But the defending Koral and Grand National Steeplechase champion is as good as he can be heading into Saturday's renewal of the Koral at Riccarton.
His Wingatui trainers, Brian and Shane Anderton, have largely bypassed steeplechase races in order to avoid extra weight leading into the dual defence of his crowns at Riccarton.
His last steeples run was in the deep mud of Riverton on May 22, lugging 74kg around the rain-affected track to finish a distant third.
"We weren't going to line up lumping that around so we thought we'd go the other way,'' Brian Anderton said.
The hurdles path has also served another purpose as the Andertons eye another prize further up the country - a prize which meant a possible trip to Hastings for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase last month was called off.
"We didn't go to Hawke's Bay because of the travel and everything else, but all going well at the National, we intend to go on and have a go at the Great Northern,'' Anderton said.
"He came through the National really good last year and I feel he's just as good as last year.
High Forty will carry 71kg on Saturday and the winner of the Koral will not be subject to a re-handicap if they line up in the Grand National Steeplechase a week later.
"He's on the right track and we're very happy with him.''
Michael Mitchell, who steered High Forty to the Koral-Grand National double last year, is back on board for the carnival.
Gold Leaf's performance in Saturday's Sydenham Hurdles will decide whether he goes to the Grand National Hurdles on Wednesday, or appears a few days later.
"If he runs really good, we've got an option of running in the National [on Wednesday] or the 0-1 win hurdle on the last day.''
Gold Leaf joins six others on 65kg in the open hurdle, with Gagarin set to carry the top weight of 70kg.
Cristallo, who was impressive finishing second at Oamaru last month, gets a start in the rating 65 1600m and the Andertons are giving Avow a shorter trip in the rating 65 1200m.
"She's just getting knocked off over a mile and 1400m, so we thought we'd try her over 1200m.''
The Andertons had seven runners at the Wingatui jumpouts yesterday - including two winners - but Terry Kennedy provided the fastest heat winner when No Charge won the opening 800m maiden heat in 54.80sec.
The Bachelor Duke 4yr-old won her heat quite comfortably by 2½ lengths and has slowly been working towards a racing career after lacking in size when she first arrived at Kennedy's Wingatui stables.
"She'll probably just kick off out here on September 9,'' Kennedy said.
"This is her second prep - she'll win a race all right.''
Kennedy won the last heat with a 3yr-old Raise The Flag filly out of Rosie O'Reilly, making her a half-sister to the Dale Horrell-trained Velvet Rose.
"She's only just turned 3 so she's going to take a little bit more time, but she's got quite a bit of ability.''
Results.-
Weather, raining; track, heavy
800m maiden: No Charge D Kennedy 1, Aviate 2, Love `N' Dance 3. Four started. Time, 54.80. 2½L, 5L. Trainer, T Kennedy.
800m maiden: Itemize T Direen 1, Riding High 2, Countess Ruby 3. Five started. Time, 55.43. ½L, ½hd. Trainers, B & S Anderton.
800m maiden: 4g Raise The Flag-Ya Ya T Direen 1, 3g Raise The Flag-Curlu, 3g Raise The Flag-Mickeyrune 3. Four started. Time, 56.40. ½L, 3L. Trainers, B & S Anderton.
800m maiden: Raise The Flag-Rosie O'Reilly J Lowry 1, 4g Gallant Guru-Curlu 2. Two started. Time, 56.20. Ns, distance. Trainer, T Kennedy.
