Grey-te choice as Pateman Saunters into Grand National Saunter Boy surging to victory at Pakenham. Picture: Racing Photos Comments
Spoiled for choice champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman will ride Saunter Boy in Sunday‘s $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown Lakeside.
Joint record-holder Pateman, who won four on the bounce through 2011-14, is hoping to become the first jockey in history to win five Grand National Hurdles.
But recent wins aboard Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Saunter Boy‘s stablemates Wil John and Norway certainly complicated the decision.
Norway went from a Warrnambool maiden to winning the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle brilliantly at Pakenham, while the equally progressive Wil John remains undefeated in three starts over the fences.