It has been a long haul for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham to get talented mare Alcancia back to the racetrack.

The five-year-old resumes in the John Carlton Cup (1206m) at Grafton on Thursday after a year on the sidelines.

Alcancia, who began her career with Graham and won the 2YO event at the Scone carnival in 2011, is back in her original trainer's care after a stint with Brisbane's Barry Lockwood.

Graham admits she considered retiring Alcancia before deciding to give the mare one last fling at racing.

Feet separation and wear and tear on the mare's joints have been her major problems.

Alcancia, the winner of six from 24 starts and more than $240,000 prize money, had a barrier trial on her home track on June 27 to ready her for the John Carlton Cup.

"I probably would have liked to trial her again but it wasn't to be," Graham said.

"She needs to race somewhere and hopefully she's fit enough to go well.

"I was happy with her trial but I'm just worried she might be a little fat still. She's a good doer just like me."

The other feature race on the opening day of the July racing carnival, the Grafton Cup Prelude (2200m), is low on numbers but with the likes of Phrases and Mullet Man engaged it should provide a good spectacle.

Tamworth trainer Leon Davies believes a big drop in class will aid former Grafton Guineas winner Kurtley.

Davies is convinced Kurtley, who has run at Scone and Rosehill twice at his past three runs, will stay.

"He's been crying out for a longer distance," Davies said.

"I've run him in Sydney because there hasn't been anything suitable in the country. I've been trying to get some kilometres into his legs."

A win for Kurtley would guarantee a start in next Thursday's $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m).