Chow told The Standard Robbie's Star was born and bred on the family farm.

The former Port Fairy footballer said his heart always raced when the eight-year-old competed in a jumps race.

"I've found having a jumps horse race is a nerve-racking experience especially Robbie's Star," he said.

"We've bred him and broke him in. He's a family pet.

"I'm not sure where I'll be watching the Galleywood from.

"I couldn't watch his first jump start but I'm getting a bit better at doing that now.

"The Galleywood is the biggest jumps race he's run in.

"It's a time-honoured race and if he happened to win it would be a massive thrill."

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Chow said he was happy with Robbie's Star's last start when he ran second in a hurdle race at Pakenham as a lead-in to the Galleywood.

"He ran better at Pakenham then I thought he would," he said.

"I've been happy with the rain over the last few days.

Robbie's Star is going to get conditions to suit as he likes soft to heavy tracks.

"I'm hoping Robbie's Star will be mid-field before he makes his run.

"It's going to be a tough race to win. Runaway, trained by Gai Waterhouse, has strong form and deserves to be favourite and Eric Kusgrove has a few key chances and you can't leave the top-weight Ancient King out of calculations."

Meanwhile, fellow trainer Patrick Payne, from Plumpton, is confident he pulled the right reign in running his jumper I'll'ava'alf in the Brierly Steeplechase.

Ryan said he had entered I'll'ava'alf in the Brierly Steeplechase and the Grand Annual Steeplechase but chose a start in the Brierly for the 11-year-old.

"The Grand Annual was just going too be to hard," he said.

"The Brierly is the easier option. I'll'ava'alf has a good record on wet tracks and he runs well at Warrnambool."

Ryan's brother Simon saddles up He's A Genius in the Brierly.

The eight-year-old is having his first start for Ryan.

He's Genius was previously trained by Terry O'Sullivan.

The Brierly is at 3.05pm while the Galleywood Hurdle is scheduled at 4.30pm.

The opening day of the two-day carnival also includes the time-honoured Grand Annual Steeplechase.

The program will include eight jumps races while Wednesday's day two program features nine flat races.

No spectators will be at the racecourse owing to the coronavirus restrictions.

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