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Ben Foote believes Amanood Lad is back to the form that won him the McGregor Grant Steeplechase on his last visit to Ellerslie.

The Cambridge trainer is more than happy with the horse’s progress leading into Saturday’s Tony Richards Toyota Pakuranga Hunt Steeplechase and the engagement of top rider Craig Thornton has added to his optimism.

“Craig’s been asking me about the horse for a while and I stayed loyal to Richard Cully, but he’s broken his collar bone,” Foote said.

“I couldn’t have got anyone better than Craig – he gives you a lot of confidence.”

Former jumps jockeys’ premiership winner Cully rode Amanood Lad to victory in the McGregor Grant before an unplaced effort in the Manawatu Steeplechase.

“He went a bit hard and just wasn’t conditioned enough – he’d done too well between races,” Foote said.

Amanood Lad has since had a flat outing and been a regular visitor to Ann Browne’s renowned training operation.

“He’s been there for a few hit-outs up the hill and he trialled at Ellerslie last Friday with Tom’s Myth and Upper Cut,” Foote said. “I’m very happy with him and he can be a funny horse, but he’s been at the top of his game now for a while.”

The topweight Tom’s Myth lost his rider in the Wellington Steeplechase in just his second outing over the big fences this preparation after a sixth placing in the McGregor Grant.

He has a Pakuranga Hunt Cup record to be respected having won the race two years ago and he went on to complete the double in the Great Northern Steeplechase.

Stablemate Ima Heroine had won both features in 2011 and while her most recent form might be patchy, she has finished runner-up in the last two editions of the Hunt Cup.

Paul Nelson’s Bally Heights will front up at Ellerslie in good touch with two wins from his last four starts and he was also placed in the Waikato Steeplechase.