The gun jumps trainers of modern-day Oakbank, Eric Musgrove and John Wheeler, were like two poker players squaring off for a last hand when it came to discussing today's $94,500 CUB Von Doussa Steeplechase.

Musgrove, shooting for an astonishing 10th Von Doussa success in the past 18 years, can't split two of his three runners and amazingly neither is The Rampager.

The Rampager is the defending Von Doussa champion and $4 favourite in overnight betting on the race.

"I know he trialled OK around here on Monday but I think he might be one hard run short of being at his top," Musgrove said of The Rampager yesterday.

"Look, he can still win because he has the class and is suited by the conditions.

"But I think Young Maverick and Chakra might just have an edge on him at this stage of the jumps season . . . and I really can't split them as the better chance."

Young Maverick, who chased home class acts, Oliverdance and Risky Venture, at Sandown last Saturday will wear blinkers over jumps for the first time and Musgrove considers they will improve him.

"He tends to want to drop out early in his races but the blinkers will make him concentrate more and race more forward which is essential in the Von Doussa," Musgrove said.

"The Von Doussa is more for the dashing type of jumper, the Great Eastern is for the dour staying horse."

Young Maverick has yet to win over the jumps but has run five minor placings from eight tries, several against talented opposition like he is meeting today.

Musgrove said he knew nothing about two of the three Wheeler runners but had great respect for Crafty Dancer as the winner of the Grand National and Australian Steeplechases in Melbourne.

Wheeler had not even seen the fields for the Oakbank program yesterday but is not short on confidence about the chances of his Von Doussa runners.

But like Musgrove he favours his lesser-known pair, Da Hei and Dannuccio, ahead of $5 equal second favourite Crafty Dancer although not discounting the topweight as a genuine chance.

"Crafty Dancer will relish the Great Eastern trip on Monday but he needs to run in the Von Doussa tomorrow to have him fully fit," Wheeler said.

"Having said that I still expect him to run well tomorrow and he's done plenty of work at home."

But Wheeler is tipping both Da Hei and Dannuccio to be very competitive today and says the pair have shown plenty of ability from a handful of hurdle runs in New Zealand.

"I purposely keep them out of the limelight so the handicapper can't get at them when the big races come up," he said.

"And in the set weights races like the Von Doussa and Great Eastern I know they will get in on the minimum.

"Horses like Touch Judge, Light Hand and Foxboy were all treated the same way before they came here to win at Oakbank.

"It's still a big contract to ask them to come here and win races like the Von Doussa and Great Eastern but you never know until they give it a try."

Brett Scott, who rides Oakbank better than anybody in the modern era, has opted to pilot Da Hei but says it is more of a "gut feeling" than anything specific.

"Scotty asked me to choose his ride for him but I said he was the jockey and could make his own decision," Wheeler said.

While Musgrove and Wheeler will between them saddle up six of the 12 likely runners today, the likes of Churchill, Boxter Blue and Black Anthem are all capable of spoiling the party for either or both trainers.

Source: Dennis Markham, The Advertiser