A whiff of Spring is in the air as we head to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, with the prospect of a wet track lingering.

Corrina McDougal is still getting her voice back after cheering home Suliman to win last Saturday’s Grand National Hurdles (4200m), but it is straight back to business this week for the Hastings horsewoman.

Marton visitor Captains Run proved his eye-catching run for second in last week’s Koral Steeplechase (4250m) was just what he needed as he went one better to capture the 150th running of the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Captains Run split his more fancied rivals Jesko and West Coast in last week’s Koral Steeplechase (4250m) at Riccarton, and trainer Dan O’Leary is hoping he can go one better in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m).

It has been a while between drinks for Mathew Gillies on Grand National Day, but the talented hoop has plenty of firepower heading into this year’s time-honoured Riccarton meeting.

Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast, as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton Park.

Steeplechasing sensation Jesko made his debut over the big Riccarton fences a winning one when he triumphed in a three-way finish to Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m).

Shaun Fannin has spent plenty of time in the winner’s circle during the Grand National Festival of Racing, and this year’s carnival presents an entirely new challenge for the Awapuni horseman.

Mark Oulaghan has called on one of Australia’s leading jumps jockeys to partner West Coast, as the outstanding jumper heads south in pursuit of a historic fourth-consecutive Grand National crown.

The short-priced favourite for the upcoming Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Jesko, will step out on the flat at Waverley on Friday as he readies for his biggest test yet in a fortnight.

The Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) has always been the major target for Fourty Eight this preparation, and the hopes of reaching the iconic race took a massive step forward at Woodville on Sunday when he took out the Cody Singer Memorial (4000m) in convincing fashion.

The Frac Club’s partnership with trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin is off to a stellar start through rising steeplechase star Jesko, and up-and-comer Fourty Eight will attempt to add to that run in Sunday’s Cody Singer Memorial (4000m) at Woodville.

An exciting match-up between champion jumper West Coast and rising star Jesko is imminent, but the former’s trainer Mark Oulaghan is sticking with the old firm for the time being, with Shaun Fannin in the saddle in Sunday’s Glenanthony Simmentals Stud Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) at Woodville.