Liam Birchley’s in-form grey Time To Plunder set himself up for a shot at some of the better Brisbane Summer Racing Carnival races this season with a narrow win in today’s Keith Noud Handicap 2014 at Doomben Racecourse.

Time To Plunder (pictured here at Eagle Farm) wins the 2014 Keith Noud Handicap ahead of the Brisbane Summer Carnival features. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Stepping up to stakes company for the first time this season the Holy Roman Emperor six-year-old went out as a $12 chance in the $100,000 Listed Brisclean Keith Noud Handicap (1200m) with Larry Cassidy aboard.

Cassidy replaced Craig Williams after a one-run Melbourne raid on November 6 during the Cup Carnival where Time To Plunder ran a brave second in a Benchmark 90 over 1400m at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day.

Before that the gelding was second to Gundy Spirit when narrowly beaten on October 25 at home carrying 59kg with Cassidy riding.

Today Time To Plunder was well-weighted in the Keith Noud Handicap carrying the 54kg minimum, a weight that worked to his advantage as he won by just a nose in a bob-of-the-head victory over the Shane Edmonds-trained outsider Finishing Card ($21) right on the line.

Finishing off the Keith Noud Handicap trifecta still under a length off the winner was then the Tony Gollan-trained Rocket To Glory ($9.50) who was just ahead of stable mate Someday ($10) in the first four past the post.

Race favourite was the Steve Tregea-trained Love Rocks ($2.70) who had the early lead into the first corner in a nice run down the outside just ahead of eventual third placegetter Rocket To Glory.

Benny’s Buttons was off the bit in third trying to go with them, Love Rocks also up on the bit up against the fence getting away to a nice lead.

The well-fancied Stratum gelding, winner of the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) back in December, was under the hammer on the straight however and by the 200m was fading fast.

He had the easy lead but didn’t find much and didn’t finish off eventually running dead last.

Time To Plunder meanwhile came rocketing down the outside along with Finishing Card, who briefly looked the winner, before the grey got there in a thrilling photo finish in the feature Brisbane race this weekend.

Black Type racing returns to Eagle Farm Racecourse next Saturday with two Listed features before the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) runs as the first of the major summer series back at Doomben on December 6.

For all the hottest summer racing odds and betting options around the country, visit our No. 1 recommended and trusted sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au today!

2014 Keith Noud Handicap Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 8 – 22/11/2014