Racing: Rescheduled jumps work for No Hero

No Hero is a definite starter in the re-scheduled $50,000 Wellington Steeplechase at Hastings on Thursday.

The Hawkes Bay-based jumping star's dodgy leg had kept him from being in the original line-up which was to have been raced at Trentham on Saturday. That meeting was abandoned because of the track conditions.

A leg problem kept No Hero away from jumping for the entire winter last year and owner and trainer Paul Nelson had not wanted to risk the leg on the very testing Trentham July footing.

With the race now down to be staged at Hastings, Nelson says it's an opportunity too good to miss.

And, it falls in the right week. Had the same scenario occurred last week, No Hero would not have had the correct fitness levels to compete.

The relatively easy time Nelson gave No Hero after winning the Hawkes Bay Steeples ended last weekend and the dashing grey had a tough week's work put into him.

"And we've got another four days to top him off," said Nelson yesterday. "I don't think he's lost too much."

The Wellington Racing Club made the brave decision to stage its four jumping races at Hastings when a water-logged course proper forced an abandonment on Friday on the grounds of safety.

It then made a secondary decision to call for new nominations rather than run with the same line-up, which for the steeplechase included Lucky Tip.

Lucky Tip would have gone close to starting favourite on Saturday, but he was no match for No Hero when second in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase.

The stakes for the Wellington Steeplechase and Wellington Hurdles remain the same at $50,000 and $40,000 and the two lesser novice jumps races drop from $27,000 to $20,000.

The Hastings track, after being in relatively good winter condition last week, will almost certainly be heavy," said Paul Nelson.

"We've had it pretty good but over the weekend an easterly has rolled through and we've had a fair amount of rain.

"Generally an easterly will hang around for three or four days and if that's the case the track will be heavy."

Nominations close at midday today.