Rule, who is among a group of owners including Martin Kavanagh and south-west politician Dan Tehan in Wells, said the tough jumper may line up for an unprecedented attempt at a fourth victory in the race next year.

“His win in the National on Sunday was the best of his three wins in the race,” Rule said.

“Wells had to lump 71.5kg on a heavy 10 rated track.

“It was an incredible effort by a very tough horse.

“I’ve got to give credit to Kathryn and Craig Durden – they  have done an amazing job training Wells to win his third National.

“It was also a great ride by Richard Cully.”

Rule said it was up to Kathryn to formulate a plan for Wells to win a a record-breaking fourth Grand National Steeplechase.

“We’ll leave it all up to Kathryn about getting Wells ready for next year,” he said.

“Kathryn and Craig really understand Wells.

“It’ll be up to them to work out a program to get Wells into the National next year. Our biggest worry will be what weight the handicapper gives him for the race.”

Wells joined Bashboy as the only horses to have won the National on three occasions.

Meanwhile, Rule – who is also in the ownership of unplaced National runners Dormello Mo and I’ll’ava’alf – said they were no match for Wells.

“I think we’ve learnt that Dormello Mo might not run the 4500 metres and I’ll’ava’alf was disappointing,” he said.

“The performance of I’ll’ava’alf shows how hard it is to run in a Warrnambool Grand Annual and a Grand National in the one year.

“I’ll’ava’alf had two preparations preparing for those races and it appears he just never came up after his Annual run.”

Wells took his career stake earnings to more than $920,000 with his third victory in the Grand National Steeplechase.

WARRNAMBOOL trainer Patrick Ryan heads overseas early next month in an attempt to boost numbers in his stable with international gallopers.

Ryan will attend the two day Horses-In-Training sales at Doncaster, England on September 5 and 6.

“I’ll be there for the two days of the sales,” the Warrnambool Cup-winning trainer said.

“I’ve got a stable client who is keen for me to have a look at the sales. I would like to think we may make a couple of purchases.

“I’ll also be catching up with David Ryan (brother of Irish jumps jockey Tom Ryan) and we’ll be visiting various studs and stables in England and Ireland. The trip is a great opportunity to set up some contacts.”

Ryan trained Video Star to win the 2008 Warrnambool Cup.

TWO Hats gave Warrnambool jumps jockey Braidon Small his biggest race win, and a belated birthday present, when he won the Houlahan Hurdle at Ballarat on Sunday.

Small, who celebrated his 26th birthday on July 30, said he was grateful to local trainers for the support they’ve offered him over the last five years.

“It was a big win by Two Hats,” he said.

“He’s a very talented jumper.

“I’ve got to thank Aaron Purcell for giving me the chance to ride Two Hats.

“I do a lot of work for his stable and I appreciate their support. 

“I’ve only been riding over jumps for five years.

“And this year has been my best.

“Local trainers including Quinton Scott, Simon Ryan and Jarrod McLean have all been really supportive.

“I’ve been riding better jumpers this year – that’s why I’ve been going so well.”

Small, who will be heading home to Queensland for a month’s break in October, has ridden 18 winners in his career. He still claims 1.5kg in jumps races until he rides 20 winners.

Meanwhile. Purcell is prepared to forget the unplaced run of his mare Written Era at Caulfield on Saturday.

Written Era finished in seventh spot, more than two lengths behind Sullivan Bay, in a $100,000 race over 1100 metres.

“Written Era missed the start slightly,” Purcell said.

“She was not really suited to dropping back to 1100 metres after winning over 1200 metres last time.

“But we needed to give her a run, as we’re going to run in the $150,000 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on September 2. She really needed the run.

“I’m just prepared to forget her performance because the pattern of the race was against her.”

Written Era has won five of her 13 starts.

VETERAN jumper Mannertone will be freshened up and may run in the steeplechase at Coleraine next month after failing to finish the course in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat.

Trainer Anne McGrath said Mannertone will have a brief break in the paddock before she decides if the nine-year-old continues in this campaign.

“He’s in the paddock,” McGrath said.

“We’ll leave him there for a week or so and see how he is. Mannertone will tell us if he’s right to finish off the jumps season.

“The biggest problem is he will get big weights in lesser class jumps races.”

Mannertone has won more than $220,000 in stakemoney over jumps.