Only Feathers should prove a tough nut to crack today when he contests the $15,000 Darwin Airport Resort Adelaide River Cup.

Stephen Brown's six-year-old faces five rivals in the 1700m country Cup, the feature event at the first of two meetings at Adelaide River.

He has been in consistent form, with second placings at his past two starts, including the Katherine Cup.

Only Feathers also has winning grass track form from earlier in his career in Queensland. This test should hold no fears for him. Leading Top End rider Scott Hillebrand takes the mount. Hardest to beat should be topweight Spakatak, a last-start winner of the Tennant Creek Cup on May 14, while Noble Connection, third in the Katherine Cup, Only Feathers' stablemate The Slew, 2009 winner Calabisca and Rafa, who finished tailed off last time in the Alice Springs Cup but is clearly better than that, complete the line-up.

The seven-race card has attracted some good even fields, with the Thirsty Camel Handicap (0-69 1200m) one of those.

Glasgow Jim, who showed some excellent form last campaign, is resuming but no doubt will sprint well fresh.

Costlyev is another having his first start back from a spell in the Fawcett Cattle Company Handicap (0-69 1000m).

As with Glasgow Jim, he is trained by Gary Clarke, but faces an awkward re-introduction from the outside barrier.

Consistent Pick Of The Lot, speedy Thumb Prints, Flying Face and Supason are others who look capable of figuring in the finish.

The first race of what looks a great day's racing gets under way at 1.02pm, with the Cup at 4.48pm.

Story courtesy of NT News, by Andrew O'Toole