Gore jumper Tai Ho's Grand National Steeplechase preparation will be determined by his performance in today's open steeplechase at Timaru.
The southern steeplechasing star looks set to continue his brilliant form today despite having to lump top weight in the 4280m race.
Tai Ho may look a standout on paper, but his trainer, Ellis Winsloe, is not expecting his horse to just turn up and win.
"I expect him to go well, but I am not expecting too much. There have been too many steeplechases cancelled down here for us to get our horses ready. It's a nightmare.
"I would like to see him win... but my main worry is none of the other ones stuff him up and he comes back in one piece and we go to the National."
Tai Ho ran third in last year's Koral Steeplechase before running third in the Grand National Hurdles.
But the horse is not guaranteed to follow the same path this year.
Today's race could potentially be Tai Ho's last public outing before next month's Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton.
"We are going in to the Grand National blind, really.
"The plan is to do the Koral and the Grand National, but if he wins [today] quite impressively I could miss the Koral.
"Riccarton has been so wet and do I really want to take him there and run him on two heavy tracks?"
Point Proven looks one of the main dangers to Tai Ho, but brings starkly contrasting form to
He is coming off two decent wins, but neither of them have been over steeples.
The Winton jumper won over hurdles before taking out the race for amateur riders at Wingatui last month.
Speedy Jax and Gold Leaf are another strong contenders for today's steeplechase.
Winsloe revealed he is biding his time before unleashing what he hopes with be another talented jumper.
The trainer has been schooling open-class sprinter Irish Excuse over jumps in his recent work and the horse is showing potential as a hurdler.
The 7yr-old will eventually switch to jumping, rather than continue to carry big weights in flat races. But while Irish Excuse is still in good form on the flat, Winsloe may not start his jumping career this winter.
North Taieri galloper Jackfrost is set to carry his biggest weight over fences in today's open hurdles.
The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained hurdler will carry 68.5kg, allowing for rider Stuart Higgins' 1kg claim.
Like Tai Ho, Jackfrost looks to have today's race at his mercy on paper. He beat his main rivals today, The Energizer and Drumgold, on the track last month but did it carrying 66kg.
