A Grand National Steeple start is in doubt for Juan Carlos after he bled from one nostril during his Crisp Steeplechase victory at Sandown.Trainer Allison Bennett would dearly love to run the 11-year-old in the $200,000 feature but the veteran 'chaser has been stood down by Racing Victoria stewards pending an endoscopic examination.He must also satisfy stewards with a gallop over at least 1000 metres before being cleared to start in the 4500m National run at Sandown on August 28.Bennett was deli

A Grand National Steeple start is in doubt for Juan Carlos after he bled from one nostril during his Crisp Steeplechase victory at Sandown.

Trainer Allison Bennett would dearly love to run the 11-year-old in the $200,000 feature but the veteran 'chaser has been stood down by Racing Victoria stewards pending an endoscopic examination.

He must also satisfy stewards with a gallop over at least 1000 metres before being cleared to start in the 4500m National run at Sandown on August 28.

Bennett was delighted with Juan Carlos who was sent out the $4 second pick for Sunday's Crisp and was brilliantly ridden by Gerard Gilmour to topple the $1.95 favourite Kerdem by a length.

Al Karam ($9.50) was three-quarters of a length away third.

"He's a great horse. We just love him. His longevity is fantastic," Bennett said.

"He's a beautiful horse to have around the stables, everybody loves him and it's really nice for him to come out and do this and for Gerard to get back on him and win. It's great."

Bennett, who tasted Grand National Hurdle success with Enzed in 2005, said jumping had prolonged Juan Carlos' career.

"He loves it, he'd be bored stiff without it. He loves to have a life, he doesn't know he's 11, he thinks he's three."

Juan Carlos was runner-up to Desert Master in the 2009 Grand National Hurdle and second to Morsonique in the 2010 Grand National Steeplechase and a win in the G N Steeple (4500m) at Sandown on August 28 would top off his career.

The Encosta de Lago gelding has raced 87 times for 10 wins, 19 placings and over $300,000 in prizemoney.

His record over the jumps is 11 starts for three wins, five placings and $180,000 in prizemoney.

Pateman, who has dominated the jumping scene this season, was committed to riding Kerdem in the Crisp for trainer Patrick Payne leading to Gilmour landing his most important steeplechase win.

Gilmour, 32, who won last year's G N Hurdle aboard The Pentagon, hadn't riddenJuan Carlos for a couple of years.

During that preparation in 2009 he finished third on him in the Australian Hurdle.

"He's a cracker of a horse. I did all his education early doors and had a few unlucky runs on him," Gilmour said.

"Steven (Pateman) was lucky enough to get the ride on him. Allison rang me on Sunday night and said would I be happy to jump on the old boy and I said I'd love to."

Gilmour stuck to the inside on Juan Carlos whereas Pateman and several of his rivals scouted wide on the home turn.

"I walked the track and I didn't think there was much difference between the inside and the outside," Gilmour said.

"I thought my best chance was to go to the inside. He lays in a fraction anyway, the old boy, and it's probably what won him the race."