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By John Schell

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is banking on weight of numbers paving the way for a Muswellbrook victory when he has three runners contesting the Mangoola Coal Operations Maiden Plate (1280m).

Lees will send around Crathie Kirk, Grand Voile and Cornerback in the event, with a fourth acceptor, British Gem, having run at Newcastle on Saturday.

Ashley Morgan will partner Crathie Kirk, Andrew Gibbons will steer Grand Voile, and Benjamin Osmond takes the reins on Cornerback.

Trainer Kris Lees (Pic: Steve Hart)

“Crathie Kirk is a nice filly by Ole Kirk that had trialled well a couple of times before making her debut with a fourth at Hawkesbury,” said Lees.

“She was just behind the placings in that event over 1100m, and the step up in trip at Muswellbrook looks like it will suit her. She’s drawn awkwardly but Ash [Morgan] should be able to overcome that.

“With the benefit of the experience of her first start she does look hard to hold out.”

Grand Voile debuted for Lees at Muswellbrook on October 6 and finished fourth behind the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Varuni.

“Grand Voile also had the two trials before her debut and she ran well enough at Muswellbrook after racing on the speed,” Leeds said.

“She’s a filly by Astern and if she can show some improvement from her debut then she should be in the thick of things.”

Tassort gelding Cornerback has two starts at Gunnedah and Murwillumbah in May and June and was spelled. He’s had two trials in preparation for his resuming run.

“He’s taking his time to show us what he can do on raceday but he has shown ability at home,” said Lees.

“I’m hoping he is hitting the line well.”

The Archibald trained Backhander is expected to pose the biggest danger to the Lees team in the Muswellbrook event.

Lees will have one other runner at Muswellbrook with Naughty Nurse, to be ridden by William Stanley, contesting the TAB Benchmark 66 Handicap (1500m).

The trainer also has a two-pronged attack on Tuesday’s $3 million Big Dance at Randwick with Tavi Time and Lord Of Biscay lining up in the event.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Muswellbrook meeting