The numbers are stacked against him but trainer Keith Cotchin is riding a wave of confidence into tomorrow night's Reg Withers 3YO Classic, when a star-studded field will chase the $25,000 prize at Kilmore.

Emma Stewart's quartet Centenario ($1.50 with TAB.com.au), Hurricane Harley ($2.70), Demon Delight ($7.50) and Fourbigmen ($26) loom large, but Cotchin is optimistic his long-shot pair Exciter ($81) and Betternbetter ($51) will give a good account, particularly the trouble-plagued latter.

A winner of eight of his 12 starts, Betternbetter has only failed to place twice and Cotchin is confident the Betterthancheddar gelding has overcome the illness that has restricted him.

"It hasn't been a smooth road," Cotchin told RSN 927's One Out One Back. "He had that really bad colic and operation, had to get over that, then we got back, he won his first two, looked good then got beaten in a heat of the Derby.

"He over-raced and made a bit of a funny noise. We thought he had problems, we did a few tests and couldn't find any problems. He raced a little bit below what he could, but we seem to be right back on track now. His heart rate and everything is excellent, everything seems really good for him. It's the first time for a long time I've been happy."

Tomorrow night will be Betternbetter's third start back this campaign, having returned with a second at Geelong when pipped by Ima Showgirl before winning last start at Maryborough.

"He's a very nice horse, we've had a little bit of trouble with him, but we're on track now," Cotchin said. "I think we should see a better horse than what we have seen in the past few runs.

"It just depends on how the race is run. It's hard when the Stewart stable have got four horses drawn who can all go forward and control the race. If the pace does come into it, he will be running on very strong. He's got a really good turn of speed, I think that's his best asset, coming from a cold sit, so if they run along he will be right there."

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO ONE OUT ONE BACK, FEATURING JOHN WOLFE, KEITH COTCHIN AND ANTON GOLINO