Wells has shown he is on target to win a fourth Grand National Steeplechase with his victory at Bendigo
Leading jumper Wells has shown he is on target to win a fourth Grand National Steeplechase with his victory at Bendigo.
The Kathryn Durden-trained jumper is set to run in the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on August 5 before the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat a fortnight later following his Mosstrooper Steeplechase win on Sunday.
Wells has recorded wins in the Grand National Steeplechase in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Durden said everything had gone to plan on Sunday and more importantly Wells had pulled up well from his victory on a surface rated good.
“He’s had a really smooth preparation and done everything asked of him,” Durden told RSN927.
“He’s really well and bright and doing everything and we were really confident going into the race.”
The Bendigo meeting started the day in the slow range before being upgraded to a good 4 after three races resulting in a number of late scratchings.
A total of 54 runners contested the six jumps races with 20 competitors failing to complete the course.
Durden said the best surface for jumping was a minimum of a soft 5.
“It was a bad day for jumping, absolutely, but all the measures are put in place,” Durden said.
“Maybe with the track coming up like it was that is something that can be looked at in the future and make sure there is that give in the ground.”
Jockey Lee Horner, who suffered concussion and a fractured wrist in a fall from the Durden-trained King Kamada, said the track was riding quick.
“The first couple of races, especially with inexperienced horses, they cantered around and then really got cooking from the fourth last and I think that’s why the incidents occurred,” Horner said.
“I don’t know why it couldn’t have been wetter.
“It was an all jumps day so no-one would have complained if it was an (heavy) eight, nine or 10.”
