The big names continue to roll into Albury this week with leading jockey’s Hugh Bowman and Craig Williams linking up with the Lee Freedman stable.

Freedman decided to enter both his nominations giving himself a red hot chance with the import Fanjura and the Group 1 winning Speed Gifted.

“Craig Williams was booked early for Fanjura and Hughie Bowman will ride Speed Gifted now that I have decided to also start him in the Cup,” Freedman said.

“It’s a good race for good money and will give both horses a good lead into the races I have in mind for them at the Sydney carnival.”

Freedman has been successful in the Albury Cup before but it’s been a long long time between drinks, winning the event in 1989 with Abstraction.

“I have had had some close connections with Albury and the race club for many years but I haven’t had many runners in the Cup since Abstraction won,” Freedman said.

“I will have four runners at the meeting and I am looking forward to getting there for the big day.”

For Bowman though not only will it be his first ride in an Albury Cup, it will be his first ever visit to the racecourse and he’s very happy to be on such a good horse.

“I’m happy to be on any horse in a big race for Lee Freedman,” Bowman said.

“Speed Gifted will be a good chance and I am looking forward to riding at Albury for the first time in my career.”

As we mentioned they are joining what is already a pretty handy list of jockey’s at the meeting with Glen Boss making his second Albury Cup appearance.

Victorian star Nick Hall and last year’s winner Brad Rawiller are also expected to get a ride in the event.