Ballarat
Race 6 – Brungle Bertie
Jockey – Lee Horner
4500m Grand National Steeplechase
Eight-year-old gelding Brungle Bertie reaches the grand final of his preparation today, taking on the 4500-metre Grand National Steeplechase on his home track. The son of Canford Cliffs has jumped well this preparation, finishing runner-up at Warrnambool behind Roland Garros eight weeks ago, before a luckless fourth in the Crisp Steeplechase last start when hampered by a fallen rival. He picked up and ran on strongly there, just missing the placings but a margin from the winner at the post.
The winner of the Crisp was impressive jumper Stern Idol, who will start a short-priced favourite in today’s event. This gelding has won four from five starts this campaign, his only blemish coming in the Grand Annual where he was retired from the race. Since then, he’s won two steeple events by a combined forty-five lengths. He’s clearly the one to beat today. The rest of the field is very even and if the favourite makes a mistake, the race opens right up. San Remo is in career-best form at the tender age of ten, winning three of his past four, including the Grand National Hurdle last start. He won a steeple trial leading in and will run the trip strongly. Count Zero was brave from the front in the Grand National Hurdle, backing up a tough win at Casterton the start prior. He’ll put himself near the speed again and keep on kicking. Killourney beat home Nelson in a maiden steeple two starts back, that runner has since won the Great Western Steeplechase, beating home Castrofrancaru. That’s a good reference for today, and if he’s recovered from his fall in the Crisp, can feature in the placings here. Vanguard will appreciate soft ground as opposed to heavy and is a capable jumper. Not sure ‘capable’ gets the job done in this though.
Brungle Bertie has been set for this race since all preparation and hits today in fantastic order. He’ll see out a strong 4500-metres and is as reliable as any jumper in the race. Lee Horner has a wonderful relationship with the horse (4:2-0-1), only missing a placing last start when severely inconvenienced. The favourite only needs to be slightly off his game today for Brungle Bertie to capitalise, he’s a strong each way chance on his home deck.
Currently, Brungle Bertie is a $16 chance in the market.