The Forbes-based trainer will accept Molasses in the $150,000 CDRA Country Championships qualifier (1400 metres) on Thursday morning and heads over to Mudgee hopeful his five-year-old gelding can pull off an upset on Sunday.

Mack Griffith heads into the heat with the top two horses, Most Exalted and Schedule, with many punters finding it difficult to see past the Gooree Park connections.

But Bush believes a bit of luck can turn things pretty quickly.

“If we get a decent barrier draw, three, four or five, and he’s ridden off the pace, then he’ll be a chance,” Bush said.

“Anything can happen in these races, hopefully that’s the case on Sunday.

“We put him away in October last year for this race. Won two in a row and we thought we’d have a go.”

After a 19 week spell, Bush intended for Molasses to run first up at a highway handicap in Sydney, but a leg injury derailed that comeback.

Emerging healthy by mid-January, Bush’s best horse has now had three starts this preparation, his best run a third at Cowra at the end of last month.

But the bay gelding’s best form was on show during the end of 2017, with a win at Dubbo in July followed by a victory at Forbes on a soft 5 on his home track at Forbes.

Those wins were over 1020m and 1100m respectively and Bush concedes the 1400m championship distance will be a big test.

“He’s form is good and he travels alright,” Bush said, the trek from his stables in Forbes to the Mudgee Race Club just under three hours.

“I just hope it’s a cool day, he doesn’t handle the heat too well.

“But we’ll be there, this is our first (championship) runner, it’d be good to win it. Even to run second would be great,” Bush laughed.

First place for the championship heat nets the winner $80,000, second place is worth $31,500.

Acceptances for Sunday’s championship heat will be taken on Thursday morning.