Grand National looks Wise choice
‘Wherever he goes the weight is going to be the worry’
Raymond Connors is likely to forgo the defence of a prestige event title with Wise Men Say in favour of chasing a southern feature. The Whanganui trainer, who races the top jumper with his father Marc, produced the Yamanin Vital gelding to win last year’s Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) but the Racecourse Hotel & Motel Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) is this winter’s preferred option.
“I’m pretty keen to go down there,” Connors said. “I’ll see how he is in the next week and as long as he’s sound that looks the way to go.
“Wherever he goes the weight is going to be the worry though.”
Wise Men Say showed he was in great touch for the Riccarton venture when he triumphed in the Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Ridden by Isaac Lupton, Wise Men Say kept the leader Venerate within his sights and was left alone out in front when the Harvey Wilsontrained hope came to grief about 1000m from home.
Wise Men Say had control from that point and stayed on strongly to score by three lengths from Chocolate Fish, also on a path toward the Grand National, and the defending champion Amanood Lad was eight lengths back in third.
Meanwhile, Zedeedudadeeko’s return to form at Trentham may force part-owner and trainer Jamie Phillips
to change tack. The nine-year-old bounced back to his best on Saturday with an upset victory in the Wellington Hurdle (3400m).
“I was thinking it was time to say
that’s enough and he can go steeplechasing, but I have to think about that again now,” Phillips said.
Zedeedudadeeko was back in the early running before rider Charlie
Studd made a move with a lap to go.
They improved to sit outside the leader The Shackler before hitting the front three from home and then safely jumped the final two fences.
Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m) winner Game Percy fought on gallantly for second with Kipkeino third. Last year’s winner, The Shackler, finished sixth.