Racing: Plenty of hurdles in the way

Paul Nelson has always been pragmatic.

He wasn't counting the dollars for No Hero before the Waikato Steeplechase and he's pretty relieved now he didn't.

The country's glamour 'chaser didn't get past the first fence at Te Rapa and Nelson is a long way from making room at home for the winning trophy for tomorrow's $40,000 M & D Small Hawkes Bay Steeplechase.

Apart from the fences that Nelson has a renewed respect for after Te Rapa, No Hero has to lump clear topweight of 68.5kg around in the 4800m event.

And, more significant, he has to concede 4kg to the horse that will almost certainly take over his No 1 mantle when he retires - Primo Canera.

Anyone who watched Primo Canera demolish the opposition at Ellerslie on June 5 will be in no doubt he is the horse to beat in any jumping race he tackles from this point.

The 4kg weight differential make this a fascinating race.

Hardly anyone could remember the last time No Hero had been beaten in a steeplechase when he made a totally uncharacteristic mistake at Te Rapa.

He was simply too good for the opposition in this race last year and Nelson is in no doubt the dashing grey is at least as well this time, despite a badly interrupted campaign.

No Hero has never had a proper hurdling career, but to have him fit enough for this race Nelson was committed to giving the horse a hurdling start at Wanganui on June 22.

The Hawkes Bay trainer was delighted that in finishing third, No Hero recorded his first placing over hurdles in five starts.

"That hurdle race has probably done a good job on him," said Nelson.

Nelson has long thought about running No Hero in the rich Cheltenham Gold Cup in England next March.

Because he considered taking him to the UK late this year to give him time to acclimatise, he was planning on spelling the horse after tomorrow's race.

He has now been convinced to arrive in England no more than four weeks before the race and as a result the Wellington Steeplechase and Riccarton's Grand National are back on the table.

But only if the tracks suit.

"Because of the weights he's carrying, I don't want to run him around on a bog track, which make the Wellington Steeples a question mark at the moment.

"However, the tracks down this way are drying and the footing might be okay."

Nelson is delighted that the Hastings track has firmed up a little this week. "It's gone from 4.6 at nominations to 4.3 at acceptances, and the better ground is going to make it easier on him with his weight."

No Hero has won three of his five starts at Hastings and Primo Canera will be tackling the Hawkes Bay country for the first time.

But the Ann Browne-trained jumper is an accomplished leaper and should not be inconvenienced.

His athleticism is remarkable given that he has one of the worst roach backs you'd see on a racehorse.

His jumping is absolutely effortless and he gets away from a fence without affecting his momentum.

That style makes any horse difficult to manage at Hastings.

Nelson is much less confident he can win the $25,000 Pacemakers Hawkes Bay Hurdles with topweight Just A Swagger.

The rising nine-year-old has not had a jumping start since finishing unplaced in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton last August and he missed a vital lead-up when his planned hurdles start at Awapuni was washed away by abandonment.

"He will almost certainly improve with this race - you can do as much as you like running around on the flat, but there is no replacement for a good, tough jumping start.

"The other significant factor is the track. He would appreciate a wetter track than he is going to strike. I think he'll be a lot harder to beat in the Wellington Hurdles."

* * *

New Zealand TAB fixed-odds markets were yesterday at the following prices:-

* Hawke's Bay Stpls, $40,000, opn stp, 4800m (run at Hastings tomorrow): $1.70 No Hero; $3 Primo Canera; $12 Tokiocity; $15 Ultimate Game; $17 Havana City; $18 Cuchulainn; $22 The Mussel Man; $35 Jolly Sir, Garaina.

* Hawke's Bay Hdls, $25,000, opn hdl, 3100m (run at Hastings tomorrow): $2.85 Yourtheman; $6.50 Gallant Son; $8 Waikiki Prince; $9 Poacher; $11 Peron, Royal Kiwi, Mr Barrymore, Just A Swagger; $15 Pepperjack, Centevfoaled; $20 Repete.