Ciaron Maher is mulling over whether Bit Of A Lad bypasses the Brierly in bid to win a sixth Grand Annual

The five-time Grand Annual winning trainer is looking to take advantage of the retirements of star jumpers Gold Medals and Zem Em in Thursday’s main event.

Bit Of A Lad (right) matching motors with Flying Agent in the 2021 Brierly Steeplechase. Picture: Getty Images

FIVE-TIME Grand Annual winner Ciaron Maher is “mulling” whether to save Brierly Steeplechase contender Bit Of A Lad for Thursday’s main event.

Bit Of A Lad, who won the 2019 Brierly, has contested the past three Annuals, running fourth (twice) and fifth last year.

But the retirements of Grand Annual legends Gold Medals and Zed Em recently has weakened the field and tempted Maher to consider bypassing the Brierly altogether.

“I was toying on one or the other … I’m still mulling over that,” Maher said.

“If he runs in the Brierly, it’d be hard not to run in the Annual, it’s only a small field.”

Bit Of A Lad is top weight in both — 70kg and 69kg respectively — having to lump five kilograms more than his opposition.

He finished fourth in the 2020 Grand Annual, won by stablemate Ablaze, in a year where Maher chose not to run him in the Brierly.

Gold Medals and Zed Em finished second and third that year from Bit Of A Lad.

“I think in the Annual’s he’s only been beaten by those (calibre) horses and they’re all retired, so I’ve got a bit more mulling to do there,” Maher said.

Bit of a Lad is being set for another Grandd Annual tilt. Picture: Natasha Morello-Racing Photos via Getty Images

“The Annual doesn’t look strong (this year) … he’s in good order, knows his way around there.

“As Steve (Pateman) said ‘he’ll take the paint off the wings on every corner’, he’s pretty up and about.”

Bit Of A Lad has won seven of 27 jumps starts and placed a further 10 times.

Maher remains bullish about Heberite, owned in similar interests as Ablaze and the world’s best sprinter Nature Strip, in the Annual also.

Heberite finished third last start in a Pakenham tune-up.

“He was ridden quiet the other day, which is not his usual pattern,” Maher said.

“He ran well in a Jericho (third), seems to jump well, jumps better rolling along.

“I think he’s in on the right weight, he’ll run the trip, he’ll handle whatever track they throw up, I think he’s got a great chance in the Annual.”

Maher has won the Brierly three times previously and the Galleywood Hurdle once.

Big Blue on Wednesday will attempt a second Galleywood crown after his 2019 success.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher is mulling over whether Bit Of A Lad bypasses the Brierly in bid to win a sixth Grand Annual