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Alan Browne is hoping his favourite jumper can turn his carnival prospects around on the final day at Riccarton.
The Irishman endured a miserable time on Wednesday when he was brought down off Paddy Owen in the maiden hurdle and then parted company with My Magician in the Grand National Hurdles.
Browne will now look to the Leda Beck-trained Gargamel to turn things around in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase.Victory would gain them entry into an elite club as two years ago they triumphed in the Grand National Hurdles.
“After a couple of falls on Wednesday that would be grand,” Browne said. “He hasn’t had the racing that he did the year he won the Hurdles and as he’s got older he’s got a bit more cunning.“He’s improving though and it was always the plan to go for the Steeples and the extra 1400 metres will definitely suit him.”
Browne has been aboard Gargamel in all 16 of his hurdle starts, for three wins, and he had ridden the gelding in each of his nine outings over the big fences for a win and seven placings.The latest of them was a third behind The Big Opal and Upper Cut in the Koral Steeples last Saturday.
“I probably didn’t give him the most economical ride and we got hampered at the 800,” Browne said.“He went down on his knees and that knocked the rhythm out of him so it was a good run.
“I think he’s one of the best stayers around – the further they go the better he gets.”