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Matthew Cropp believes the better ground at Riccarton on Wednesday might be all that stands between him and his second victory in the Grand National Hurdles.

The Waverley-based rider won the prestige event in 2010 with Joint Effort and he is relying on another tough mare in Wee Biskit to double his tally in the Hospitality NZ-sponsored feature.

“The going worries me a bit, she’s never really been tried on a dead track,” Cropp said.

“She’s going super, the weight won’t worry her and neither will the distance. I’m still very confident with just the track the only question mark.”

Trained by part-owner Ken Duncan, last year’s Great Northern Hurdles winner has found form at the right time with success in the Wellington Hurdles two runs back before she posted a surprise highweight win at Waverley.

“Kenny said to let her do her own thing at Waverley. She was at the back and just flew past them – I couldn’t believe it,” Cropp said.

“I worked her this (Tuesday) morning and she’s full of herself and she couldn’t be going any better.”

While there was never any doubt that Cropp would be aboard Wee Biskit, he was impressed with stablemate Shamal’s effort when they combined to finish second in last Saturday’s Sydenham Hurdles.

“He definitely surprised me,” he said. “I expected him to go well, but I didn’t expect him to go that well. He’s only just turned five and he’s a big bloke, he might be a Great Northern horse.

“Kenny’s team is going really well and you need to be riding for a good stable now, it’s hard to freelance and he’s giving me some great opportunities.”