Iain Hyndman's Riccarton Tips
1: The Huntsman, Blues Breaker, Point Proven
2: Bully Boy, Midnite Kaos, Quaff
3: Fire Lily, Manhattan Street, Kensington
4: The Man, Smiling Assassin, What's Up Alf
5: Miss Brahmos, Way Too Easy, On Point
6: Wise Men Say, Notabadrooster, Chocolate Fish
7: He Kin Fly, Salamanca, Finbarr
8: Middagurd, Rock Island Line, Taponiseme
9: Dez, Platinum Command, Elfee
10: She's Fun, Magic Ivan, Mamma Sans
Best Bet: Middagurd (R8)

By Iain Hyndman
Whanganui trainer Raymond Connors will be chasing another rare treble when he saddles up Wise Men Say in the Racecource Hotel 144th Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Great Northern, Wellington and Grand National treble has not been achieved since another absolute superstar Brookby Song did it in 1948. Wise Men Say's race rival

Amanood Lad is also in line to repeat the rare treble, according to New Zealand jumps statistician Chris McQuad.

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Connors, of course, is no stranger to rare trebles. He achieved the notable feat with his grand old jumper Hypnotize, who won three Great Northern Steeplechases and earlier this year won with all three stable runners entered at his hometown meeting in Whanganui.

And canny punters would be wise to listen to sage advice.

Connors has often said the further the race and the wetter the track is just what Wise Men Say needs.

He was totally unsuited to the 4250m of the Koral Steeplechase on a slow 9 Riccarton surface last weekend lumping 72kg.

He drops 1kg to 71kg for Saturday's assignment over 5600m on an expected heavy track after rain during the week. The weight should not be a problem. He carried 70kg to win the Wellington Steeple on a heavy 11 track beating race rival Chocolate Fish by 3L.

Amanood Lad won last week's Koral by default after Notabadrooster had the race blown to bits before falling at the last fence. He must be an enormous threat again as well as Chocolate Fish who finished second last week.

Connors will also back up with Magic Ivan in the final event on Sturday, a Rating 65 race over 2000m. He was seen running home strongly in the amateur event on Wednesday suggesting he will be a serious contender on Saturday. Connors won with maidener Hurry Cane on Wednesday.