Chard is out to make it a hat-trick of wins at Leeton however trainer-driver Phil Maguire isn't heading in with overwhelming confidence.
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Chard won twice at Griffith over their Carnival of Cups last month but with a wide gate to contend with after a freshen up, Maguire is cautious heading into the meeting on his home track.
"I'd hope to think we can (win) but he's probably just a run short," Maguire said.
"I give him two weeks off after Griffith and haven't trialled him over anything but he will go alright."
Chard led all the way in both of his Griffith victories, including one where he scored by 13.9 metres, but is set to start from gate five.
With good speed inside, Maguire isn't confident he will be able to dictate terms from in front.
"He comes out of the gate good but whether he leads or not I'm not sure," he said.
"David Druitt's horse (Yoursnmine) will probably lead, he led last start and he doesn't hand up to anyone so I'll have to go forward and if I'm in the death then I am in the death and Knightsmile has good gate speed drawn inside him."
The son of Smiling Shard has won three of his 11 starts with two of them and his lone placing coming in his last three starts and he's been a work in progress.
"He's a good do-er and it took a bit to get him a bit fitter," Maguire said.
It is Leeton's first meeting of the season as they build up to a busy month with four times between Boxing Day and Australia Day.
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