Finding best bets on the card in Hobart on Sunday won’t be easy but if Julius takes his recent form into the Elwick Functions & Events BM76 over 1100m he should make four wins from his past five starts.

In Brief

• Campbell looking to improve Julius' rating in Hobart on Sunday.
• Darmanin impressed with gelding's ability.Labby Rock set to break through.
• Bell Ringer Boy needs to bring recent form to Hobart.

Darmanin has a big opinion of the Barry Campbell-trained Julius that has risen from a handy sprinter to being a genuine Newmarket prospect and it is with that in mind that his trainer wants to improve the gelding's rating.

Julius' rating is 76 but Campbell believes he would need to be at least in the low 80s to be guaranteed a start in the state's most prestigious sprint.

The Time for War gelding has the chance to do that in the benchmark 76 handicap over 1100m in Hobart on Sunday.

Julius won three in succession on his home track at Devonport before having his colours lowered by experienced sprinter Music Addition in an open handicap over 1220m in Launceston two weeks ago.

Julius has shown enormous courage to win this time in and his natural early speed enables him to dictate how races are run.

After the gelding won two starts back on the synthetic in Devonport, where he won by over three lengths, Darmanin commented after the race that it was an effortless win, and that was in a benchmark 76 event over 1150m.

Julius carried 57.5kg that day and rises to 60kg, but he is a robust horse that should manage the substantial weight increase.

He goes up against a handy field that includes consistent mare Kuroset that has the advantage of a four-kilogram claim for novice apprentice Lauryn Bingley who is making her debut.

Many others have ridden a winner at their first ride in a race and the talented teenager, who has impressed in trials, will be as keen as mustard to join the elite group who have ridden a winner at their first race ride.

The Joel Flannery-trained Fivefingerdiscount is resuming from a spell and is fresh from an encouraging second in a trial in Hobart on Monday.

Fivefingerdiscount notched two impressive wins at his first two starts in the state last preparation and Flannery is confident the gelding will give a good showing first-up.

Labby Rock has been knocking on the door of late, so she gets her chance to break her maiden status in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Maiden over 1430 metres for novice trainer Bradley Franklin.

Labby Rocky, formerly with Yassi Nishitani, has finished fourth at her past two outings for Franklin but this looks an easier assignment with Anthony Darmanin staying aboard after the mare's last effort in Launceston.

The Shirley Berger-trained Bell Ringer Boy was very impressive in winning a class one handicap in Launceston two weeks ago and from all reports has trained on since that effort, so he should make an impact in the opening race, the Tasmanian Wine Centre Class 3 Handicap over 1430m.

This is a much tougher assignment, but he has a powerful finish and would only need to be in touch with the leaders turning for home to make it two wins in succession, and at tempting odds.