Champion jockey Joao Moreira will side with the Tony Cruz-trained California Whip (123lb) in the Class 2 Volunteers’ Challenge Cup (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

“California Whip has been running very well against some really good horses and if he can reproduce that form again he can be right there,” the champion jockey said.

Moreira has ridden the Giant’s Causeway five-year-old twice this term, placing third and second. But last time the rider consigned the chestnut to another runner-up spot when he climbed aboard the exciting youngster Ivictory and showed California Whip a clean pair of heels over the track and trip.

“Ivictory’s a very special horse and I don’t think that was a bad thing for California Whip running second to him last time,” Moreira said.

“This horse has been very lucky with his gates and he has it the same way again (gate 2). I can’t say exactly how I’m going to ride him because I have to hear what the trainer’s going to tell me but there’s a bit of speed in the race and if he can be right there in the first four I think he’s going to be in the strike position.”

California Whip wore blinkers for the first time in the run behind Ivictory and will sport them again on Wednesday night.

“He’s been kind of looking around a little bit in his races and two starts ago when I rode him to second I recommended it to Tony and I’m glad he put them on him, so hopefully we’ll go one better than last time,” he said.

The Volunteers’ Challenge Cup also features the Moore-trained Magic Legend (130lb), top-weight Fabulous One (133lb) from the Chris So stable, and last start winner Fortune Booth (117lb), trained by Michael Freedman.