A change of venue on Saturday will be far more to the liking of the well-performed jumper Wise Men Say.

He was never a factor in last weekend’s McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4000m) around the figure-eight circuit at Trentham and will back up in the LJ Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m).

“He’s come through it well, he just couldn’t keep up at Wellington,” part-owner and trainer Raymond Connors said. “It will be a different ball game at Awapuni.”

Wise Men Say has won five times over the big fences and is the current Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) title-holder.