One of the very early Brisbane Summer Racing Carnival showdowns takes place at Doomben this Saturday with the Keith Noud Handicap 2014 taking centre stage on the weekend in Queensland.

Running at 4:12pm (local) as Doomben Race 8, this year’s $100,000 Listed Brisclean Keith Noud Handicap (1200m) features a final field of 11 hopeful sprinters.

Leading the Keith Noud Handicap betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are two live wire chances battling for favouritism.

Narrowly winning the war for the punters’ love is Love Rocks ($4.40), Steve Tregea’s Toowoomba galloper having come up trumps with barrier two.

On fire this time last year winning three on the trot including the Listed Lough Neagh Quality (1350m) at Doomben in December, the Stratum gelding spent a long time on the sidelines before returning on October 25.

There the five-year-old won first-up in a Benchmark 90 at Doomben Racecourse before a last start third at the Sunshine Coast carrying 58.5kg behind Rocking King (1^st) and Abedisi (2^nd) on November 14.

Saturday sees Love Rocks carrying 58kg with Anthony Allen in the saddle.

The close second pick in the Keith Noud Handicap odds at around $4.60 is then Into The Red with the rails run from barrier one.

Getting in on the 54kg minimum, Kelso Wood’s Not A Single Doubt stallion is out to improve on some poor form from the winter carnival.

The four-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing 11^th behind Alma’s Fury in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich back on June 14.

Before that they were second last when 17^th behind Sir Moments in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on the back of a nice second in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben.

After a decent spell Wood is hoping a return to Doomben will see Into The Red improve as he’s got a nice record of a win and two seconds from three previous starts at the track.

Wood is also represented in this year’s Keith Noud Handicap field by the 59.5kg top weight Benny’s Buttons.

Michael Cahill has the ride on the ultra-consistent Refuse To Bend gelding who is first-up here having last raced when second to River Lad in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 17.

Before that the veteran sprinter ran top three in his five previous runs including a win over this track and distance in the wet.

He’s a horse that thrives on a mud track with three wins and a third from four starts on Heavy going, and with the big rainfall in Brisbane this week he could be in luck.

Benny’s Buttons, even with the hefty top weight, is also pays single figures to win paying around $9.

The other two under $10 along with him and the two shorties are then Primal Flight ($6) after three on the trot over the 1200m and Exellantes ($7.50) for Rob Heathcote.

Drawn in barrier five, Gillian Heinrich’s Gold Coast visitor Primal Fear has won two on the trot at Class 5 level back home this time in, form the Flying Spur gelding is hoping to bring to Brisbane when up in class this weekend.

Excellantes meanwhile is on 59.5kg as equal top weight with Benny’s Buttons, the Falvelon seven-year-old first-up here after a second over the track and distance from July 26 on the back of a win in the Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Other notable Keith Noud Handicap hopefuls this year include the Tony Gollan-trained stable mates Rocket To Glory who has a good record over the 1200m at Doomben (6-2-1-0) and the resuming Brisbane Handicap winner Someday drawn in barriers seven and nine respectively.

See below for the full Keith Noud Handicap 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and weights.

Then when you’re ready to back your favourites in the Brisbane races on Saturday, visit Ladbrokes.com.au and check out the full markets online at our preferred bookmaker!

2014 Keith Noud Handicap Final Field & Barriers

Doomben Race 8 (4:12pm) – 22/11/2014

#	Form (Last 10)	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Br.	Wgt.	Hcp. Rating
1	829221232x	BENNY’S BUTTONS	Kelso Wood	Michael Cahill	4	59.5kg	103
2	142103712x	EXCELLANTES	Robert Heathcote	Damian Browne	10	59.5kg	103
3	4522111×13	LOVE ROCKS	Steve Tregea	Anthony Allen	2	58kg	100
4	9130×42115	ROCKET TO GLORY	Tony Gollan	Tegan Harrison	7	58kg	100
5	0936910x4x	SOMEDAY	Tony Gollan	Timothy Bell	9	57kg	98
6	153x671x25	VINTAGE MOSS	John M Fitzgerald	Chris Munce	11	54.5kg	93
7	331539x64x	FINISHING CARD	Shane Edmonds	Terry Treichel	3	54kg	91
8	481×699622	TIME TO PLUNDER	Liam Birchley	Larry Cassidy	6	54kg	87
9	80x177420x	SOROS	Kelly Schweida	Ric McMahon	8	54kg	86
10	2120x5200x	INTO THE RED	Kelso Wood	Jim Byrne	1	54kg	84
11	x11552x011	PRIMAL FLIGHT	Gillian Heinrich	Robbie Fradd	5	54kg	76.5