Hypnotize does best when he's mean and hungry in condition.
He looked way too "pretty" when he arrived at Ellerslie for the McGregor Grant Steeplechase during Queen's Birthday Weekend and looked more like his unattractive self when he came back for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup two weeks ago.
With that race to tighten him up even further, Hypnotize will be in exactly the right shape to add the 2011 Northern to the 2010, 2008 and 2007 versions he has already taken back to Wanganui.
He never looked a winning chance in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, being well off the pace from the start, but the late ground he pulled off the third and fourth horses in the run from the last fence, gave plenty of hope that with a huge amount of additional distance - the 6400m is almost an additional round of the track - he will come right into his own.
"Yes, he needs the longer races for his stamina," says part-owner and trainer Raymond Connors. No one disagrees.
One issue could be the weight of 71.5kg.
Regular rider Isaac Lupton said he could feel the 72kg, up from 70.5kg in last year's Northern, taking some toll on the old bloke in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup.
Half a kilogram does not sound a lot of weight, but in a Great Northern it is significant. Sprinters can carry big weights, but in staying races horses are carrying their weight for much further and it doesn't come longer than a Great Northern Steeplechase.
The 71.5kg is 33 per cent less than the difference between last year's big race weight and the Pakuranga Hunt Cup impost.
Karlos chased Hypnotize home in this race last year when, remarkably, having only his second steeplechase start.
He has considerably more distance in his legs now and will be fit after competing in the Grand National at Riccarton.
Cambridge hoop Shelley Houston has made one of the biggest racing calls in several months.
She has switched rides from headline 'chaser Climbing High to partner recent maiden graduate Tom's Myth tomorrow.
"I wanted to ride Tom's Myth for Ann Browne instead of Climbing High after he won the maiden race at Ellerslie two weeks ago," said Houston.
The ride on Climbing High has gone to outstanding Australian jumps jockey Steven Pateman.
He was recently awarded the Tommy Corrigan medal for the fourth time for being this season's leading jumps rider in Victoria.
Mark Oulaghan wouldn't mind a change of luck in the $85,000 Meadow Fresh Great Northern Hurdles with Harvest The Gold.
The jumping guru has never won a Northern Hurdles.
"I've had a lot of placings in it, but I haven't got across the line in front yet.
"Goliath ran a couple of thirds then was brought down at the last fence when I thought he could have won. Yourtheman and Counter Punch both ran third in it.
The big worry is the possibility of a sticky, holding track. Harvest The Gold either likes the track better, or loose and wet.
