Terry O'Sullivan will make a decision on a Grand Annual Steeplechase start for Last Shogun after he sees how he performs in Tuesday's Brierly Steeple at Warrnambool.Last Shogun carried 67.5kg to win the Eulong Steeple (3200m) at Hamilton at his latest appearance on April 18 and drops to 64kg in the Brierly (3450m) and the same in Thursday's Grand Annual (5500m).However, O'Sullivan fears the seven-year-old may be too close at the weights to quality horses such as the classy 2008 Hiskens Steeple w

Terry O'Sullivan will make a decision on a Grand Annual Steeplechase start for Last Shogun after he sees how he performs in Tuesday's Brierly Steeple at Warrnambool.

Last Shogun carried 67.5kg to win the Eulong Steeple (3200m) at Hamilton at his latest appearance on April 18 and drops to 64kg in the Brierly (3450m) and the same in Thursday's Grand Annual (5500m).

However, O'Sullivan fears the seven-year-old may be too close at the weights to quality horses such as the classy 2008 Hiskens Steeple winner Some Are Bent and Al Garhood who is after his third successive Brierly victory.

"I think the Brierly and the Grand Annual are a lot higher quality then they have ever had before," he said.

"In the past you'd never get the real quality horses such as a Mazzacano or a Some Are Bent. Some Are Bent has been the jumping horse of the year twice.

"I think they have been invited to run by the handicapper, there's no doubt about that."

Some Are Bent has topweight of 71kg in the Brierly and 70kg in the Grand Annual and trainer Robert Smerdon said connections were keen to take on both races.

O'Sullivan said dual Australian Steeple winner Mazzacano looked very attractively weighted with 69kg in the Grand Annual.

"I don't think (his trainer) Robbie Laing could believe it himself," he said.

"A few years ago a horse like Mazzacano would have 12 stone (76kg) and we'd be down on 10 stone (63.5kg)."

Another consideration for O'Sullivan is the weather and he is not keen to back Last Shogun up if it is wet.

"We'll wait and see how he pulls up. It's not out of the question but the weather will play a big part in determining whether he does back up in the Grand Annual," said O'Sullivan who co-trains his team at Stawell with his daughter Karina.

"If it gets wet we probably won't because he doesn't really like soft ground. He doesn't mind it slow but once it gets to heavy he's not very effective."

Last Shogun has some solid jumps form, winning four of his nine starts with two second placings.

In one of those he was runner-up to Pentiffic in the 2009 Yalumba Hurdle (3600m) at Oakbank.

Among his wins was the 2009 South Australian Grand National Hurdle (3500m) at Morphettville.

Adam Trinder will ride Last Shogun in the Brierly.