KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE: Trainer Peter Rintoul has decided to bite the bullet and take on Grand National Hurdle winner Some Are Bent with promising jumper Kingston Scene in today's Macdonald Steeplechase at Moonee Valley.
Some Are Bent, who will try to make it eight straight wins over the jumps, and Kingston Scene both make their 'chasing debuts in the A$100,000 ($110,000) feature over 3700m.
"It's better to go now and take him (Some Are Bent) on with the 4kg advantage," said the trainer who races Kingston Scene himself.
Under the conditions of the Macdonald, Some Are Bent has to carry 69kg but even if he wins today he will drop to 67kg which is the maximum weight under the different conditions of his next target, the A$200,000 Hiskens Steeple at the Valley on July 28.
Kingston Scene is backing up after his narrow win over Johnny Knoxville in the BR Smith Hurdle (3000m) at Sandown last Saturday.
"I'm very happy with him and his blood is right but it's a matter of whether he can handle the step up in class," Rintoul said.
"He's come a fair way in a short time. Three starts back he won a maiden hurdle."
Steven Pateman, who has ridden the Kingston Seattle 6-year-old in his three hurdle starts for two wins and a second, retains the mount.
- AAP
