Talent-packed field for Sunday’s National but Kathryn hopes distance will help Lincoln King

Trainer Kathryn Durden has Lincoln King primed for Sunday’s A$300,000 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown but says the veteran has picked a tough year to take on what looks to be a vintage field.

The 10-year-old goes into the Victorian feature with two lead-up placings at Warrnambool and Pakenham in the last month and is expected to appreciate the longer 4200 metre trip.

But Durden, who saddled Frankenstar in the National last year, only to watch him weaken out of contention very late, says he’ll have to perform at his very best to feature.

“This race looks a lot stronger than last year’s and there’s quite a bit of depth in the field. A lot of horses in the race have good flat ability, like King.

“Frankenstar’s effort (for fifth) was good and King has a lot more flat ability than Frankenstar but this is a very strong race.

“But he’s been competitive with these horses before and definitely deserves his place in the race.”

Durden has kept Lincoln King ticking over nicely since his excellent late-closing third behind Port Guillaume and Leaderboard (rivals again) in the A$126,500 Australian Hurdle (3900m) on June 2.

Unbeaten jumper Affluential in action at Warrnambool.He resumed with a fourth on the flat over 3600 metres at Bendigo on June 27, behind one of Sunday’s favourites in Affluential, Verry Elleegant’s full brother who is now unbeaten in three starts over hurdles.

That run fitted him for a hurdle at Warrnambool on July 7, when he finished third, finding the 3200 metres too short.

“You didn’t see horses making a lot of ground at Warrnambool but he stuck to the task. I think coming back to two miles took the sharpness out of him, not that he ever has that much sharpness.”

Durden was pleased with how Lincoln King performed when third again on July 21, finding the 3500 metres of the A$101,000 Drechsler Hurdle more to his liking, albeit a margin behind runaway 14-length winner Right Now, also a rival this weekend.

“It was a very heavy 9 track and he kept staying on but even though he handled the ground well I’d prefer to get it to a soft 6 on Sunday - that would be perfect for him.

“While he seems to find one or two who have a bit more sprint than him, I’m hoping the extra distance helps him.”

Aaron Kuru on his way to winning the Grand National last year on San Remo. PHOTO: Racing Photos.Durden is pleased to have Richard O’Donoghue in the saddle again after he reunited with the horse for his last two starts.

“Richard knows the horse well. He educated him and did all his trialling last prep but didn’t ride him initially because he got injured.”

With the suspension of Lincoln King’s regular rider Arron Lynch, O’Donoghue happily jumped back aboard.

“He’s a patient rider and the horse jumps well for him.”

Durden said Lincoln King had only to do what he’s been doing to run well on Sunday over the 15-fence test.

“But where he finishes, who knows? I know my horse is bright, he’s been racing well, I think he’ll stay the distance, and he’s run well at Sandown before, but you can’t predict how he’ll go in this type of field. It’s a hard race to win.”

Durden is no stranger to winning Nationals, having prepared top jumper Wells to win the Grand National Steeplechase three times - in 2014, 2016 and 2017, as a 10-year-old.

* Top Kiwi jockey Aaron Kuru will be out to win Sunday’s National Hurdles for the third time in five years when he teams with the Kiwi-owned Leaderboard, trained by Mark Walker. Kuru scored last year on 10-year-old San Remo and in 2019 with Tallyho Twinkletoe.

Lincoln King runs in the National at 4.15pm NZ time at Sandown on Sunday.