Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch will chase feature glory as the Cairns carnival kicks off on Saturday, with the $50,000 Belle Of The Daintree, $50,000 Lightning Open and $40,000 Amateur Cup headlining the nine-race card.

Hatch saddles Heroic Valour mare Baby Guiness in the Belle Of The Daintree, banking on Justin Huxtable’s booking to offset her wide draw.

“She’s been a very good money spinner for us… she just needs a bit of luck getting across from the outside alley,” Hatch said.

In the Lightning Open, Hatch sticks with apprentice Leah Martyn on last-start Townsville winner Russian Mint despite her being unable to claim.

“He will be very hard to beat from the rails draw,” he said.

Hatch and Martyn also team up with Jungle Juice in the Class 1 Plate, confident the gelding’s strong recent run and weight relief will make him highly competitive.