Racing: Kidunot earns Grand National start

Kidunot will be aimed at the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton next month after a convincing win in his first start over country at Oamaru yesterday.

"Now that he has had the practice, I will target the Grand National Steeplechase but I will leave my options open on whether I bring him back to hurdling," Ellis Winsloe, the trainer and part-owner of Kidunot, brilliant winner of the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie in September, said.

Kidunot was settled in third place in the Otago Steeplechase by Daniel Bothamley as Lindisfarne and The Matrix disputed the pace. Kidunot came to the fore at the second-last fence and won by 2 lengths.

Lindisfarne fought on well for second. His rider Gary Walsh felt he was not well suited to the firmer ground.

The win extended family records in the race. Winsloe's father, Ted, won it with Vamoose in 1963, when it was run at Wingatui.

Riverton farmer Bill Hazlett snr, father of Bill Hazlett, a part-owner of Kidunot, won the Otago Steeplechase as an owner or trainer with Taramea Bay (1978), Bright Blue (1972) and Tadpole (1964).

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES