Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher believes unbeaten jumper Mazzacano is the only horse standing in the way of Rude `N' Abrupt winning Saturday's Australian Steeplechase at Sandown.Rude `N' Abrupt will be having his first start over the bigger fences in the 3900m feature after showing hurdling ability with three wins and three seconds from 12 starts for Morphettville trainer Gordon Richards.Richards left the grey with Maher for a Victorian winter campaign after he finished sixth to Desert Master i

Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher believes unbeaten jumper Mazzacano is the only horse standing in the way of Rude `N' Abrupt winning Saturday's Australian Steeplechase at Sandown.

Rude `N' Abrupt will be having his first start over the bigger fences in the 3900m feature after showing hurdling ability with three wins and three seconds from 12 starts for Morphettville trainer Gordon Richards.

Richards left the grey with Maher for a Victorian winter campaign after he finished sixth to Desert Master in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool last month.

At his first outing for Maher, the six-year-old finished runner-up to Hooker Road in the Jack Dow Memorial Hurdle (3300m) at Mornington before a solid flat effort when third to Spare A Dime over 2400m at Sandown on June 3.

"The extra distance wouldn't worry him, nor would the wet (heavy 10) track," Maher said.

"I thought he would be a good chance in whatever race he went in but he was just starting to cheat the hurdles a little bit and we went to the bigger fences and he took to them and jumped them how they should jump them properly and that's why we've gone to the bigger ones with him," Maher said.

The gelding was given a soft 2800m steeple school by his race rider Steve Pateman at Cranbourne late last month when last of four to Saturday's rival Father Patrick.

"Rude `N' Abrupt is a very good, honest horse who will run it out and if you take out Mazzacano I think he could win, I'd be pretty confident of that, and it's just a matter of how Mazzacano comes back," Maher said.

Mazzacano, who won the 2007 Australian Steeple by 20 lengths but suffered his third bowed tendon when winning the Crisp Steeple by six lengths at his next and latest start in June 2007, has been given a long and painstaking build up to his comeback race on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has had five flat trials, a hurdle trial and two steeple schools to fit him for the race but he does have to contend with the big weight of 69.5kg.

The David Hayes-trained Danever, last-start winner of the Redleap Steeple (3400m) at Sandown, is $3.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Mazzacano at $4.20, Rude `N' Abrupt at $6 with Great Southern Steeple winner Zagata and War Dancer next best at $7.

Maher, who this season has won the Great Eastern Steeple at Oakbank with Pentacolo and the Brierly Steeple at Warrnambool with Al Garhood, will also saddle up Marc Of Thunder in Saturday's Australian Hurdle (3400m).

Also a grey, the five-year-old was impressive in winning a restricted hurdle over 3200m at Warrnambool on a slow track on May 7.

Maher has kept him ticking over with a couple of flat runs in the meantime.

"He's very fit and he's ready for the 3400 metres and the wet track will suit him even better. He's a good little jumper and I think he'll be there at the finish," he said.

Six of the seven runners are given a chance in the race with Pentiffic, who won the Yalumba Hurdle at Oakbank by eight lengths, $3.90 favourite ahead of Desert Master at $4.40 while Marc Of Thunder is at $5.