Racing: Riddell takes ride on Waitaha Toa

Isaac Lupton, seen here on Hypnotize, will ride Solid Steal. Photo / Getty Images

Central Districts jockey Jonathan Riddell has elected to ride Waitaha Toa in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton tomorrow in a bid to win the race for a third time.

Riddell, rider of Waitaha Toa in his past two starts, has also ridden Solid Steal, a rival tomorrow, in his past three starts for a win in the Wellington Hurdles.

Waitaha Toa, who is trained at Awapuni by Lisa Latta, won a maiden steeple at Wanganui last time and a hurdle at Awapuni at his previous start. He won a maiden hurdle at Wanganui in June at his other start as a jumper.

Isaac Lupton, who rode Solid Steal to a 22-length win over hurdles at Trentham in June, is back aboard tomorrow. Lupton substituted for Tommy Hazlett to win the Koral Steeplechase on Counter Punch on Saturday.

Riddell has won the National Hurdles on Just A Swagger (2005) and Just Not Cricket (2008), both trained at Hastings by Paul Nelson, who is represented by Solid Steal and Ho Down (Richard Eynon) tomorrow.

Solid Steal was a lacklustre seventh in Saturday's Sydenham Hurdles won decisively by Joint Effort, who will again be ridden Matthew Cropp tomorrow.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES