Doherty rides Deceptive in the 2600m jumping feature - a horse he has piloted to his past two wins over the fences at Wingatui on April 18 and Riverton on May 2.
But the Irish-bred Doherty has been in New Zealand long enough to know that any time Kevin Myers travels with a horse, the warning signs should be burning holes in the retinas of the opposing jockeys.
Krase is the hurdler in question who comes down south after a fourth behind Aintree over the hurdles at Wanganui on Sunday.
''You've always got to respect Dummy Myers' horses regardless of how many races they've run on the flat or over jumps,'' Doherty said.
That said, Doherty could not be happier with Deceptive who has been faultless in this campaign, including his last start at Riverton.
''He jumps well, and he's got a big stride. He's reasonably safe, touch wood,'' Doherty said.
''But he's going to be coming up against the likes of High Forty who is unraced over the jumps this year, but is a talented horse, and Gargamel ... he's one you'd want to be watching.
While the 8yr-old Deceptive is in the middle of his hurdling career, Doherty teams up once again with the 13yr-old No Rush'n for the $30,000 Great Western Steeplechase, and he thinks he and trainer David Hutton have got the formula slightly more accurate for this year's running.
''We've kept him fresh,'' he said.
''Last year we trained him up a bit hard, he went to the Riverton meeting and then into the Western and it took him a while to get over it as a older horse.
''This year, we have him feeling better than last year. He's eating well, and his jumping is outstanding - he rarely makes a mistake.
Doherty hopes No Rush'n's dedication to jumping will play a part towards the end of 4000m journey.
''He's a veteran, and he's probably not got the same class as some of the horses in the field, but he's got the experience which always counts over steeplechase fences.''
Doherty is a busy man, with rides in all seven races at the meeting, and rates the Kerry King-trained Northern Tap (race 7) as his best chance on the flat.
''[He] was quite impressive breaking through the maiden grades last time, and cops the same track.''
Additional information for meetings today.-
M2 Racing Rotorua
Rider
Race 9: Redemption - Masa Tanaka
Scratching
Race 4: Needlly
Weather, raining; track, slow (8); rail true.
M4 Taranaki TRI
Rider:
Race 7: Defenciti - Jess Shackleton (a3)
Scratchings
Race 1: Bouvier
Race 2: Suarez, Durham Rose
Race 4: Aunt Daisy
Race 5: St Rhythm, Oh So Nauti, Royal Hussy
Race 6: Duke Of Dirk
Race 7: Dr Paul, Day Walker
Race 9: Shaky, Enjay
Weather, raining; track, heavy (10), rail out 1m.
M8 NZ Metropolitan TC
ScratchingRace 3: Allura
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
