Isaac Lupton is the new rider for Mr Align in the Manawatu Steeplechase at Awapuni tomorrow.
Mr Align was ridden by Derek Nolan in his last-start win in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie on June 6.
Nolan had been suspended for careless riding at Ellerslie two days earlier. He is out until midnight tomorrow.
Nolan was a late replacement for Daniel Oakden, who was unable to make the weight.
Oakden, who had ridden Mr Align to win his two previous starts at Te Rapa and Paeroa, was suspended at Wingatui on Sunday for attempting to weigh out without articles of riding gear.
Lupton won the 2008 Manawatu Steeplechase on Triplepan.
Logan James, who won the race last year under 65.5kg, has 1.5kg less weight tomorrow.
He may improve on his fifth in the Waikato Steeplechase, his third start back from an enforced lay-off through injury.
Jonathan Riddell, who rode Ho Down to win the Awapuni Hurdles 12 months ago, has the mount on stablemate Solid Steal tomorrow.
"Jonathan just relys on me to decide his mount," Paul Nelson, the Hastings trainer, said.
"I have put the Welsh boy [Thomas Flint] on our horse [Ho Down]."
Flint, who came to New Zealand last month, is working for the stable. He rode Ho Down to finish third to Mount Sinai and Big Brownie in the Ken Browne Memorial Hurdles at Ellerslie on June 6.
"Tom is having trouble with his weight and compared to Australia, the minimum of 63kg in New Zealand is too low," Nelson said.
Ho Down has 65kg, 1kg more than he carried last year.
Spirit Of Alaton, the topweight with 67kg, won the race with 65kg in 2008.
