In what will be a strange Warrnambool carnival this week, COVID-19 social distancing rules mean the show will go on without a crowd on course.

Getting together with connections and stable staff afterwards is also out of the question.

Usually a three-day festival of jumps and flat racing, the carnival has been trimmed to two meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"It will be a shame to have (the carnival) without the crowd. That's part and parcel of the Warrnambool carnival, but at least we are keeping it going in some form or another," Cumani said.

Cumani has Declares War accepted for the Warrnambool Cup on Wednesday and is pleased with how the horse heads to the race.

"He mapped really well in the early stages of this preparation and looked like a win was around the corner," he said.

"He's had a bit of bad luck possibly with some bad barriers and is possibly looking for that extra distance now - he's starting to look a bit more dour.

"So I'm hoping that the Cup distance (2350m) will help him and it looks like we won't get too heavy of a track - which is unusual for Warrnambool - and while it is always a tough race, it looks like one he fits in nicely."

Cumani originally bought the horse at the sales but was forced to offload him to fellow trainer Darren Weir when he couldn't sell all the shares in him. Following Weir's suspension, Declares War returned to Cumani and began racing for the stable early last year.

He's won once for Cumani, with his career record standing at four victories from 15 career starts.

On Wednesday, he will be ridden by top jockey Craig Williams.

Ciaron Maher has won the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase four times but it will have added meaning if he can train the winner on Tuesday.

Maher, who has stables in Miners Rest near Cumani, has taken all the accolades in the past but this time hopes to share the limelight with fellow trainer David Eustace.

Eustace came onboard more than two years ago and the Englishman complemented Maher's stable with a different skill set.

Novice jumper Ablaze and Bit Of A Lad represent the powerful yard in this year's race.

Maher acknowledged the hard work of his Ballarat staff who have prepared both horses for the 5500m race.

"I'm really happy with Ablaze and Bit Of A Lad going into the race," Maher said.

"It's really hard for me to split both horses. Ablaze and Bit Of A Lad are trained at our Ballarat stables.

"The staff there have done a magnificent job, in particular I've got to mention my brother Declan. He's done an outstanding job."

Zed Em is going for back-to-back wins in the Annual while Gold Medals won the race in 2018.