An interrupted preparation has trainer James Fraser more hopeful than confident heading into the Wagga Town Plate with Dr Nipandtuck.The seven-year-old stakeswinner was due to have his first-up run in the Town Plate Prelude last month over the same 1200m as Thursday's Town Plate.But those plans were put on hold when the gelding caught a virus the week before that race.The setback has Fraser unsure just how well Dr Nipandtuck will perform first-up in the $60,000 feature on the first of the two-da

An interrupted preparation has trainer James Fraser more hopeful than confident heading into the Wagga Town Plate with Dr Nipandtuck.

The seven-year-old stakeswinner was due to have his first-up run in the Town Plate Prelude last month over the same 1200m as Thursday's Town Plate.

But those plans were put on hold when the gelding caught a virus the week before that race.

The setback has Fraser unsure just how well Dr Nipandtuck will perform first-up in the $60,000 feature on the first of the two-day Wagga Gold Cup carnival.

"He seems well in himself but he's a bit older now and I just intended to give him one start before the Town Plate," Fraser said.

"He came good the day before the Town Plate Prelude but he was crook from seven days before the race until the day before. He had a temperature."

Fraser said the gelding never stopped eating but he was unable to work him which put him behind the eight-ball going into Thursday's race.

"I'm a little unsure how well he'll go," he said.

"He did win a (900m) jumpout at Wangaratta last week, but you would expect him to do that.

"I would have liked him to have had a run under his belt going into this race, but I'm hoping he can still run well."

Dr Nipandtuck was given 54kg for the Town Plate with topweight News Alert getting 61kg.

The rest of the 16-horse field will be on the 53kg minimum.

Dr Nipandtuck has a decent first-up record of a win and two placings from five attempts.

Last preparation he was beaten only two lengths by Secret Flyer first-up over 1000m at Moonee Valley.

"Other times I have favoured him first-up, and I still wouldn't be surprised if he won, but it's a bit of a guessing game this time," Fraser said.

"He's got to kick off somewhere though. He's hopefully got a long winter ahead of him, and any rain around would help him."

Dr Nipandtuck will be ridden by Sydney-based Blake Shinn while topweight and favourite News Alert will be piloted by Hugh Bowman.

News Alert resumes in the Town Plate after claiming the Listed Canterbury Stakes (1100m) under lights in January at his most recent start when he defeated Pinwheel.

He is being aimed at the Brisbane winter carnival.