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Galleywood Hurdle winner The Statesman is preparing for his next jumps outing with another flat run.

Brett Scott has his eyes on a major jumping prize with The Statesman and as part of his program the gelding will have another flat run at Sandown. 

The Statesman heads to Sandown on Wednesday to run in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2400m) as a precursor to the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle (3500m) at Pakenham on July 18. 

But Scott's main target is the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown on August 1. 

"I would have preferred it to be on the Sandown Hillside, but it is what it is," Scott said. 

"He ran well there last meeting and he'll run there again and then he'll head to Pakenham and then two weeks later the Grand National Hurdle." 

Scott said running The Statesman on the flat served two purposes. 

It keeps the gelding's fitness levels up, but also by staying away from the jumps it will protect his rating. 

The Statesman won the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool during the May Carnival and at his only jumps run since finished second to Saunter Boy in the Australian Hurdle at Sandown on May 23 

"I didn't want to do too much hurdle racing and risk his handicap too much," Scott said. 

"I'm happy enough to go one more hurdle race before going to the National. 

"In the Australian Hurdle, Saunter Boy got away with a really easy lead and didn't get any pressure put on him. 

"We got into a position going up the hill the second time and got a bit of interference and lost a bit of ground and ended up giving the winner a big start. 

"So, he did well to finish off as he did and we walked away pretty happy with him." 

Scott also has Toosbuy contesting the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m). 

"He's looking for the trip, but I'd like to see a bit of rain as I wouldn't want to see the track getting too firm," Scott said.