The revamped Grand National program has been condensed from two days to one, shifted from Flemington to Sandown and held a couple of months later, but jumps racing participants such as co-trainers Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston are just glad to be racing.Jumps racing has been under scrutiny more than ever this year with anti-jumps groups calling for the sport to be banned.Jumps racing was suspended after the May carnival at Warrnambool when three horses were killed in jumps events pending a re

The revamped Grand National program has been condensed from two days to one, shifted from Flemington to Sandown and held a couple of months later, but jumps racing participants such as co-trainers Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston are just glad to be racing.

Jumps racing has been under scrutiny more than ever this year with anti-jumps groups calling for the sport to be banned.

Jumps racing was suspended after the May carnival at Warrnambool when three horses were killed in jumps events pending a review of the sport.

Racing Victoria Limited conducted an urgent review and decided jumps racing would continue, but not unconditionally, and another review would be held at the end of the season.

The last metropolitan jumps meeting of the season on Sunday includes three features - the $200,000 Grand National Steeple (4530m), the $200,000 Grand National Hurdle (4530m) and the $100,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle (3300m).

Fran Houlahan said there were good and bad aspects to the meeting the day after the Memsie Stakes program at Caulfield.

"We're obviously glad that it's on and we are looking forward very much to the race on Sunday," said Houlahan who, with Johnson, will saddle up the $2.20 GN Steeple favourite Pentiffic.

"You've got to experiment and see how things go but it's been rather difficult because of the length of the season.

"Pentiffic was racing at Easter time at Oakbank and won the Harry D Young (Yalumba) Hurdle and for him to be coming up and up and up until the National on Sunday is pretty tough."

The highlight of the meeting is the Steeple in which reigning Hiskens Steeple and Crisp Steeple victor Pentiffic takes on dual Australian Steeple winner and 2007 Crisp Steeple winner Mazzacano.

Both outstanding `chasers will carry equal topweight of 69kg, 1kg more than they each carried under the set weights plus penalties condition of the Crisp (3900m) at Sandown on August 16 which Pentiffic won by 10 lengths, inflicting Mazzacano's first defeat in eight jumps starts.

Houlahan believes the handicapper has been "as fair as he can" be.

"The top two are giving most of the others 5kg," she said.

Houlahan said Pentiffic was in terrific order for the race.

Mazzacano ($2.40) is regarded as the only real danger to Pentiffic with Warrnambool Grand Annual winner Sir Pentire next in the betting at $10 ahead of Mt Townsend at $13 and Jamraan at $17.