the race on a further three occasions, and also won the other feature steeple during the May Carnival in 2017, the Brierly Steeplechase. “They’re very traditional (the people of Warrnambool). “They love horses and they especially love jumping horses.” Botti has run second in three Maiden Hurdles throughout his career, but with the jumps season now finished, all roads lead to the Jericho Cup. The son of Jakkalberry will be ridden by Chris McCarthy this Friday night at The Valley where he will shoulder the topweight of 70kg in the Road to Jericho Heat 2 – 3800m. The Jericho Cup itself is a stamina-sapping test over three miles, or 4650m, and Payne says it requires a certain horse to handle the undulating steeple course and the extended journey at Warrnambool. “Obviously they need the natural stamina. They need a good attitude and to be able to rest. “They have to be very genuine. They need to turn left and they turn right and it’s quite grueling, so I think he’s the ideal horse for the job.” “We all love the idea of the race, just to be a part of it. Just to be there on the day is fantastic, but if we could snag it, it’d just be unbelievable.”
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