SUCH is the nature of hurdles in the modern era, for that read the lowering of hurdles since 2008 and 2009, flat performers with an ounce of quality can more than make up for any jumping shortcomings if they can handle the transition to jumps. The Irish-bred Ancient King, the one-time third-leg of trainer Stefano Botti’s Irish-bred trifecta in the 2013 Italian Derby, is undefeated in five jumps starts this season.

Unremarkable when tried twice over hurdles in 2015 by then trainer Peter Moody, Darren Weir and jockey Johnny Allen have unlocked the seven year old’s potential, netting his cache of owners A$182,940 in prize money since the start of May, culminating in Sunday’s Grand National Hurdle win at Sandown.

Allen went onto the track knowing it was advantage Ancient King over the 3,900 metres. The Cork jockey kept the short-priced favourite handy on the rail and didn’t need to do a lot to keep sight of the leaders. The pair looked to have a winning lead jumping the last but it was here that a ‘Hail Mary’ was needed as Ancient King, did everything but tip himself over. Second four lengths away was Two Hats with Hornet’s Nest into third.

“The race was tailor-made for him today, we got a lovely run and he was always travelling well until the last where he got it all wrong. We came into it on the completely wrong stride and I just left it up to him, it probably looked ugly but he’s very clever and very good on his feet,” said Allen.

“He just gets from A to B so quickly and he’s a very efficient jumper. He’s been untouchable over jumps this season. He’s a real little hurdler but I think trying to jump fences might be a bit too hard.”

The win brought up a unique city double for Allen who took his first race at Flemington a day earlier, a 2,500-metre contest on Yogi, trained by Weir for Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock. The Grand National Hurdle win was Weir’s second as a trainer, having won with Zanteco last year.

The Grand National Hurdle win was also Weir’s second as a trainer, having won with Zanteco last year.

WEIR’S SUPERB SEASON

The new season is underway but it is worth reflecting on Weir’s record breaking 2016/2017 season, toppling the record for most wins ever nationwide and becoming the first trainer to surpass 400 wins. From 2,689 runners, Weir trained 451 winners, had 355 into second and 324 into third for just over A$19.45 million in stakes.

He trained eight Group 1 winners, had 137 Melbourne metropolitan winners, 279 country Victorian winners, 17 hurdle winners and trained his first winners in Sydney, four in total. His top two jockeys were Dean Yendall with 104 winners and Johnny Allen with 76.

WELLS IN CRISP FORM

On the same card at Sandown Park, the Kathryn Durden-trained Wells, a 10-year-old Galileo gelding, will go into the Grand National Steeplechase on August 20th in the form of his career having followed up his Mosstrooper Steeplechase win with a fighting Crisp Steeple win at Sandown last Sunday.

Carrying 70kgs in the 3,900 metre contest, Wells was giving Over The Yardarm a 6kg advantage and had a length to make up after clearing the last. Under tenacious riding by Richard Cully, Wells caught Over The Yardarm and then bravely held on to win by a head. Third was King Of The Forest.

“To win with the 70kg on the heavy track, I think he’s done a superb job,” said Durden. “I’ve always said a ‘soft six’ is his best surface even though he’s won on heavy ground before, so he did a good job. He’s just a super horse.”

A winner of 11 of his 46 starts, and 7 of 15 over jumps, Wells will surpass $1 million in prize money if he can win a third Grand National Steeple.