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By Ray Hickson

A second shot at The Kosciuszko is high on trainer Todd Howlett’s agenda with talented gelding Tanglewood who makes a belated return at Scone on Saturday.

The five-year-old was forced to miss a planned Country Championships preparation when he didn’t pull up from his third in the $2m Kosciuszko to Howlett’s liking and was sent for an extended break.

While Howlett did accept for the Listed Ortensia Stakes, where he wound up fourth emergency, he’s happy enough to get his campaign underway in the GRO Events Handicap (1100m).

“He’s good, I’m really happy with him and he’s in a good spot. I think it’s a good kick off point,’’ Howlett said.

“After his run in the Kosciuszko he just wasn’t right and the vet said he was better off having a longer break so I missed the Country Championships.

“He’s trialled twice and I’ve been happy with them, we’re going into the race really pleased with him.”

Tanglewood scored a strong win over Imposant in his second trial, over 1000m on the Beaumont track at Newcastle, on May 7 and Howlett said he doesn’t mind the likelihood of a solid tempo with the likes of speedster Passeggiata in the field.

Tanglewood wins a Newcastle trial on May 7

With Anna Roper’s 2kg claim he’ll carry 60kg and Howlett expects he’ll continue his trend of being competitive first-up from a spell.

He won first-up over 1000m on the Kensington track last spring and was picked up for The Kosciuszko two days later.

“He goes well fresh, he’s a pretty straightforward horse and I think he’s where he needs to be to run well,’’ he said.

“A good pace suits him and especially on the big track at Scone they get their chance.

“If he could be midfield there somewhere and be finishing it off, he races well like that, I’d be happy.”

Howlett said he’d like to give Tanglewood a few runs over the next couple of months and would be inclined to look at the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton in July if his form warrants.

He feels the gelding only needs to show he’s racing as well as ever to be an attractive proposition for Kosciuszko ticket winners given how well he performed to run into third behind Far Too Easy and Front Page at Randwick last October.

“It was a huge run. It proved that he is a pretty handy horse,’’ he said.

“I haven’t got anything set yet, we’ll give him a few runs and give him a little break to have another go at the Kosciuszko. There’s plenty of options for him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Scone meeting