Zarhron, one of the standout horses in the central west, returns from a spell on Monday and will contest what is an outstanding Open Handicap (800m) at the seven-race meeting.

The eight-year-old, a three-time winner of the Cowra Japan Cup and also a victor in the Bill Aspros Cup at Bathurst, hasn’t raced since April 7.

He has been handed the top weight of a massive 67kg for the event at Narromine.

That will be offset somewhat by the two kilogram claim of apprentice hoop Chris Williams but 65kg will still be three more than the next heaviest, Pat Farrell’s Alart.

Zarhron was handed 65.5kg in his last start, the Orange Cup Day Sprint.

Williams has ridden Zarhron in recent times, guiding the gelding to victory at Bathurst and in his third successive Cowra Japan Cup.

The pair will go from barrier eight on Monday, the wide draw adding to the difficulty of the race, in what is Zarhron’s first start in 254 days.

Zarhron has 11 wins and two placings from 28 career starts.

Alart, a former Wellington Boot winner, is now a five-year-old and has seven wins and five placings from 36 races.

The Farrell-trained Alart is also coming off a spell, he’s not raced since July 5, and he will have Greg Ryan in the saddle to continue his long-standing relationship with the veteran Muswellbrook trainer.

Adding to the quality in the race is Danish Lace, trained at Dubbo by Peter Nestor, who has scored placings at Warren and Mudgee in her past two starts.

With the short distance and plenty of difference between the top weights and those who are the lightest, the likes of Justin Stanley’s Gillie Mooch (54kg) and Clint Lundholm’s Snippety Sip (55kg) will fancy their chances of scoring an upset in the event.

The first race at Narromine jumps at 11.15am, the meeting starting earlier in the hope of avoiding the expected high temperatures in the afternoon.