Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained MUCHO GUSTO went close in the Eros Trophy and Abe Issa Memorial Cup races and should as usual give a good account of himself. While I respect his chances, he keeps finding one too good and this could again be the case.

In what should be a closely contested race, AHWHOFAH should leave her last running behind and take home this trophy, with champion jockey Omar Walker again in the saddle. I am expecting her to race prominently into the straight and kick in where it matters.

Other firm fancies on the card are classic aspirant, THE GUMMER, to romp the first race, DUST ROCK to rebound in the fifth, SIMPLE SWEET in the sixth, LITTLE WASP in the eighth and HONEYOFALADY in the ninth, for three-year-olds.