JENNA McRae was one of the hard luck stories of the 2009 Bathurst Gold Crown final and while the gelding will make his Bathurst return today in the heats of the three-year-old colts and geldings Gold Bracelet series, it seems that luck may work against him once more.

A member of Wagga Wagga trainer Bernie Kelly's team, Jenna McRae was rated as a $13 chance for last year's Group One Gold Crown final after a bold second in his heat.

He had drawn well in barrier four, but driver Bruce Harpley got caught three wide and Jenna McRae had to a lot more work that his rivals in the early stages of the 2009 two-year-old colts and geldings decider.

While Harpley pushed on to find the lead, the pressure told on Jenna McRae as he dropped back through the field and eventually finished 10th.

This year Jenna McRae, a Jennas Beach Boy x Lorna Kelly gelding, looks to be in career best form as he heads to Bathurst.

He has only been beaten once in five starts this season and that was second placing, his gate speed and ability to turn on the pace again in the run home making him one of the real threats for this year's Bathurst Gold Chalice for three-year-old colts and geldings.

The problem is, to reach the $40,000 final this Saturday night Jenna McRae must win his heat or be one of the fastest second placings, something which will be a challenge given the make-up of his heats.

Cuttheattitude, the horse which placed second in last year's Gold Crown final, is among Jenna McRae's rival as is Russell Jack's Plane Sailin Lombo.

Since recovering from colitis Cuttheattitude (barrier five) has found success for his Menangle trainer Felicity Gallagher. He is also the horse which Jenna McRae placed third to in last year's NSW Breeders Crown two-year-old colts and geldings final.

Plane Sailin Lombo (barrier nine) has won three of his last four starts and Jack has found success at the annual Bathurst carnival in the past, having guided Albert Terrill to the 2004 Gold Crown honours.

Jenna McRae has drawn barrier eight for his heat today, both Harpley and Kelly hoping he can emulate the efforts of McRaes Mate who won the 2006 Gold Chalice final for them.