Rarely can it be said that a horse finishing 13th in a feature race was a much better effort than it appeared.

However, that was the case with Snoopy's 13th in last month's Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.

Snoopy was on the pace for much of the race before being checked out of the contest in the final 100m, finishing three lengths from the winner Havasay.

Trainer Chris Munce is not saying Snoopy would have won but 13th was not a fair indication of the gelding's effort.

“A rider got time for the interference but to be fair I think Snoopy had nearly had enough by that stage,” Munce said.

“He should have finished closer – but win I don't know.”

“I felt before the race we might have run out of time to get him ready first-up. But all in all it was a handy run.”

Munce said Snoopy would be fitter for the Tim Bell Memorial Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.

“It is going up be an interesting race because there is so much pace in it. There are a couple of real flyers in it and I don't want to get into a speed battle.”

Sean Cormack, who has been doing a lot of riding for Munce, will take over from apprentice Michael Murphy on Snoopy.

Munce admits he is in uncharted territory with Stampe who is topweight in the River Junction Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m).

“He ran fast time winning at the Gold Coast last start and he is honest. The only question is the 1350 metres but he should run it out,” Munce said.

“He has been one of our better two-year-olds and should train on at three.”