Steven Pateman has declared reigning jumper of the year Bashboy is better than last season ahead of his return to the obstacles at Sandown.

Pateman partners the Ciaron Maher-trained Bashboy in the Australian Steeplechase on Saturday, with the jockey confident of adding the one feature Australian jumps race to elude him.

"The 3900 metres on a heavy track is not ideal first-up (over the jumps) but I think he's just that much better than them that he should be able to overcome it," Pateman said.

Bashboy is unbeaten in his three steeplechase starts which included last year's Crisp Steeple and Grand National.

His preparation for his seasonal return to jumping has included three starts on the flat with a win in a 2400m highweight race at Pakenham on May 20.

"I think he's better than last year," Pateman said, adding the gelding went into his 2012 campaign off a two-year absence after injury.

"If he gets beaten I would be surprised. But I would say it would just be fitness on a heavy track."

Pateman has won two Australian Hurdles - the other jumps race on Saturday's Sandown card - but is desperate to add a first Australian Steeplechase to his record.

"It's the only feature race I haven't won. It's been a bit of a hoodoo race for me," he said.

While Bashboy is an odds-on favourite, Pateman's Australian Hurdle mount Brungle Cry is fighting out favouritism with Macedonian.

Macedonian won a maiden hurdle by 20 lengths at his jumps debut but his trainer Peter Moody was disappointed with the weights because he is only getting 3kg off Brungle Cry and Gotta Take Care.

The nomination of champion Black And Bent, who was given 73.5kg, compressed the handicaps.

A noted wet-track performer, Brungle Cry will have conditions to suit on Saturday.