Unbeaten steeplechaser Pentiffic takes the next step towards the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan in April when he runs on the flat at Sandown on Wednesday.The Pentire six-year-old, winner of the Hiskens Steeple at Moonee Valley and the Crisp and Grand National Steeples, both at Sandown, last winter, will run in The Trump Hcp (3100m) which has attracted a full field of 16 plus two emergencies.Pentiffic has come to hand well this preparation winning a Sale 0-62 Hcp (2200m) under 58kg when second-up o
Unbeaten steeplechaser Pentiffic takes the next step towards the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan in April when he runs on the flat at Sandown on Wednesday.
The Pentire six-year-old, winner of the Hiskens Steeple at Moonee Valley and the Crisp and Grand National Steeples, both at Sandown, last winter, will run in The Trump Hcp (3100m) which has attracted a full field of 16 plus two emergencies.
Pentiffic has come to hand well this preparation winning a Sale 0-62 Hcp (2200m) under 58kg when second-up on February 7.
He came from midfield to score by two lengths from Nanbrooke Nic on that occasion.
Craig Newitt, who rode the gelding at Sale, retains the ride on Pentiffic who drops 5kg to the minimum weight (53kg).
Fran Houlahan, who prepares the gelding with her partner Brian Johnston, said Pentiffic was due to fly out for Japan on March 16 and would run in the Pegasus Jump on March 27 as a lead-in to the Grand Jump, the world's richest steeplechase event, on April 17.
"He's fine. He's going fantastic," Houlahan said.
Houlahan and Johnston will saddle up four runners in the event, the others being jumpers as well - Bullecourt (Dan Nikolic), Jamraan (Nikita Beriman) and Tarawera (Craig Williams).
Another leading jumps stable, that of Eric Musgrove, also has four runners in the race - Flying Corkscrew (Eddie Cassar), Mybigfatgreekhorse (Anthony Darmanin), Stop The Traffic (Dwayne Dunn) and Wheel The Lead (Peter Mertens).
The hardest to beat seem to be the Darren Weir-trained Paso Robles (apprentice Jacob Rule) and Peter Moody's imported mare Belle Famille (Luke Nolen).
That pair finished runner-up and third respectively behind Adelaide Cup prospect Montahlia over 3000m at Moonee Valley on February 19.
Meanwhile, four-year-old Easton will be out to maintain his unbeaten record in the Betfair Hcp (1200m).
Trained at Caulfield by Jim Mason, the Hemingway gelding won on debut in a Donald maiden in July last year before a Class 1 Hcp victory at Ballarat in August and racked up a hat-trick with his long neck win over Elegance Dragon over 1500m at Sandown in September.
Mason sent Easton straight to the paddock following that effort.
Glen Boss, who rode Easton last time, retains the mount on the $4.80 favourite.