Derivative Receipt drew the extreme outside in a field of 14, leaving jockey Geoff Snowden with a big decision: push forward or go back.

Trainer Keith Hiscox, while disappointed with the draw, was philosophical.

“As a fella said, ‘you prepare for the worst, hope for the best and accept the result’,” he said.

Derivative Receipt also had to contend with a wide draw in last year’s cup, when he came from the 12 alley and finished 12th behind Art Success.

Hiscox will leave it up to Snowden to assess the race once the field jumps.

“It will depend on whether he has enough sprint to get across when they say go,” he said.

“I don’t think it worries him greatly where he is in the run ... he’s a horse that gets wound up and just keeps going.”

Snowden has already won two cups aboard Derivative Receipt - Coffs Harbour and Armidale - and is in good form following a winning double at Mungindi on Saturday.

Derivative Receipt has not started since his game second to Iguazu in the Provincial Cup (2150 metres) at Ipswich on June 13.

Hiscox had not been able to find a suitable race for the gelding since then, but is not worried about the five weeks between runs.

“I’ve given him plenty of long, steady work to keep him up to the mark,” he said.

There is a telling precedent for the horse: in June last year, having his first run for seven weeks, he won over 1910 metres at Ballina on a heavy track.

The track tomorrow should be no worse than dead.

Derivative Receipt will appreciate being on the minimum of 53kg - a luxury weight he has had in only three of his 32 starts.

“He’ll reckon that’s alright,” Hiscox said.

The Armidale trainer says the only three horses above the minimum are big chances, although he has a healthy respect for Twin Wing.