Alby MacGregor is going into Saturday's Taranaki meeting with some renewed confidence in his good galloper Blathwayt.

Blathwayt has won seven of his 35 starts, but he has been off the winner's list since taking the Feilding Gold Cup 19 months ago. However, MacGregor believes the seven-year-old has turned the corner and is ready to show his best form in the Energy City Ford Open (1800m).

"I'm hoping it doesn't get too heavy because I think he's a good chance," MacGregor said. "On Thursday he worked like his old self. He worked extra good.

"It's the first time he's worked like that for a long time."

Though Blathwayt has been placed a half dozen times in his 13 starts since his Feilding Gold Cup win, he hasn't rounded his efforts off like he used to do. MacGregor puts that down to a mishap after his win when down south for the New Zealand Cup.

"When we came home from Christchurch he wasn't right," the Opaki trainer said. "I've had so many chiropractors to him and he still wasn't right.

"A friend of mine suggested walking on the hills might help him so I tried it. He goes out for an hour or so a day and I think it's done the job.

"I've also done some schooling with him. Really when you get an older horse like him they like a change of scenery and not going around the track every day.

"I honestly believe he's coming right."

Blathwayt has won a couple of races on heavy ground and comes into Saturday's race on the 54kg minimum, 7.5kg less than the topweight Overtheriver. He will be ridden by Rebecca Goldsbury.