Leading Melbourne rider Luke Nolen ventures back to some old stomping ground when riding He’s An Angel in the $66,000 Wodonga Cup (1590m) today.

The rider of champion mare Black Caviar grew up in a close by town Benalla and rode his first winner at Albury, the town that borders Wodonga.

“It’s Cup Day and it’s normally a good day of racing in the north east,” Nolen said.

“I spent most of my adolescence and youth and (did my) apprenticeship in the north east, so it’s always good to get back and support those meetings.”

He’s An Angel, who won his madien at Wodonga, is trained by local legend Brian Cox.

Cox has four horses in the Cup with Murdoch’s Joy, Flagstaff and Cudgewa making up the quartet.

The Leon Corstens trained Delayedreaction has been scratched from the Cup.

The track has been upgraded to a dead 4.

Wodonga Cup summary, ratings and tips:

• 1 He’s An Angel: In good form before being blocked for a run a Gundagai last start. Now the track is upgaded to dead he is a true hope. Rating 7.
• 2. Delayedreaction – scratched.
• 3. Redhead Rage: This is his best distance having won five races. Nine-year-old who always puts himself in the race but lacks a killer punch.  Well drawn and definitiely add in trifectas. Rating 6.
• 4. Regular Aussie: Won the Berrigan Cup two starts back. Handles all type of track conditions and quite prepared to forgive a Flemington failure. Good hope. Rating 7.
• 5 Thrillionare: Goes well at this track and handles all track conditions. Wide draw the only problem. Eachway. Rating 6.
• 6. Cornish: Trained in Adelaide by Mick Hickmott. Former Irish galloper who went to Lloyd Williams before entering this yard. Two runs for Hickmott have been good. Long way to travel. Worth including. Rating 7.
• 7. Arch Pegasus: Hasn’t raced in 14 weeks. Has won one of four first up starts. Wide draw doesn’t help. In good Luke Oliver stable and may be one at odds worth including. Rating 6.
• 8. Peace Prize: Hasn’t been far away lately. Best on good rated tracks and gets back in the field. Willing to risk. Rating 3.
• 9. Murdoch’s Joy: Won both starts at this track and all three starts at this distance. Stablemate to topweight He’s An Angel. Only had six starts. Rating 8.
• 10. Jetconi: Can mix form. Has barrier one and the early speed to take up a good position. Handles the trip. A lot in his favour though never won on a dead track in 15 starts . Eachway. Rating 6.
• 11. Amerryking: Nine-year-old who hasn’t won for over a year. Past his best.  Rating 4.
• 12. Flagstaff: Another trained by Brian Cox. (He’s An Angel, Murdoch’s Joy and Cudgewa). Likes to lead. Getting back to up to a desireable distance here. Prefers dead and dryer tracks. Rating 6.
• 13. Cudgewa: Nicely drawn in barrier four. Doesn’t win out of turn (thiree from 23). Ran on well last time at this track behind Thrillionaire. One of the chances in an open race. Rating 6.
• 14: Top Tier: Best form on tracks dead and dryer. Not won beyond 1100m. Others better. Rating 2.

Tips: Murdoch’s Joy 1, Cornish 2, Regular Aussie 3, He’s An Angel 4.