A field of 13 potential stayers will tackle the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Friday after Peter Moody’s Metaphorical was scratched on Wednesday morning.

Scream Machine (pictured) is giving favourite I’m Imposing a run for his money in the Summer Cup betting. Photo by Steve Hart.

The $125,000 Summer Cup is the feature race of the Boxing Day meeting in Sydney, for which nine-year-old I’m Imposing is the firm favourite with odds of $3.20 at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Chris Waller’s gelding is the reigning champion of the Summer Cup, taking out last year’s edition a nose ahead of Travolta. Despite his age, I’m Imposing has proved to be a reckoning force this campaign after winning the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) and finishing second in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m), where he looked the winner but simply couldn’t charge down Rudy at the line.

I’m Imposing will carry the top weight of 59kg on Friday, which is up to three and a half kilograms more than his last two times out, but will have hoop Tye Angland in his saddle for the third consecutive time as he jumps from barrier nine.

The gelding certainly seems to have the form to win the 2014 Summer Cup, however he faces some tough competition in the form of four other runners offering single figure odds in the betting market.

• #4 Scream Machine ($4.80) – Jason Coyle’s six-year-old gelding is on the second line of betting in the Summer Cup odds after finishing fifth in the Villiers Stakes last time out, missing out on third place by less than half a length. He would have gotten it with another 20m so should enjoy the step up in distance. Has been beaten by I’m Imposing a number of times, including in last year’s Summer Cup.
• #2 Pelicano ($7) – the Tony McEvoy-trained gelding was forced off the track after winning the Listed Werribee Cup (2600m) this time last year due to injury and returned almost 12 months to the day in the Villiers Stakes, in which he finished eighth. Will jump from barrier six with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
• #6 Multilateral ($8) – Chris Waller’s second of three horses running in the Summer Cup, Multilateral won the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) in September before finishing end of the field in all four following races. Will carry the minimum weight of 54kg and jump from barrier two with Ms Kathy O’Hara to ride.
• #12 Surge Ahead ($9) – the Anthony Cummings-trained four-year-old will enjoy the inside jump from barrier one with Adam Hyeronimus to ride but will need to turn around a last place finish in a Benchmark 78 last time out.

The Summer Cup is the final group race of the year and Ladbrokes.com.au is giving your odds a boost. The online bookmaker is offering Best Tote or SP + 20%, which means an additional 20% on your winnings!