Course and distance specialist, Taree six-year-old gelding Al Be Swift, should prove hard to beat in the feature Airport Hotel-Motel Benchmark 70 Handicap (1007m) at Taree-Wingham Race Club’s big eight-race TAB card at Bushland Drive Racecourse today.

The high-flying John Thompson stable should warm up nicely for the weekend this afternoon at Eagle Farm with in-form mare Newborn contesting the Bundaberg Distilling Co Benchmark 85 Handicap over five furlongs.