Trentham Tips & Preview | Thursday 2 July

Saint Bernard (#1) gave a good sight last start when running 2nd here at this course and distance in the Manawatu Steeplechase, where it took a progressive jumper in Never Look Back to run him down. He looks extremely well suited dropping back into maiden steeplechase company and remaining at 4000m on a testing Heavy track. A clean jumping display should see him prove very hard to beat off that last-start effort.

Carignan (#2) comes here off a last-start 6th on the flat at Te Aroha in an amateur riders race, where he never got into the race that day. His prior effort for 3rd over the hurdles here shapes as a much better guide for this, in what was a maiden hurdle that looks stronger than what he meets here on paper. He should be better for that first hurdle effort heading here and looks the one to beat in a moderate field.

Kick On (#1) comes here off a good last-start 2nd at this course and distance in what was his hurdling debut. He should take good improvement from that experience heading here and finds himself in arguably a much softer maiden hurdle. Expecting him to roll forward from his wide draw and settle up on speed throughout again. Should take plenty of catching in this.

Roc Up Ralph (#4) has had the benefit of four runs back this campaign, the past two of those over the hurdles. While his last-start 6th in the Waikato Hurdle wasn’t overly flattering, he looks much better suited getting on to a testing Heavy surface here. He maps to follow the likely leader Billy Boy throughout, where he should be afforded every opportunity to run an improved race. Capable of better and can measure up with something near his best here.

Tolstoy (#5) comes into this second-up off a handy enough last-start effort here at this course and distance, where he fought well in the straight into 2nd. He should strip much fitter for that resuming run and looks suited by the prospect of another testing Heavy track. He maps to follow the likely leader Farravallo forward early, where he should be able to tag him throughout in the run. Should take some beating with natural improvement here.

Smug (#2) made up a significant amount of ground late in the Waikato Steeplechase last start, finishing off strongly to run a close-up 3rd. He showed good improvement off his prior fair effort for 4th in the Waikato Hunt Cup and should be better again with another run under his belt, whilst the prospect of a testing Heavy track over a longer trip should only play further into his hands. Looks the one to beat in what shapes as a competitive edition of the Wellington Steeplechase. 

So Call Me (#2) comes into this off a strong effort for 2nd in the Manawatu Steeplechase last start and should be rock hard fit with four runs under his belt this campaign. While he has to make the switch back to the flat, a testing track over a staying trip late in the day should still play into his hands. Hard to have much confidence in an amateur riders race, but he looks a leading contender in a competitive field. 

Whiskey ‘N’ Rye (#1) battled on into 8th here last start at this course and distance, though not beaten a big margin. He should be better again with that run under his belt now heading here third-up, and the prospect of a Heavy track will suit him as well as any in this field. The drop back into R65 company suits also, and he gets his chance to bounce back to form in what looks an even race on paper. 

Urenui (#4) was 273 days between runs heading into his first-up effort at Wanganui last month, where he fought on well into 4th. He should strip much fitter heading here, and stepping out over 1500m on a Heavy track is much more up his alley. Expect him to roll forward from the wide draw and take up a handy position from the outset. An honest customer who looks a key chance in an even field.