Lucky Tonight
Trish Dunell
Lucky Tonight's jumping prowess will be put to a sterner test in Australia at his next appearance.
The Cambridge gelding has finished runner-up in both his Victorian starts to earn himself an outing in stronger company.
"He's going to run in the Crisp Steeplechase on Saturday," trainer Shelley Houston said.
"The two horses that have beaten him at his last two starts are decent open company horses here and my guy has improved a lot."
Lucky Tonight made an unfortunate start to his campaign when he parted company with his rider in a jumping trial, but the campaign is now firmly back on track following placings at Casterton and Pakenham.
"We were on the back foot a bit after that fall, but he's done really well since then," Houston said.
"I expect him to run well in the Crisp. It's 3900 metres which is an ideal distance for him and it comes at the perfect time fitness-wise for him.
"We'll ride him a space further back and let him find his feet early and just get him happy and in his rhythm. It will give us a good lead for the Grand National, if we go that way.
"Otherwise, there are $A30,000 steeplechases either side of the National for him, but if he doesn't run well then there will be a good reason because he's such an honest horse."
Houston said Lucky Tonight would enjoy a good spell when he returned home at the end of this campaign.
"I'll turn him out and we might go back for the Warrnambool carnival next May," she said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge gelding has finished runner-up in both his Victorian starts to earn himself an outing in stronger company.
"He's going to run in the Crisp Steeplechase on Saturday," trainer Shelley Houston said.
"The two horses that have beaten him at his last two starts are decent open company horses here and my guy has improved a lot."
Lucky Tonight made an unfortunate start to his campaign when he parted company with his rider in a jumping trial, but the campaign is now firmly back on track following placings at Casterton and Pakenham.
"We were on the back foot a bit after that fall, but he's done really well since then," Houston said.
"I expect him to run well in the Crisp. It's 3900 metres which is an ideal distance for him and it comes at the perfect time fitness-wise for him.
"We'll ride him a space further back and let him find his feet early and just get him happy and in his rhythm. It will give us a good lead for the Grand National, if we go that way.
"Otherwise, there are $A30,000 steeplechases either side of the National for him, but if he doesn't run well then there will be a good reason because he's such an honest horse."
Houston said Lucky Tonight would enjoy a good spell when he returned home at the end of this campaign.
"I'll turn him out and we might go back for the Warrnambool carnival next May," she said. – NZ Racing Desk.