Veteran chases 4th double

For all the wonderful achievements of top steeplechaser Hypnotize, trainer Raymond Connors says the old bloke is the toughest horse to read.

At Ellerslie tomorrow, the remarkable Hypnotize will attempt the first leg of a double he has won three times.

The Mad Butcher-sponsored Pakuranga Hunt Cup-Great Northern Steeplechase double is about as tough as it gets in jumping.

The 12-year-old achieved it in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

His only misses in either race was when he finished fourth and second in the two contests in 2009.

Because Hypnotize has essentially been set for just those races each season, his form going into them has been difficult to read.

For example, trainer Raymond Connors expected Hypnotize to be more competitive than he was when just seventh, 20 lengths from the winner in the McGregor Grant Steeples on June 6.

Normally the 'chaser hasn't been "up" that early in the season and he looked unusually bright for him.

For his winning Great Northern performances, Hypnotize has looked lean and hungry.

"Yeah, I suppose he was a fraction brighter than usual that day, but I'd done my best to get him as fit as I could for it and I expected him to be more competitive.

"He does look harder now."

Hypnotize has had two hurdles races since the McGregor Grant and has been outpaced in both, leaving Connors with little to go on to gauge progress.

"He's very hard to gauge, but I am very happy with him generally," he said.

In his winning runs in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, Hypnotize has carried 64kg, 70kg and 70kg and in the Great Northern 65kg, 68.5kg and 70.5kg.

This time he has 72kg.

That's 4kg more than the next in the handicap, Climbing High, and 7.5kg more than the Waikato Steeplechase winner, Mali Juraj.

That won't be easy, but you have to remember back to last year's Great Northern - there is little doubt he could have won with a touch more than the 70.5kg.

It's clear Raymond Connors would like both these next two races run at the extreme distance of the Great Northern.

"He really needs a stamina trip - the further the better for him."

There is a clause written in to the Pakuranga Hunt Cup that the winner cannot be raised more than three rating points, however that would still be sufficient to perhaps get Hypnotize a further 1kg for the Great Northern should he win tomorrow.

The good weather is a blessing to Climbing High, who is best when he can use his natural speed.

He is game as well as speedy and will give plenty.

Fair King hasn't had a steeplechase since finishing fourth in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and third in the Great Northern last year.

He has been getting fit in hurdle races and is the type to show something here.

Mali Juraj was stylish in winning at Te Rapa and has been set for the Great Northern, although a win here is not beyond him.