Racing: Ligament costs hurdles chance

North Canterbury trainer John Parsons hopes his instincts are rewarded when he lines up two runners in the $60,000 Hanz Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton Park tomorrow.

Parsons and his wife, Karen, will send first-season hurdlers Penny Rose and Artax into the race.

Cooling his heels at home is Coup South, who is being reserved for the Novice Hurdle on Saturday.

"I didn't even nominate him for the National," Parsons said after Coup South ran a blazing second in the Sydenham Hurdles last Saturday.

"As it turned out, I think if he had jumped the last fence properly he would have won it. He would enjoy the extra ground of the National, too."

Coup South dropped out of Grand National consideration when he hurt a suspensory ligament some time ago.

"The ligament was okay but there was some bleeding from time to time. It wasn't hurting but it was enough to keep you from getting carried away with future prospects," Parsons said.

The Parsons stable has never won the Grand National but has twice been second with Willywince and Comparable.

"Some years ago you would not have thought of running a first-season hurdler in the race but you do now," Parsons said.

"I am happy enough with both of them but that moisture out of the sky on Sunday night will not suit Artax.

"I would have to say Penny Rose is the better chance because she is half a chance to get the ground.

"I don't think the first day was the best guide to her chances. She has done everything right.

"But the looser the ground, the happier I would be."

Parsons has retained Shelley Houston on Artax after his win at Oamaru because he felt they got on well.

"I was disappointed with some of his earlier hurdle races. He wasn't keeping up with one-win horses and you would expect a horse with his flat record to do that.

"They were suggesting we switch to steeplechases but he can go a trip.

"Strangely, even though his form is on good ground, when he has been ridden on the flat in heavy ground and not gone on from the 800m senior riders have told me the going was not to blame.

"So you never quite know."

- NZPA