He should be improved with his race in the Koral Steeplechase (4150m) at Riccarton last Saturday. He won decisively under 67kg in his first steeplechase since he won the Koral 12 months earlier.
He missed the National a week later after straining a tendon.
Counter Punch, who has 66kg tomorrow, is unbeaten in three starts over the Riccarton country. The biggest weight carried by a National winner in the last decade is 66.5kg by No Hero in 2005.
Isaac Lupton retains the mount. He won the National on Gauchito Bastado in 2007.
Mark Oulaghan, the trainer of Counter Punch, won the National with Deecee Seven in 1997 and 1998. Deecee Seven won the Koral the same years.
Six of the last 10 winners of the National have either won or finished second in the Koral.
Bogeyman is the only horse to win a National during that period who has not raced on the first or second day of a National meeting.
Yourtheman, a stablemate of Counter Punch, finished second in the Koral last Saturday.
Kidunot and Floor Play are fresh horses at the meeting engaged in the race tomorrow. Kidunot has won steeplechases at Oamaru and Washdyke in as many starts over country. His Gore trainer Ellis Winsloe did not want to risk taking the edge off Kidunot by starting on a rain-affected track on the first two days of the meeting.
Floor Play won the Inter-Island Steeplechase at Paeroa at his last start on July 28. He is well seasoned after a mix of jumping and flat racing.
He is trained at New Plymouth by Sandy Dravitkzi, who prepared I'manace to finish second to Bogeyman in the 2006 National.
I'manace won the Koral that year.
Logan James ran third and Petushki fourth in the Koral last week. Logan James fractured a fetlock on Wednesday and he is recovering with his leg in a brace.
Ptushki is trained by John Wheeler and ridden by Richard Eynon, a combination that won the race last year with Bennyosler.
Wheeler also has High Season in the race.
• Results from the main trials at Te Teko yesterday.
Weather, overcast; track, slow (8).
Open, 1200m: Alagant Satin S Spratt 1; Keep The Peace 2; Obsession 3. Nine started. 1/2L;2L. Time, 1.14.31. Trainers, M and B Baker.
Open, 1000m (first heat): Vincent Mangano S Spratt 1; Romano 2; El Primero 3. Seven started. 3L; nk. Time, 1.02.35. Trainer, P McKay.
Second heat: Ginga Dude A Ng 1; The Diamond Duke 2; Princess Emmy 3. Five started. 3/4L; nk. Time, 1.02.20. Trainer, G Boyd.
