The Hodgson-trained Prettylittlefellow powered home to victory in the Country Championship Preview (1300m) at Coonamble on Tuesday evening, firmly putting him in the frame for the Dubbo qualifier of the rich event on March 22.

The five-year-old gelding is an improving racer and while Hodgson was pleased with his progress he knew a heavier weight meant he would have to raise his performance again.

"If he's still going alright then I'd say so," he said when asked if he'll nominate for the Dubbo qualifier.

"It will be good but I'd say he'll be carrying a bit more weight but also I think he'll be going up against some of the same horses again.

"There's a few horses going around which will probably be carrying less weight but that doesn't seem to worry him."

The five-year-old gelding jumped well from barrier two at Coonamble and immediately got to the lead before settling in behind Stargrill Boy ($3.60, Ben Looker).

Stargrill Boy led as they rounded the bend from home but from there it was all Prettylittlefellow ($4.60).

Jockey Anthony Cavallo got Prettylittlefellow to the lead and pushed beyond the rest of the field.

Blinkin Elle ($11, Glenn Lynch) produced an eye-catching run home from deep in the field but Prettylittlefellow had built too much of a lead and the Clint Lundholm-trained gelding had to settle for second, one-and-a-quarter lengths back.

Sanvel ($21, Ken Dunbar) also came home well for trainer Wayne Collison and finished a further two lengths behind in third.

The likes of Blinkin Elle' and Sanvel will most likely also nominate for the Dubbo heat.

Prettylittlefellow now has an edge over them and also has raced against a number of other impressive gallopers lately.

In two starts at Orange in recent months, Prettylittlefellow finished second twice behind King Derota, the gelding who was favourite for the Bathurst Championship Qualifier before being a late scratching.

Before that, Hodgson's in-form chance had twice won races ahead of One Last Poet, the Brett Thompson-trained mare who had already qualified for the $300,000 Country Championship final after finishing second at Bathurst.

"'Choc' (jockey Anthony Cavallo) said he didn't go much on that Orange track, even though he finished second he didn't handle it well," Hodgson said.

"And going up against King Derota and One Last Poet I suppose that shows the form isn't too bad.

"He handled the track (at Coonamble) a lot better and he's won at Dubbo before so I've got no worries at that track."

The main concern for Hodgson is the fact Prettylittlefellow hasn't had a spell since November last year and has now had five races since December.

With fatigue the only possible concern, Hodgson admited he'd be keeping an eye on his five-year-old in the coming weeks.

"He's going to get sick of it sooner of later so I'm just taking it one run at a time," he said.

"He'll tell you when he's had enough and if he hadn't run well there (at Coonamble), he'd be out in the paddock now."