Wells’s third Grand National Steeplechase win at Sportsbet-Ballarat last Sunday rates as his best, according to part-owner and Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Nick Rule.
Rule said the tough jumper might line up for an attempt at an unprecedented fourth victory in the race next year.
“He had to lump 71.5kg on a heavy 10,” Rule said. “It was an incredible effort by a very tough horse.
“I’ve got to give credit to (trainer) Kathryn and Craig Durden — they’ve done an amazing job. It was also a great ride by Richard Cully.”
Rule said it was up to Kathryn Durden to formulate a plan for Wells to win a record fourth Grand National.
“We’ll leave it all up to Kathryn,” he said. “Kathryn and Craig really understand Wells. Our biggest worry will be the handicapper.”
Wells joins only Bashboy as a three-time National winner.
Rule, who is also in the ownership of unplaced National runners Dormello Mo and I’ll’ava’alf, said they were no match for Wells.
“I think we’ve learnt that Dormello Mo might not run the 4500 metres and I’ll’ava’alf was disappointing,” he said. “I’ll’ava’alf showed how hard it is to run in a Grand Annual and a Grand National in the one year.”
Wells took his earnings to $1,097,322 with Sunday’s win.
Manner to paddock, for now
Veteran jumper Mannertone will be freshened up and may run in a steeplechase at Coleraine next month after failing to finish the course in the Grand National at Ballarat.
Trainer Anne McGrath says Mannertone will have a brief break in the paddock before she decides whether the nine-year-old press on.
“He’s in the paddock,” McGrath said. “We’ll leave him there for a week or so and see how he is.
“Mannertone will tell us if he’s right to finish off the jumps season. The problem is he’ll get big weights in lesser-class jumps races.”
Mannertone has won more than $220,000 in stakemoney over jumps.
Hats off to Braidon
Two Hats gave Warrnambool jumps jockey Braidon Small his biggest race win and a belated birthday present when he won the Houlahan Hurdle at the Ballarat meeting.
Small, who celebrated his 26th birthday on July 30, said he was grateful to local trainers for the support they’ve offered him over the last five years.
“It was a big win,” he said. “He’s a very talented jumper.
“I’ve got to thank Aaron Purcell for giving me the chance to ride Two Hats. I do a lot of work for his stable and I appreciate the support.
“I’ve only been riding over jumps for five years and this year has been my best. Quinton Scott, Simon Ryan and Jarrod McLean have also been really supportive.
“I’ve been riding better jumpers this year — that’s why I’ve been going so well.”
Small, who will head home to Queensland for a month’s break in October, has ridden 18 winners. He can ride two more befoer losing his 1.5kg claim in jumps races.
In other news from the Purcell stable. the trainer is prepared to forget the unplaced run of his mare Written Era at Caulfield on Saturday.
Written Era finished seventh, more than two lengths behind winner Sullivan Bay, in the $100,000 Legacy 2017 Badge Appeal Handicap (1100m).
“Written Era missed the start slightly,” Purcell said.
“She wasn’t really suited to dropping back to 1100 metres after winning over 1200 metres last time but we needed to give her a run as we’re going to run in the ($150,000) Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on September 2.
“She really needed the run. I’m prepared to forget her performance because the pattern of the race was against her.”
Written Era has won five of her 13 starts.
Ryan on a raid
Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan heads to the British Isles early next month on a mission to boost stable numbers.
Ryan will attend the two-day horses-in-training sale at Doncaster in the UK on September 5 and 6.
“I’ve got a stable client who’s keen for me to have a look,” Ryan said.
“I’ll also be catching up with David Ryan (brother of expat Irish jumps jockey Tom) and we’ll be visiting various studs and stables in England and Ireland.
“The trip is a great opportunity to set up some contacts.”