With some popular wins and close placings over the past ten days at tracks that include Griffith, Canberra, Blayney, Wagga and Junee, his increasingly successful approach to the sport has attracted the attention of some of the leading trainers including the strong and highly respected Turnbull stables at Bathust.

Blake will have a number of drives on Friday afternoon at the Young Paceway, they include Swooped To Safety, Our Sams Home, the promising New Zealand import Opal in race four and the consistent Murringo owned Kettering Girl.

Canberra trainer Michael Hawke has entrusted the driving duties to Blake in race eight behind the tough campaigner Crime Time.

Racing starts on Friday at 1.19pm with the eighth race set for a 5.23pm start.

Stuart Maxwell's race summaries and expert selections

Race one

Garth Hoy may be able to finally break through with Gosling In Flight in race one after some eye catching races over recent weeks. Trial form could be the indicator that first starter Arama Reactor is ready to face the starter and is from an astute stable. Blake Jones and Ellen Bartley combine with Jo Jo Zip and his a winner four starts back and is certainly in the mix. Kelvin Winnell makes a welcome return to the Young track and could be the smokey in this type of race with Llanfair Rumours at good odds.

Race two

Neil Shaw will travel a long distance but could be rewarded in race two with Wotnow Swanee from and ideal gate. A winner of two from four, the distance looks the ex factor here and the betting will be the best guide. The locally trained Stylish Grin continues to race well without luck and with the services of Will Rixon, the light should finally shine at the end of the tunnel. Swooped To Safety looks to be better suited here from a second line draw and should be running on from the second half of the field. Petes Pet Rock has been showing some promise in trials and a place chance is not beyond this fellow with a little luck in running.

Race three

Rock This Way has been freshened for this race and again the distance should suit. Tygerphinn has a win two starts back and two prominent placing to suggest this could suit the Riverina trained pacer who is expected to be looking to set the pace here over the sorter journey. Dont Tell Dorothy is a last start winner and should get a nice sit behind the leader from gate seven. Our Sams Home continues to race well with some eye catching placings of late and could surprise here.

Race four

Bill Shannon is a last start winner and is the likely leader from a wide gate over the short 1720 metre race four. Last start Wagga pacer Opal gets a chance to gain a sit here and could be better suited after going hard in front last time out. I Wanna Dance is certainly not the roughest here and a win would not surprise over this trip. Dont Tell Phyllis is a last start winner but may not be suited by the draw but must be in the mix here.

Race five

Alta Downs ran third first up from a spell and should be improved by that run. Hardliner won last time out and prior to that was a good second suggesting the winning form may continue here. Play Up A Storm is hard to catch but this could be the day for the locally trained pacer. Stablemate Bold Western is a last start winner and they could fight out the finish here without surprising.

Race six

Amanda Turnbull has handed the duties to Isobel Ross behind Joe Batters and with three wins from five starts and two placings the outcome should be predictable in this type of race. Ring The Till will be going forward from an outside draw after finishing second last start in a harder type of race. Coolie Kid should make it a Turnbull trifecta with Billysbredone rounding out the first four placings in an all Turnbull affair.

Race seven

Blues Terror led and ran second at Wagga last Tuesday and could go one better here with another possible sit behind the leader run. Renee Dale has been close to the money since resuming and has a nice draw. Polemarker Glitznglam is a last start winner and is well drawn. Expected to lead here and will take running down. Our Pocket Rocket continues to race competitively and a win is within reach again here. Ill Be A Lady will be forward enough to figure in the finish following some good runs recently and her placings have been impressive of later.

Race eight

Bathurst trained Amethyst looks the best of the night following two recent wins and placings in stronger company. Metropolitan trained Izzy Dagg could spoil the party if the racing is run to suit, from a hard mark but should be up to this. Crime Time is as tough as they come and could be the leader here from a handy gate. Sputnik is near a win with some impressive placings and is drawn in a nice gate, certainly not the roughest here.