Gargamel ready for GN Steeple

It’s been 41 years since a Southland jumper won the Great Northern Steeplechase.

Gargamel, trained at Winton by Leda Beck, will be the province’s hope in the Northern at Ellerslie on Saturday. Loch Linnhe was the last Southland winner.

The late Bill Hillis, of Riverton, trained and rode Loch Linnhe to win the 1975 Northern. The following year Loch Linnhe won again when trained by Te Rapa horsemen Jack and Bill Winder.

The eastern Southland-trained Kidunot went down by a nose in 2013 after winning the Great Northern Hurdles in 2009 for trainer Ellis Winsloe.

Gargamel arrived at trainer Wayne Hillis’ Cambridge stable on August 20 in the company of partowner Jason Spencer.

Wayne Hillis rode two Northern winners during his time as a jockey.

A leg injury in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton quashed thoughts of Gargamel starting in the Great Northern Hurdles last year.

Gargamel suffered another setback when misjudging the third last brush in the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton on May 22.

He ran second but afterwards was sore in the back and in a hind leg.

The 10-year-old gelding came right with two treatments from Christchurch horse chiropractor Tommy Behrns.

Gargamel’s game third in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on August 13 convinced Beck he was worthy of a crack at the Great Northern Steeplechase.