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Four reinsmen and two trainers hold the hopes of a district win in today’s $25 000 Jim Phillips Memorial Cobram Pacing Cup.

Undera trainer Glenn Freeman will be attempting to pull off another upset cup win with 10-year-old warhorse Baltic Ice, who is coming off a boilover win in the Wedderburn Cup on December 16.

Veteran reinsman Brian Gath will again drive Baltic Ice, who is drawn to be in the action for a long way from barrier four off the front row.

Avenel trainer David Aiken will be chasing his successive cup after taking the race last year with Jackka Clive.

He will launch a three-pronged assault with Composed and Smudge Bromac, who filled the placings behind Jaccka Clive in last year’s cup, and also Atlas Alliance.

Ace Shepparton reinsman Nathan Jack will drive Smudge Bromac, who is coming off an eye-catching third to Decorated Jasper in the Casey Classic at Melton on December 15, but is not experienced at the standing starts.

Aiken will partner Atlas Alliance, while Chris Alford takes the drive on Composed, who appeals as a strong each-way chance again.

Atlas Alliance and Composed have front row draws, while Smudge Bromac comes from barrier two off the second row.

The other hope for a district success rests with star Shepparton concession reinsman David Moran, who will partner the Keith Cotchin-trained Tanabi Bromac, one of three 10m markers in the 2678m marathon.

Tanabi Bromac — the fastest assessed pacer in the race — has not been harshly treated by the handicapper and will have plenty of admirers after a fast finishing second to Baltic Ice in the Wedderburn Cup.

Gunbower and Stawell cups winner Veranjee is the other 10m handicapper, while the well-performed former New Zealander Choise Achiever, who won the Hunter Cup earlier this year, is the sole back marker off 30m.

He would be hard to beat if he produces his best form.

In what looks a wide-open cup the Geoff Webster-trained and Emmett Brosnan-driven Washmepockets has been a model of consistency of late and could represent the each-way value in the race.

There is a huge supporting program of seven races including the $15000 Central Murray Credit Union Cobram Trotters Cup, which has drawn a capacity field.

Aiken will have two of the more fancied runners in this race in American-bred pair Cold Sister and My High Expectations, while recent Brent Lilley stable addition Musgrove is a T15 and M2 class trotter.

It’s a late start to the meeting with the first race at 2.25pm and the final event at 6.42pm.