Trent Wells will make a last-minute bid to ride Pentiffic in Saturday's AV Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley when he appeals a careless riding suspension on Friday.Wells has been paid up to ride Pentiffic in the $200,000 feature over 4050m as well as stablemate Monty's Boy in the $100,000 Bob Barr Smith Hurdle (4050m).He is appealing the decision of the stewards and the severity of the careless riding suspension imposed for his ride on Nurey in the Highweight Maiden Plate (1900m) at Kilmore

Trent Wells will make a last-minute bid to ride Pentiffic in Saturday's AV Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley when he appeals a careless riding suspension on Friday.

Wells has been paid up to ride Pentiffic in the $200,000 feature over 4050m as well as stablemate Monty's Boy in the $100,000 Bob Barr Smith Hurdle (4050m).

He is appealing the decision of the stewards and the severity of the careless riding suspension imposed for his ride on Nurey in the Highweight Maiden Plate (1900m) at Kilmore on Tuesday.

Wells was outed for two jumps races ruling him out of Saturday's important engagements unless his appeal before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board is successful.

Brian Johnston, who co-trains Pentiffic with his partner Fran Houlahan, said Brett Scott was standing by to ride the Pentire rising six-year-old should Wells' appeal fail.

Scott will ride the Eric Musgrove-trained Stop The Traffic if Wells wins his appeal.

Wells, 23, has forged a strong association with Pentiffic having won the Yalumba Classic Hurdle (3600m) at Oakbank in April and was aboard the gelding last start when an impressive seven-length winner of the Leslie Short Memorial Hurdle (3300m) at Sandown on July 11.

Pentiffic is having his first start over the bigger fences as are reigning Australian Hurdle winner Hooker Road and 2007 Australian Hurdle winner Hasta Manana.

Bill Williams will ride the Robbie Laing-trained Hasta Manana who Laing said won his 2800m steeple trial by 25 lengths on a very heavy track at Mornington on Wednesday.

Gavin Bedggood will ride Warrnambool Grand Annual winner Sir Pentire who also impressed Laing in winning his Mornington school.

Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher is very happy with Geeorb who is chasing a hat-trick following his wins in the St Steven Steeple (3200m) at the Valley and the Ian Macdonald Steeple (3900m) at Sandown.

"He's just ticked along at the beach since his last run and seems to have come through it well," Maher said.

"He's eating up well and I think he should run up to his best."

Maher is not worried about the going for Geeorb as he won those races on heavy tracks and scored by nine lengths on a good surface when he won the Crisp Steeple (4000m) at Flemington in June last year.

He regards the dangers to Geeorb as the first-time steeplechasers.

"The hurdlers are always the ones to watch in this type of race," Maher said.

"Pentiffic is a nice horse and it looks like he jumps the steeple fences quite well.

"But my bloke is fit and ready to go and just backing off going into it which I think is a good thing."

Geeorb is $2.90 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Pentiffic at $3.50 with Hasta Manana and Sir Pentire at $7 and Spirit Of Alaton and Hooker Road next best at $8.