Gargamel has already mastered the hurdles, and it seems he is taking the right steps in steeplechase before tomorrow's $20,000 Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton.
The reigning Grand National Hurdle winner was having just his second start over the larger fences when he won at Riverton on April 30.
He now lines up tomorrow's five-horse field with plenty of confidence under the belt - and plenty of confidence from rider Alan Browne.
''I think definitely on Sunday he'll be hardened from the race the other day and he'll develop from it,'' Browne said.
''The extra 500m should suit him down to the ground.''
The 8yr-old did get some pressure from Jamie Lee over the last 1200m two weeks ago, but shook that off to score well ahead of High Forty.
''We knew going into it he needed the run, but there was no pace on the race so I just had to let him go out and bowl along. And he was happy just bowling along like that. That's the way we school him, at pace.
''We didn't go fast early on, so by rights we only went quick on the last circuit.''
Browne is unsure if the lead will be the right place tomorrow, although he knows Gargamel will prefer a genuine tempo, particularly when he takes on hardened chasers such as Keep It Tight and High Forty.
''If I'm waiting for someone else, that's when horses make mistakes, so it's better to grab the bull by the horns and say `righty-ho, I know my horse can stay'.''
Gargamel's relative steeplechase inexperience helps him in the weights, as he will carry just 65.5kg compared with High Forty and Keep It Tight who carry 69kg.
''He gets in really nice - although to be honest, he was a maidener over fences [until his win at Riverton] so it would have been quite harsh if they had given him any more.''
Browne will be looking for a similar steady tempo with Harry Hill in the Great Western Hurdle after he got caught out by a sit and sprint from Needastar at Riverton in April.
''Three times I ran into trouble with him - I just couldn't get going,'' Browne said.
''Daniel Miller, who rode the winner [Needastar], knew exactly what he was doing on his horse. He stacked his horse right up and sprinted away.
''I want to ride him off the fence, so we'll get him jumping and bowling around the outside just in a nice rhythm and instead of running into trouble, we'll get him out of trouble.''
