Jockey Trent Wells has flown to Japan to school Grand National Steeplechase winner Pentiffic ahead of the upcoming Pegasus Jump Stakes and the Nakayama Grand Jump.Wells left on Monday and will school the six-year-old at the Shiroi Quarantine Centre on Tuesday and the Nakayama racecourse on Wednesday before riding him in the Pegasus on Saturday.Trained by Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston, Pentiffic travelled better than expected to Japan last Tuesday, losing only four kilograms on the 18-hour tri

Jockey Trent Wells has flown to Japan to school Grand National Steeplechase winner Pentiffic ahead of the upcoming Pegasus Jump Stakes and the Nakayama Grand Jump.

Wells left on Monday and will school the six-year-old at the Shiroi Quarantine Centre on Tuesday and the Nakayama racecourse on Wednesday before riding him in the Pegasus on Saturday.

Trained by Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston, Pentiffic travelled better than expected to Japan last Tuesday, losing only four kilograms on the 18-hour trip.

"The horse is in great order," said Johnston who is getting daily reports from Houlahan who is with Pentiffic in Japan.

"He travelled over sensationally and ate and drank everything on the way.

"We factored in him losing 15kg but he lost only four which was fantastic."

Johnston said Pentiffic's flat form in Australia in the weeks leading up to his departure indicated that the Pentire gelding was in "career best form".

He won second up on the flat over 2200m in a Sale 0-62 Hcp on February 7 and ran second to Mr Riggs on the flat over 3100m at Sandown on March 3.

Johnston said Pentiffic had his first gallop at the quarantine centre on Friday and on Monday morning he worked evens.

"We couldn't be happier with him," Johnston said.

"Trent will school the horse at the quarantine centre in the morning and school him the next day at Nakayama."

"All is well, all is good."

Pentiffic won the 2009 Grand National Steeplechase, the Crisp Steeplechase and the Hiskens Steeplechase and will try to keep his unbeaten steeplechase record intact when he contests the 3350m Pegasus Jump Stakes at Nakayama.

The Pegasus is a traditional lead-up to the Nakayama Grand Jump (4250m) on April 17, which is the richest jump race in the world.

Pentiffic will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Australia's legendary jumper Karasi, who won the Nakayama Grand Jump three years in a row from 2005 to 2007 before injury forced his withdrawal just days ahead of the 2008 race.

Johnston believes the Nakayama track will suit Pentiffic and give him a springboard into Europe.

After Japan he will be transferred to England where he will be trained by Venetia Williams who trained last year's Aintree Grand National Steeplechase winner Mon Mome.

"Being by Pentire he is only starting to mature now," Johnston said.

"We never saw the best of him here.

"What we saw was pretty darn good but I think the rest of the world will see the best of him in Europe."