Champion rider Steven Pateman believes Extra Zero could be a player in the Grand National Hurdle after the veteran galloper broke through for his first jumps win at his second attempt.

A winner of almost $1.6 million in prize money on the flat during a career which has included finishing a close second in the 2015 Group One Australian Cup, Extra Zero took out a benchmark-120 hurdle at Ballarat on Thursday in heavy (10) going.

The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained rising 10-year-old made his hurdle debut at Warrnambool last month with a second placing before scoring by 2-3/4 lengths on Thursday.

Pateman believes Hayes can target better hurdle races now with Extra Zero but admits the gelding doesn't like the heavy conditions.

He said with the Grand National Hurdle being at Sandown, he might get drier ground there and believes he has the ability to be competitive.

"He jumps good and he's won $1.6 million on the flat. So that says it all," Pateman told Racing.com.

Pateman said Extra Zero was loving his jumping on Thursday, despite not liking the going.

"His wheels were spinning after the second last (hurdle), but his jumping was good and he deserved to win it," he said.