Birchwood Run On Target For Riccarton
- Tuesday, 04 August 2009 00:00
Jockey Jo Rathbone is confident Birchwood Run has the right attributes for Wednesday's Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton.
Birchwood Run has been a revelation this season, winning three of his four jumping races and also running a strong second to Conquistador in the Foxton Cup (2200m).
Bookmakers have installed him the $NZ4.50 ($A3.58) favourite for the 120th running of the Grand National and Rathbone says the 4200m of the race should hold no fears for him.
"He settles very well and is a brilliant jumper and makes a lot of ground over his fences," Rathbone said.
"The fact that he can settle so well means he can get the trip, because he doesn't waste too much energy by trying to go too hard.
"He has a good turn of foot when he needs it."
After winning a restricted 3100m open hurdle at Hastings on May 21, Birchwood Run ran his second on the flat before a five-length win in Manawatu Hurdle (2900m) on June 13 and a second to Bennyosler in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles (3100m) on June 27.
Foxton trainers Christine Eagle and Michael Seymour then gave the eight-year-old Istidaad gelding his first steeplechase start and he obliged by easily winning the 4200m event at Oamaru on July 17.
The idea was twofold - to give him a chance to show his ability at the same distance as the Grand National, albeit over bigger fences, and to avoid gaining a heavier weight handicap over the hurdles.
As it is, Birchwood Run shares second topweight of 65.6kg with High Season and Arrastra on Wednesday, with Pasco having to shoulder an onerous 68kg.
Rathbone, who last week was confirmed as the 2008-09 season jumps' jockey champion, says she rated Birchwood Run a good chance of success on Wednesday, but was keeping her confidence levels in check.
"You can't afford to get too confident - there are plenty of other good horses in the race and plenty of hurdles to be jumped," she said.
Among the rivals are up-and-coming lightweight Rioch, backed in to $6 second favouritism on Tuesday, while High Season $NZ7 ($A5.57) is well prepared and ran a good race for second in the Sydenham Hurdles behind Mr Charlton last Saturday.
Rathbone rode Wolf Pack into fifth place in that race and rates him a strong chance on Wednesday.
"We got held a bit the other day and he went well in the National last year," she said.
Wolf Pack ran eight lengths second to Just Not Cricket in the race last year with Arreviderci a length away third.
Top Melbourne jockeys Craig Durden and Steve Pateman ride Wolf Pack and Arreviderci respectively on Wednesday.
Wolf Pack and Pasco are $NZ9 ($A7.16) chances on the TAB fixed odds book, while Arreviderci, Mr Charlton and Solid Steal are rated at $NZ10 ($A7.95).
