If No Impediment (Unencumbered-Mearesy, by Snitzel) can win the Fred Hood Conditional Handicap over 1200m today at Kembla Grange, it'll be a hat trick of wins for the 5YO gelding who almost died before he raced, according to racingnsw.com.au. "He needed a throat operation to help his breathing but the first one didn't work," said trainer Amanda Turner. "You don't normally do it again but I said he's worth it. The second one worked but unfortunately he got an abscess, and got very sick and almost died. We had to get the vet to come out on a Sunday because I told them he needs to be lanced and he was at the point where he couldn't travel. They had to keep an eye on him for the next couple of days." Luckily he did recover, and he proved Turner's faith right when he won on debut in September 2020 over 1000m. So far, all of No Impediment's six starts for three wins and two placings have been over 1000m, and he goes up in trip today. "I think he will run it out," Turner said. "I was concerned the other day at Goulburn, things didn't go his way but he won well. I think the extra furlong should suit him nicely when he can be more comfortable in transit but it will depend on his throat. We've had to take it slowly with him but I think that's been the right thing to do and he's ready now." No Impediment was sold twice, first as a weanling for $45,000, then on-sold as a yearling at the Inglis Classic Sale for $75,000.