The Bathurst trainers are looking to steadily work Ave into her new preparation and get her closer to the mile, aiming to continue the trend in the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 58 Handicap (1,200 metres) on her home track this Monday.

The Ryans are chasing a bit of Christmas cheer with their sole entry of the Tyers Park meeting.

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They will be hoping Ave's class will help her overcome the tough weight of 61.5 kilograms given to her by the handicapper.

"She's going to be better for that first run," Andrew Ryan said.

"She's got a tough job ahead of her with that 61 and a half, and drawing 11, but it's a part of a plan we've had for her and it's a stepping stone in that plan."

Ave comes into this preparation off a short but relatively successful prior run of results.

It might have been a winless run over her four starts but a pair of Highway Handicap placings has to be seen as a step in the right direction for the Roman Emperor mare.

The first of those placings came over 1,800 metres and it showed Ave's capabilities over the longer distance.

Eleanor Webster-Hawes has been the jockey for all 16 of Ave's career starts and she continues that run on Monday.

Ryan said that consistency has played a big part in Ave's collection of results.

"Because she was out for so long we didn't want to overtax her and that's why we started her over 1,100m. We're taking her up to 1,200m then up again to 1,400m," he said.

"The thing is with horses is that they're well balanced and the riders know the horse. That's why we tend to stick with El.

"We'd like to get her up over 1,400m this time but after Monday's race it'll be clearer where we're going with her."

Also contesting the Benchmark 58 Handicap will be Dubbo based trainer Stephen Edwards and his gelding Super Chase, the three year old was partnered with jockey Kacie Chater for his last start in Wellington, where the prospect came in second.

While Ms Chater will be riding Hibernator for Mr Edwards earlier in the day in Bathurst, it will be star apprentice Qin Yong, who recently won big for Bryan Dixon in Wellington with Song One, who will take the reins of Super Chase in the upcoming Bathurst outing.

Yong currently sits as the leader of the field in the Rising Star Apprentice competition.

Monday's seven-race meeting at Bathurst gets underway from 1.50pm.