The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable have three experienced jumpers set to tackle the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on Sunday.

Among the nine entries for the 4200m on Sunday are Ablaze, Big Blue and Bit Of A Lad who at one time or another have struggled slightly for form, but also possess plenty of jumping ability.

Ablaze won the Grand National Hurdle on the corresponding program last year before going on to run second in the Grand National Steeplechase three weeks later.

He’s had two conditioning runs since, the latest finishing fourth in the Mosstrooper Steeplechase at Pakenham on July 18, along with two steeplechase schools in a bid to have him fit for Sunday’s assignment.

Eustace said Ablaze was ticking over nicely and should get some more benefit out of Sunday’s run in the lead-up to the Grand National at Ballarat on August 29.

“He ran well the other day,” Eustace said.

“He had a big weight and Steve (Pateman) got off and said he needed another lap.

“He’ll improve off that and having been off the scene for a long time he’ll get benefit from that first start over jumps as it gets different muscles working.”

Big Blue was a last start winner of a maiden steeplechase at Pakenham having lost his confidence earlier in the season.

A previous winner of the Galleywood Hurdle, Big Blue was a former Godolphin galloper that found his way to Maher and Eustace before returning to the UK for a jumps campaign.

His latest win was his first since the Galleywood victory in May 2019.

Bit Of A Lad had a rushed start to the jumps season.

He finished second in the Brierly Steeplechase during the May carnival, then backed up two days later to finish fifth in the Grand Annual.

Bit Of A Lad was retired from the Australian Steeplechase on May 23 before showing the stable his campaign was back on track with a third-place finish at Warrnambool on July 4.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au