Waikato trainer Gary Hennessy has warned against dismissing the chances of outsider Repete in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday.
Repete goes into one of the jumping features of the year not having won a steeplechase but Hennessy said the Senor Pete 10-year-old gelding had beenaimed at the race.
"It's been our goal all along to get him to the National," Hennessy said.
"It doesn't seem to matter whether he's racing in an open race or a maiden. He can step up."
Hennessy, who trains at Matamata, said Repete should be suited to the 5600m distance of the National.
The horse was third in New Zealand's longest flat race over 3210m at New Plymouth in 2004 and Hennessy was encouraged by his last-start third in a 4000m restricted open steeplechase at Te Rapa on July 28.
That race was won by Havana City, who will be a rival tomorrow.
Repete's last trip to Riccarton was in 2004 when he contested the Grand National Hurdles.
He fell at the penultimate fence of the 4200m event but Hennessy said the race provided a good indication of the horse's stamina because he was travelling comfortably at the time of his fall. "He was probably the only horse that wasn't off the bridle."
Repete has won two hurdle races and his placings include a second in last year's $25,000 Hawke's Bay Hurdles (3100m) at Hastings.
As a steeplechaser he has raced seven times for four seconds and two thirds. This year he has had three steeplechase starts and been placed in each of them.
* The days of a jockey having two agents could be numbered, says chief stipendiary steward Cameron George.
George was not impressed at the farcical situation in which a tug-of-war for the services of Chris Johnson in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton on Thursday bizarrely ended with top flat jockey Michael Walker having his first jumps ride in the race.
The connections of Striking and Dan Moran both claimed they had engaged Johnson and the matter went before a Judicial Control Authority panel prior to the opening race on Thursday.
George said if Johnson had had only one agent the situation would most likely have been avoided.
