ALTHOUGH Blandford Lad was able to inflict a rare defeat on Saunter Boy at their last meeting, his trainer Peter Gelagotis believes his galloper faces a huge challenge to repeat that performance when they meet again in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday.

Saunter Boy was going for his seventh win in a row in the Ecycle Solutions M.J. Bourke Hurdle (3200m) at Pakenham when he went down by a half-length to Blandford Lad.

Gelagotis isn’t certain Blandford Lad can be a giant killer again.

“I’m mindful we had a serious pull in the weights last time. This is a different scenario this time. We’re going to have put in a serious effort to beat Saunter Boy. There’s no doubt we’ve got a serious challenge on our hands," Gelagotis said.

At their last start Saunter Boy carried 72 kilos and Blandford Lad 65.5 kilos. In the Galleywood Hurdle, Saunter Boy will drop a kilo while Blandford Lad rises to 69 kilos which means he will meet him 4.5 kilos better.

At their last start Gelagotis said their plan was to push forward from the outset and test Saunter Boy with his weight.

He said his jockey Arron Lynch carried out those instructions to the letter.

“We were mindful we needed to give ourselves a chance against Saunter Boy by going forward and making the most of our weight advantage.”

Gelagotis even took to Facebook on Monday to say how proud he was of Blandford Lad having beaten Saunter Boy.

Gelagotis wrote: “Saunter Boy is one of the most credentialed jumpers in the recent history of jumps racing and to be competing against a horse of his prowess over the jumps is a thrill for me in its own right !! I truly admire Blandford Lad who has given me the opportunity to participate at the top level of jumps racing again! I also am a huge admirer of the Gallant Grey in Saunter Boy !!.“

He concluded that Saunter Boy is the horse that has put jumps racing on the map.

“Saunter Boy is so versatile as he can race on the speed and come from off the speed. He’s tough and unassuming and he just rolls the sleeves up and gets the job done,” Gelagotis said on Monday.

Gelagotis is equally as proud of his own horse who is the first jumper he has trained in seven years.

“I’m loving being back and being part of it. He’s an exciting horse and you could argue he could be unbeaten.”

Blandford Lad has had only six starts over the hurdles for four wins, a second and a third in the Grand National Hurdle.

“He’s a second season jumper and he’s got a lot of potential. We’re hoping he’ll run well again.”

ALTHOUGH Blandford Lad was able to inflict a rare defeat on Saunter Boy at their last meeting, his trainer Peter Gelagotis believes his galloper faces a huge challenge to repeat that performance when they meet again in the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool on Wednesday.

Saunter Boy was going for his seventh win in a row in the Ecycle Solutions M.J. Bourke Hurdle (3200m) at Pakenham when he went down by a half-length to Blandford Lad.

Gelagotis isn’t certain Blandford Lad can be a giant killer again.

“I’m mindful we had a serious pull in the weights last time. This is a different scenario this time. We’re going to have put in a serious effort to beat Saunter Boy. There’s no doubt we’ve got a serious challenge on our hands," Gelagotis said.

At their last start Saunter Boy carried 72 kilos and Blandford Lad 65.5 kilos. In the Galleywood Hurdle, Saunter Boy will drop a kilo while Blandford Lad rises to 69 kilos which means he will meet him 4.5 kilos better.

At their last start Gelagotis said their plan was to push forward from the outset and test Saunter Boy with his weight.

He said his jockey Arron Lynch carried out those instructions to the letter.

“We were mindful we needed to give ourselves a chance against Saunter Boy by going forward and making the most of our weight advantage.”

Gelagotis even took to Facebook on Monday to say how proud he was of Blandford Lad having beaten Saunter Boy.

Gelagotis wrote: “Saunter Boy is one of the most credentialed jumpers in the recent history of jumps racing and to be competing against a horse of his prowess over the jumps is a thrill for me in its own right !! I truly admire Blandford Lad who has given me the opportunity to participate at the top level of jumps racing again! I also am a huge admirer of the Gallant Grey in Saunter Boy !!.“

He concluded that Saunter Boy is the horse that has put jumps racing on the map.

“Saunter Boy is so versatile as he can race on the speed and come from off the speed. He’s tough and unassuming and he just rolls the sleeves up and gets the job done,” Gelagotis said on Monday.

Gelagotis is equally as proud of his own horse who is the first jumper he has trained in seven years.

“I’m loving being back and being part of it. He’s an exciting horse and you could argue he could be unbeaten.”

Blandford Lad has had only six starts over the hurdles for four wins, a second and a third in the Grand National Hurdle.

“He’s a second season jumper and he’s got a lot of potential. We’re hoping he’ll run well again.”