VICTORIA'S leading training combination of David Eustace and Ciaron Maher appear to have a stranglehold on the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown on Sunday, but popular Warrnambool trainer Peter Chow is hoping his jumper may provide an upset.
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Maher and Eustace saddle up favourite Saunter Boy and stablemates Wil John and Norway while Robbie's Star is Chow's representative in the jumps classic over 4200 metres.
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Chow said Saunter Boy, Wil John and Norway are the A-grade jumper performers.
"Ciaron and David appear to hold all the aces," the former star Port Fairy footballer said.
"Their runners are all top class. Robbie's Star is a B-grade jumper compared to the others but my bloke is honest.
"I'm just hoping to pick up a few crumbs. My blokes tries really hard but he's not as brilliant as the other three.
"Norway beat us by 10 lengths in the Drechsler Hurdle two weeks ago and I can't see us turning that result around.
"The toughest thing is I think Saunter Boy and Wil John may be even better then Norway so I don't have much chance."
Chow has booked young Warrnambool jumps jockey Rohan Short for the ride on Robbie's Star.
Short rode the ten-year-old last time when he ran second in the Drechsler Hurdle.
Champion jumps jockey Steve Pateman has been booked to ride Saunter Boy while Will Gordon is aboard Norway and Will McCarthy has the ride on Wil John.
Six runners will face the starter in the other jumps feature, the Crisp Steeplechase, on Sunday and three of those runners are from the Maher-Eustace stable.
Ablaze, Bit Of A Lad and Big Blue will represent Victoria's premier trainers but champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has Social Element, who is trying for his fourth consecutive steeplechase victory and may be the stumbling block in the $125,000 jumps feature.
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