Trainer Robbie Laing has called for the jumps season to be condensed for the elite hurdlers and steeplechasers.Saturday's Australian Steeplechase winner Vindicating will have to wait until August for the chance to win a third leg of the jumps series and a $100,000 bonus."I'm kicking up for the jumping season to be shorter and more dynamic, over three or four months, and then have a novice season from August to September," Laing said."I think it would work well to race from the middle of April un

Trainer Robbie Laing has called for the jumps season to be condensed for the elite hurdlers and steeplechasers.

Saturday's Australian Steeplechase winner Vindicating will have to wait until August for the chance to win a third leg of the jumps series and a $100,000 bonus.

"I'm kicking up for the jumping season to be shorter and more dynamic, over three or four months, and then have a novice season from August to September," Laing said.

"I think it would work well to race from the middle of April until the end of July for the elite horses.

"You've got to think of things to improve the game and this horse (Vindicating) has been up since before Oakbank and he's going to try to win the Grand National at the end of August.

"You wouldn't do it to a flat horse."

Laing said he was running out of options with Vindicating who has won four of his five steeplechase starts this season including a steeplechase at Sandown on April 6, the Von Doussa at Oakbank at Easter and the Brierly at Warrnambool last month.

Vindicating is now eligible for the Melbourne Racing Club's $100,000 bonus if he can go on and win a third leg of the of the J J Houlahan Jumps Championship having already won the Brierly.

But the third leg, the $200,000 Grand National Steeple (4500m) at Sandown is not run until August 28.

The Zabeel seven-year-old, carrying equal topweight of 69kg and ridden by Gavin Bedggood, won Saturday's $100,000 feature from favourite Grizz and stablemate Plumtastic who nearly fell at the second last fence.

Laing said Vindicated, who has won around $285,000 in jumps races, would have a lead up run to the Grand National in the $100,000 Crisp Steeple (4000m) at Sandown on August 14.

"He'll obviously get 70 kilograms now but he'll go to the Grand National as will Plumtastic," Laing said.

Plumtastic will run in the $60,000 Moss Trooper Steeple (3600m) at Bendigo on June 19 on his way to the Crisp and the Grand National.

AAP TUR