The feature on Victoria’s jumps race calendar, the A$250,000 event drew just five starters to contest the 4,500 metre event over 17 fences.

Sent off at just over even-money, the Ciaron Maher-trained Bashboy was attempting to win the Grand National Steeple for the third consecutive year, a feat never achieved in the 150-year history of the race.

Having his say though was the handicapper. Allocated 74.5kgs, Bashboy needed to carry the biggest winning burden since the mare, Pedro Pride’s triumphed in 1957 with the equivalent of 75.5kgs.

Wells was in receipt of 9kgs from the favourite, but it almost came to nothing as the Galileo gelding crashed through the second, his nose grazing the turf as Allen kept himself balanced and allowed his mount to recover his feet.

“He’s a soft-mouthed horse and can tend to start off a bit keen, so it was probably a blessing in disguise as the mistake got him to focus his concentration for the rest of the race,” said Allen. “After that he jumped just perfect. I was travelling so good I felt he had to win if he let down and he did. He met the last on a perfect stride and the rest is history.”

Hugging the rail on the final turn into the straight Wells looked to be traveling the best. Bashboy, who had fought off Sea King on his inside tried to make one last effort as the widest runner but the urgings of jockey Steven Pateman couldn’t reverse the weight difference, nor the margin.

Wells, a six-year-old Galileo gelding, bought as an unraced three-year-old from Lloyd WIlliams, added a maiden steeplechase win to his three previous hurdle wins at his first attempt at the larger obstacles. Bashboy took second while Sea King kept on for third.

“We always thought he’d jump a fence better. That was always the plan with him all the time and he’s come out and done it,” said Kathryn Durden. “He hasn’t had much luck this prep but things went his way today.”

Third in the Grand National Hurdle at his previous start, Wells has now won over $454,000 in stakes, 70% of which has been accrued in his nine jumps starts.

“Bashboy is a champion, but our horse was in fantastic at the weights,” added Kathryn’s husband, retired champion jumps jockey Craig Durden. “He’s a good strong stayer who has not had a lot of luck with wet tracks. Today’s better going absolutely suited him and Johnny gave him an absolute peach of a ride.” In fine form, Allen added a further two winners and two seconds from six rides on the flat at Coleraine and Swan Hill each side of Sunday to boost his season’s tally to 23 winners.