Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
BUSHY PARK RAJA (inside, No. 10) looks the one to beat in today's feature the Lester Davidson Memorial Cup over the round five course. - FILE
BOTTOM-OF-the-barrel claimers take centre stage at Caymanas Park today in the annual renewal of the Lester Davidson Memorial Cup over the round five course.
Only seven starters have been declared, but despite the small field, only two can be safely ruled out. These are PATAS DE FUEGO who is sure to find the distance too sharp and TIFTAVIA, who is nothing much.
BUSHY PARK RAJA, CROP OVER and SHADE OF JADE, should carry the bulk of the betting, but FUTZ and MAKING WAVES will have their share of supporters.
Former champion jockey Trevor Simpson is down to ride BUSHY PARK RAJA, who is coming off a recent win over the straight five course on February 1.
DECISIVE VICTORY
Trained by Robert Darby Sr., the evergreen eight-year-old gelding made amends for his near miss over the straight on January 21 with a decisive victory over SIR CHARLES and GOINGTOKANSASCITY, covering the distance in the fairly good time of 1:00.1 despite coming from a poor draw on the far side.
That was BUSHY PARK RAJA's 16th win from 54 starts, a good strike rate by any standards.
While many consider the son of Restless Thief Jim Wa a specialist over the straight five course, he won a significant number of races riding the bends when conditioned by Gary Subratie, the last of these over 1300 metres in December of 2004 when leading home NO TEAR and SIR KISSON LAL.
Although not as good as he was then, BUSHY PARK RAJA is obviously one of the fittest in the lineup and with Simpson retaining the ride, his chances must be rated highly.
SHADE OF JADE, who was five lengths fifth to BUSHY PARK RAJA, renews rivalry on 8.5kg better terms and must have a live chance with only 48.0kg and Peter Bryan aboard.
SCORED HUGE UPSET
CROP OVER, the mount of joint leading jockey Wesley Henry, scored a huge upset over 1500 metres last Boxing Day and having finished third to out-of-class CORDITE over 1400 metres in a subsequent race on January 28, is coming to run. The five-year-old son of Snowrico Prospect is no slouch and over this snappy trip, should make a brave bid.
FUTZ and MAKING WAVES should also prove competitive in this small field, but I suspect they will fall victim to BUSHY PARK RAJA.
I am expecting 'BUSHY PARK' to race in close contention as FUTZ and CROP OVER vie for the early lead, before mounting his challenge early in the straight.
Other firm fancies on the card are REJECT in the third race, MARINERO to upstage THAT'STHELAW in the fourth, QUEEN OF MY HEART to go one better in the sixth, KEELER to stave off ZEALOT and KERMIT in the seventh, and consistent MUSICAL MAESTRO to catch the speedy three-year-old filly TASSY'S WHIP in the ninth.
