The race, which had been run over 4000 metres at Flemington since 1979 in honour of the great Australian jumper Crisp, is to be held at Warrnambool for the first time tomorrow over 3800 metres.

Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Marg Lucas yesterday revealed the steeplechase, which had been scheduled to be run over 4150 metres, was reduced because of an issue with how it was to be started.

Lucas said the club had intended to start the race half-way up the Brierly paddock with a strand start.

But that had been vetoed by racing authorities, meaning the race would now start on the course in the back straight and only include horses negotiating the Tozer Road double once instead of twice.

"We had notified Racing Victoria there would be a strand start but it obviously slipped through the net a bit and became a bit of an issue last week," she said.

"Apparently a rule came in at some point this season that you can't have strand starts. We have been using strand starts for the trials.

"But we can't get the stalls into the paddock, obviously it is winter. It's disappointing."

One person disappointed with the reduced distance is Brett Scott, who will ride the John Wheeler-trained Mali Juraj, which was second in May's Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) over the Warrnambool course.

Scott said his mount would have appreciated the extra ground and had only been kept in Australia for the race because of the favourable distance and course.

He said the late change to the distance was not ideal.

"We'll just hope we get plenty of rain," he said as he looked for positives.

Winslow trainer Ciaron Maher was another disappointed at the change.

He said Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Al Garhood would have been better suited by the 4150-metre journey but "you play the hand you are dealt".

Lucas said the club had looked at extending the race distance but it was felt that could have been tough on the horses, with many using the race as a lead up to the season's grand final, the Grand National Steeplechase (4530m) at Sandown in two weeks.

"It wasn't our decision," she said.

The Crisp Steeplechase was moved away from Flemington this year after Racing Victoria Limited decided to limit jumps racing to specialist courses for this season in a bid to make the sport safer.

Lucas is hoping the club will attract a big crowd for tomorrow's seven-race Super Sunday card, which includes three jumps races.