Captains Run split his more fancied rivals Jesko and West Coast in last week’s Koral Steeplechase (4250m) at Riccarton, and trainer Dan O’Leary is hoping he can go one better in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m).
The 10-year-old gelding led the field into the home straight in last week’s feature, and he looked to have his rivals in plenty of trouble until Jesko drew level when jumping the final fence, and he continued his momentum to score by three lengths over the Marton jumper.
O’Leary was thrilled with Captains Run’s performance, and he said his gelding has thrived in the interim.
“We were rapt, it was a really good run,” he said. “He has come through the run very well and he has worked well this week. I think he has taken a lot of improvement out of that race. I think he is in really good order.”
Captains Run has been a model of consistency over the bigger fences, winning one and placing in 10 of his 13 Steeplechase starts, including back-to-back runner-up performances in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) and finishing third in last year’s Grand National Steeplechase.
However, a prestige jumps title has remained elusive, something O’Leary is looking to rectify this weekend.
Captains Run will be joined in Saturday’s showpiece by stablemate Te Kahu, who finished fifth in the Koral Steeplechase.
It was the 12-year-old gelding’s first steeplechase test this year and O’Leary said he has taken immense benefit from the run.
“In the first steeplechase (this preparation) he over raced slightly,” O’Leary said. “He has improved a lot as well this week, but he has a lot of ground to make up to be competitive.”
Te Kahu has a strong jumping CV, having won four races over the bigger fences, including the Great Northern Steeplechase (6200m) and Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), and placed in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) and both of his starts in Australia – the Mosstrooper Steeplechase (3500m) and WC and AC Miller Steeplechase (3800m).
Captains Run is currently the third elect with TAB bookmakers for the Grand National Steeplechase at $7.50, behind Jesko ($1.65) and West Coast ($3.50), while Te Kahu is rated a $17 winning chance.