Ciaron Maher & David Eustace’s evergreen seven-year-old Dr Drill heads betting on Thursday’s Grafton Cup 2022 field following two good lead-up runs this prep.

Dr Drill leads 2022 Grafton Cup betting this winter. Photo: Steve Hart.

This winter’s Listed $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) drew 11 final acceptances with Dansili gelding Dr Drill heading the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au to return to winning form.

The in-form import is out to break a notable drought not having won a race since his 2020 Scone Cup victory two years ago.

He has looked back to his better form of late when runner-up in this year’s Scone Cup narrowly beaten two back behind Rustic Steel on a Heavy (9), before another second last time out in Rosehill’s Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m).

Getting out over further will suit the proven stayer who is a two-time runner-up from as many starts over the Grafton Cup distance.

He carries 58kg again on Thursday with Keagan Latham retaining the ride, and pays $3.60 in the latest Grafton Cup odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Co-trainer Maher is after his second Grafton Cup victory following his 2013 victory as a solo trainer with Mr O’Ceirin.

It’s a tight top-half of the markets with a further five horses under $10 to win including the $4.40 second elect Arapaho.

The early Grafton Cup market mover, Bjorn Baker’s French-bred Lope De Vega five-year-old comes off a second in the mud behind Le Don De Vie – a non-acceptor for Thursday – in Queensland’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).

Getting in on 54kg again here with Rachel King coming aboard for the ride, the galloper looks a genuine winning hope to frank the Caloundra Cup form heading back south.

Carrying the top-weight in this year’s Grafton Cup field is the John O’Shea-trained Berdibek with 58.5kg, the galloper occupying the third line of betting at $6.50.

Hugh Bowman partners the eight-year-old grey whose last start produced an eye-catching sixth when under two lengths off Smart Meteor in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) with 59.5kg.

Last start winner Rebel Rama is next best at $7 with Tommy Berry to partner Marc Conners’ four-year-old Dissident mare from the outside barrier (11).

She was good with 56.5kg at double-figures last start in Eagle Farm’s Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2150m) and comes back in weight here taking on the boys.

Rounding out the single-figure fancies are the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained European import Youth Spirit ($7.50) racing second-up down under off a fourth in the McKell Cup, and Chris Munce’s Ipswich Cup winner Smart Meteor ($9.50) chasing the interstate double.

The forgotten horse in the mix meanwhile who could surprise at juicy Grafton Cup odds of $31 is the locally-trained Bold Contender in barrier two chasing four straight wins off the back of his Prelude win in the wet.

The Grafton Cup 2022 is set to run as Grafton Race 7 at 4:05pm (AEST) on Thursday, with full markets available here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Grafton Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.