Pateman had the pick of the highly-fancied pair of Eric Musgrove-trained Urban Explorer or Patrick Payne’s favourite Fieldmaster, but in the end the decision was taken away from him.

“I wanted to ride Fieldmaster originally in the Galleywood but Patrick said he was not going to run the horse, so I took the ride on Urban Explorer last Thursday,” Pateman said.

“I schooled Fieldmaster over hurdles at Cranbourne last Friday and he went super. Patrick changed his mind after the school, saying he would run the horse in the Galleywood.”

That prompted Pateman to change his mind, so he sought a release from riding Urban Explorer. But late on Monday stewards ruled Pateman had to honour his commitment to Urban Explorer.

Now the champion jumps jockey is hoping for a wet track. “Urban Explorer’s chances in the race will be improved if we have plenty of rain,” he said.

Pateman’s ability to pick a good ride is matched by his skills in the saddle. He has dominated the country’s feature jumps races in recent years and the TAB May Racing Carnival, at which he has ridden 11 winners in the past six years, including five in 2012.

He won back-to-back Galleywood Hurdles in 2012 and 2013 and would love another today. Urban Explorer, a $4.20 chance with the TAB in fixed odds yesterday, heads Musgrove’s two-horse attack on the race, with $51 chance Above Average his other.

Defending champion, the Darren Weir-trained Gotta Take Care, is a sentimental favourite, aiming to become just the second horse to win consecutive Galleywoods in the race’s 20-year history. He was on the third line of betting at $4.60 behind Fieldmaster and Urban Explorer.

Veteran New Zealand trainer John Wheeler is looking to complete his career grand slam of feature jumps at the carnival, having never won the Galleywood. He saddles up Wai No P’roni. 

“He’s the new kid on the block,” Wheeler said.

“He’s a young jumper who showed promise last year. He’s a progressive type. I thought his two runs at Oakbank last month were very good.

“He’s trained on well since Oakbank. I think he’ll be competitive but it looks like a good race on paper.”

Wheeler said his charge’s long-term aim was steeplechasing. “I’m sure he will be even better when he goes over the fences,” Wheeler said.

Six-time Galleywood-winning trainer Robert Smerdon has the lightly-raced Arch Fire in the field but said connections had to choose between the Galleywood and tomorrow’s Warrnambool Cup.

“I would say the weather could play a part. If we have a lot of rain, it might be the cup because he loves the wet,” Smerdon said.