Te Akau Racing has three runners in the A$400,000 Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday, giving trainer Mark Walker a strong hand in the prestigious race.

From Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable in Victoria, Walker had six wins and four seconds from 13 starts over fences last season. The wins came from two victories apiece by Prismatic, The Mighty Spar and Leaderboard, and the three quality jumpers have again been to the fore this season.

Leaderboard, the former Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Listed St Leger (2600m) winner, followed his jumps wins by finishing third in the Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m), third in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m), and second in the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) last season.

He chased well to finish second in the Great Western Steeplechase (3600m) last Sunday at Coleraine, has a first and second from two course attempts at Ballarat, and will be ridden by Will Gordon.

“Leaderboard, I’m really happy with him and he came through his good second in the Great Western Steeplechase really well,” Walker said. “He gets into this race nicely at the weights with 65kg.

“Obviously Stern Idol is the one to beat and also Noonday Gun is a very promising jumper, but the name of the game is to run out the 4500m strongly. With the weight we’ve got and the jockey we’ve got in the saddle, that gives him the best opportunity of doing that.

“He’s going well and I rate him an each-way chance in his final race for the season.”

Having remained unbeaten in four course attempts when winning the Moredun Hill Steeplechase (3800m) on July 27 at Casterton, The Mighty Spar finished fifth in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 3 at Sandown, and William McCarthy takes the ride.

“The Mighty Spar also gets into the race nicely at the weights with 66.5kg, because of Stern Idol carrying top weight (74kg),” Walker said.

“He’s had a terrific season. This being the last jumps meeting, the way he performs will dictate plans as to how we approach the Warrnambool carnival with him next year.

“He returns to steeplechasing after racing in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) last start, and as long as he can see out the extra distance, and with his great jumping ability, he could prove a top-four contender.”

Very consistent jumper Prismatic rounds out the trio. After finishing fourth in the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) on August 3 at Sandown, he was declared a non-starter after running on the inside of a marker. He will be ridden by Jordan Hart.

“Prismatic goes to his final race for the season, the Grand National Steeplechase, and he gets into the race perfectly at the weights (64kg),” Walker said.  

“Getting back to steeplechasing after racing in the Grand National Hurdle last start will suit him, and while the 4500m is an extreme sort of test, he jumps well, has been very consistent, and I rate him an each-way lightweight chance on Sunday.”