The lure of a third Grand National Steeplechase kept Bashboy in Australia and trainer Ciaron Maher believes the jumper is ready to peak for his shot at a historic win.

Bashboy will be out to become the first horse to win the Grand National Steeplechase - first run in 1866 - three times.

Maher is hoping the 10-year-old gelding can achieve it on Sunday at Sandown, saying connections decided to target a three-peat against an overseas trip.

"We had a meeting (after last season) and we raised the idea of England," Maher said.

"There's not many horses you get here that can handle the tracks and are scopey enough to jump a bigger fence and are big enough to carry the heavier weights over there. But he sort of ticks all those boxes.

"So we had a meeting about that and they decided to stay here and try to win three Nationals. So far I'm pretty happy with him, so hopefully he can."

Bashboy made his jumps return for the season at Bendigo last month but was pulled out during the Mosstrooper Steeplechase and he was found to have had an irregular heart rhythm.

He bounced straight back to his best two weeks later with a 10-length win in the Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool and added a third-straight Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown on July 13, winning by eight lengths.

"This is his target race that we've trained him for and aimed him to peak at, and I think he will take some slight improvement from his last run," Maher said.

"Sandown, the track and the distance all looks in his favour. The weight is probably the only negative."

Weights for the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) will be released on Wednesday.

Bashboy won his second Grand National with 72.5kg last year and is likely to get 74kg or more for Sunday's race.

Maher is convinced Bashboy is going better than last year.

"This preparation has been his best preparation that I have trained him for," he said.

"His flat form and jumping, and just looking at him, he's just come up better."