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By Mark Brassel

Despite having had just one run in two and a half months, ruling Country Championships favourite Perfect Dare looms as the one to beat in Saturday's $400,000 Newhaven Park Final (1400m) on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Perfect Dare has firmed dramatically from $4.80 to $3.30 on TAB fixed odds for the much-awaited contest boasting a capacity field of 16 horses that qualified throughout regions of NSW.

It will be a fantastic training feat by Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn should Perfect Dare take out the race.

Left: Perfect Dare - the Murwillumbah-trained galloper is the one to beat in Saturday's Newhaven Park Country Championships Final. Image by - Bradley Photographers

The gelding resumed from a one month break after the Magic Millions Cup when an effortless winner of the Northern Rivers Qualifier at Grafton on February 13.

However, Perfect Dare has not raced since but did compete and win a barrier trial on the Gold Coast on February 28.

The last two horses to scrape into Saturday's Final are Pelerin and After All That who ran one-two in the Wild Card at Scone last Sunday.

"Pelerin recorded a very impressive victory and has since shortened from $101 to $16 to repeat the performance next weekend in the Final at Royal Randwick," said TAB's Glenn Munsie said. "After All That also firmed from $51 to $18."

View final fields with full form & race replays for Day 1 of The Championships here