Trainer Patrick Payne has already prepared the winners of some of the richest jumps races this year and is a strong chance to cap his season at Sandown on Sunday.
Payne has Sea King and Krase in the $250,000 Grand National Steeplechase while Fieldmaster is favourite for the $100,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle.
The two events also bring to a close the 2014 JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship which comprises 16 feature jumps races in South Australia and Victoria and recognises the horse, trainer and jockey who have compiled the most points during the series.
Payne trails series leader Darren Weir by six in the trainers’ category.
But Weir, trainer of series winner Gotta Take Care, is not represented in either of the two jumps races on Sunday.
Payne has prepared the winners of the Great Eastern Steeplechase (Lord Of The Song), Grand Annual Steeplechase (Chaparro), Australian Steeplechase (Krase), Kevin Lafferty Hurdle and Grand National Hurdle (Sea King) in 2014.
Sea King is Payne’s leading chance to add the Grand National Steeplechase, but he will be up against two-time winner Bashboy.
“He is going to the races in fantastic order,” Payne said of Sea King.
Bashboy’s rider Steven Pateman has topped the jockeys’ standings in the JJ Houlahan Championship the past three years but trails Brad McLean by six points this year.
Pateman does not have a ride in the hurdle on Sunday while McLean will ride Maythehorsebemagic in the Grand National and Cats Fun in the JJ Houlahan Hurdle.
Payne is not conceding the Grand National to Bashboy with Sea King, while he believes Fieldmaster will be hard to beat on the 64kg limit.
Fieldmaster was run down by Gotta Take Care in the Australian Hurdle on May 31 at his most recent start.
“He’s well-weighted and providing he has good luck I think he will run a terrific race,” Payne said.
