Ballarat trainer Declan Maher has Ascot Red and Newbury lining up against three rivals in the $30,000 benchmark 125 steeplechase over 3450 metres.

Maher told The Standard Ascot Red and Newbury were on track to be his Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase runners on May 6.

"The Grand Annual is the grand final for both my horses," he said.

"I'm really happy how they have been performing.

"They schooled well over the jumps at Warrnambool last Friday.

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"I was thinking of running Ascot Red in the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool back in December but I just gave him a short break with this race in mind.

"Ascot Red will have his next start in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank on Easter Saturday and then into the Grand Annual."

Maher, who is stable foreman for his brother Ciaron and David Eustace at Ballarat, said Newbury was a more seasoned jumper this year.

"Newbury has had a long preparation leading into this jumps season," he said.

"I'm very happy with him. He's just taken a bit of time to learn about the jumping caper. His best efforts have been on good tracks. He seems to struggle on wet tracks."

Top jumps trainer Eric Musgrove has six of the 19 jumpers running in the three jumps races.

Musgrove saddles up Lucques and Zatagilo in the steeplechase while Goodwood Zodiac and Coleridge are his open hurdle runners.

Cheners and Creative Harmony represent his stable in the maiden hurdle.

The restricted steeplechase which starts at 12.25pm is the opening race on the eight-event program.

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