Patrick Payne believes Kerdem is suited by Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase at Sandown despite an arduous campaign.The 2010 Adelaide Cup runner-up to stablemate Capecover had four jumps trial and a flat run before making his jumps debut at Warrnambool in early April.That resulted in a second to Zendi in a maiden hurdle.He went on to win four straight - a maiden hurdle at Mornington, a hurdle at Bendigo, the Mosstrooper Steeple at Bendigo and a Sandown Steeple.However the nine-year-old failed

Patrick Payne believes Kerdem is suited by Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase at Sandown despite an arduous campaign.

The 2010 Adelaide Cup runner-up to stablemate Capecover had four jumps trial and a flat run before making his jumps debut at Warrnambool in early April.

That resulted in a second to Zendi in a maiden hurdle.

He went on to win four straight - a maiden hurdle at Mornington, a hurdle at Bendigo, the Mosstrooper Steeple at Bendigo and a Sandown Steeple.

However the nine-year-old failed by a length to make it five straight over the obstacles when second to last year's Grand National Steeple runner-up Juan Carlos in the Crisp Steeple (3900m) at Sandown on August 14.

"He's a really nice horse," Payne said of Kerdem.

"But being up a long time is a query with him, but he kept coming last time and the 4500 metres will suit him."

There was only about 2-1/2 lengths between the first four horses in the Crisp with Al Karam, the youngest horse in the field at six, finishing third and Great Eastern Steeple winner Petushki running fourth.

Sunday's 12-horse field also contains Desert Master who is having his first start over the bigger fences.

The grey won the 2009 Grand National Hurdle, was third in 2010 and runner-up this year to the outstanding Black And Bent who won by 12 lengths.

The oldest horse in the event is 11-year-old Juan Carlos who was runner-up to Desert Master in the 2009 Grand National Hurdle before going down by 15 lengths to Morsonique when runner-up in last year's Grand National Steeple.

Juan Carlos has been cleared to run after he bled from one nostril after winning the Crisp, having subsequently passed an endoscopic examination and a gallop before stewards.

Trained by Allison Bennett, who won the 2005 Grand National Hurdle with Enzed, Juan Carlos has come back from two bowed tendons during his 87-start career.

He has won three and been placed in another five of his 11-start jumps career.

Kerdem holds favouritism at $3.80 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Juan Carlos at $4.40, Famous Prince at $5, Al Karam at $7, Monte Casino and Petushki at $8 with Desert Master at $10.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Black And Bent is the prohibitive $1.25 favourite to record his fifth straight win in the JJ Houlahan Hurdle (3400m).

Since spending nearly a year sidelined with a tendon injury Black And Bent has returned in fine style, winning the Banjo Paterson (2500m) at Flemington at his third run in before completing a hat-trick of jumps wins.

He carried 73.5kg to an easy victory in a Morphettville hurdle before taking out the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool and the Grand National Hurdle.

Smerdon said the six-year-old was in good order for the race.

"He's had a pretty arduous preparation but he has a tough constitution," he said.