KEY POINTS:
Trainer Robert Smerdon went to Sandown yesterday thinking topweight Some Are Bent would be up against it in the $A250,000 Grand National Hurdle, but was pleased to be proved wrong.
Smerdon considered the 68kg Some Are Bent had to carry over the 4250m trip, the longest journey he had attempted by 800m, was an issue.
"I came here thinking he wouldn't win, but I have to hand it to the horse and Brad McLean," Smerdon said.
McLean believed that the way Some Are Bent was racing this year, he would stay the Grand National distance and he convinced connections to run him in the feature race, which Smerdon has now won three times, with Highland Bill in 1996 and Zabenz in 2002.
Some Are Bent made it seven straight wins over the jumps, a sequence which started with a seven-length Ballarat maiden hurdle victory on June 29 last year.
McLean has been in the saddle on all but one of those occasions including his wins in the JJ Houlahan Hurdle and the LV Lachal Hurdle.
The Distorted Humor 5-year-old settled second behind Swift Rule in the early stages yesterday before working his way to the lead.
Ginolad was the only threat in the home straight but could not peg Some Are Bent back, despite a 6kg advantage, losing by 2 1/4 lengths with Pantani 12 lengths away third.
Smerdon said Some Are Bent was now at his peak and he was considering switching him to the bigger fences for the $200,000 Hiskens Steeplechase (3700m) which will be run at Moonee Valley on July 28.
"There is not that big a step between the hurdles and the steeplechase fences these days and hurdlers have got a good record first-up in steeplechases."
- AAP
