Dour stayer Gargamel is much better-equipped this year to make more of an impression in Wednesday’s Grand National Hurdles.
The eight-year-old ran fourth behind Mahanadi in the Hospitality NZ-sponsored feature 12 months ago and part-owner and trainer Leda Beck said the gelding was one contender who would relish next week’s 4200 metre trip.
“Last year was a stepping stone and this time he’s got more experience and he will go the distance. He’s always been looking for more ground, but he’s taken a while to mature.”
Gargamel will top off his Grand National preparation in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Sydenham Hurdles, in which he will again be ridden by Alan Browne.
They have proved to be a formidable combination this preparation with wins at Timaru and at Riverton where he beat Supercharged in the Great Western Hurdles. In between times, they have placed at Riverton and twice at Wingatui.
Gargamel has an interesting past on the flat and was a winner over 2000 metres on debut with his only other success coming in the open grade over 2500 metres in the Invercargill Gold Cup.
“He’s not very quick and the further he goes the better he is and the tracks don’t worry him too much,” Beck said.
Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers has, as usual, big numbers at Christchurch for the carnival and he will be represented by the in-form duo of Prestigiosa and Sonny Ben in the Sydenham.
The former was an impressive winner three runs back and then closed strongly at Awapuni behind stablemate Get Flash while Sonny Ben got the job done in good style last time out at Hastings.
Myers also has the accomplished Palemo in the Koral Steeples as a forerunner to a Grand National Steeplechase start while among his flat team is the well-performed Scapolo.
Already the winner of the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and the Listed Great Easter Stakes on the course, he will make a fresh start in Saturday’s Millennium Hotels & Resorts Premier Sprint.
