Andertons on weight watch with National winner

Brian and Shane Anderton will be treading a quieter path toward the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton with their reigning champion High Forty.

The Wingatui trainers are mindful of the rising 10-year-old’s place in the weights after he was successful under 69.5kg last winter.

“The handicapper’s got him so we have to keep him over hurdles until Christchurch,” Brian Anderton said.

“We want to keep him going a bit longer this time as well and hopefully have a go at the Great Northern.”

High Forty has placed in all three of his jumping starts this campaign and he will further his preparation in the Noel Welsh Memorial Hurdles at his home Otago meeting on Thursday.

“He’s going really well and we’re happy with him, we just need to get the racing into him now,” Anderton said.

The father and son team will also be represented in the 2750 metre contest by Gold Leaf.

“He’s going well and he’s going to make a better steeplechaser,” Anderton said.

Gold Leaf won four races on the flat before he was sent over hurdles and following his novice victory on the track earlier this month he finished runner-up behind the Kevin Myers-trained Mailly at Timaru.

Anderton said Gold Leaf was heading toward the feature Riccarton meeting, but whether he steps out in the National is yet to be decided.

“In their first year I’ve always thought that to be a bit ambitious, but we’ll see how he goes in his next couple of races,” Anderton said.

The stable also has a number of strong flat chances on Thursday, included among them the easy last-start winner Patrick Erin (race seven) and the genuine Avow (race eight).