The Grimthorpe Chase has had a long and varied history but is still regarded as a major stepping stone on the road to the Aintree and Midlands Grand Nationals.
Prior to the early 1980s the Grimthorpe was run over two miles and 150 yards but the distance was then upped dramatically, almost doubling to a stamina testing four miles and 100 yards.
The race distance changed again in the 1990’s to the current trip of three and a quarter miles when it was run as the Velka Pardubicka Grimthorpe Chase.
This provided a tie-in with the famous Czech Republic race whose course is based on the original 1880’s Grand National course.
Grimthorpe Chase: Trends
- 10/10 - No more than 4 chase wins.
- 9/10 - Won over 3m or further.
- 8/10 - Carried 11-0 or less.
- 8/10 - Started 15/2 or shorter in horse racing odds.
- 7/10 - Aged 8 or 9.
- 7/10 - No more than 11 chase starts.
Runner-By-Runner Guide:
Beware The Bear (Nicky Henderson)
Despite being a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last year, the ten-year-old is bypassing Prestbury Park, running here before a tilt at the Grand National. The Ultima winner will have to shoulder 11st 12lbs though which will be no easy task.
Definitly Red (Brian Ellison)
The popular Yorkshire warrior won this race in 2017 – but he also holds an entry in the Premier Chase at Kelso which Ellison said he was favouring earlier in the week. If he does run here he is certainly the class act and will go close.
Secret Investor (Paul Nicholls)
Holds an entry here but it is highly likely that he will race at Newbury instead in the Greatwood Gold Cup.
Saint Xavier (Paul Nicholls)
The eight-year-old has entries in two races this weekend. He is entered for the Grimthorpe and the Listed contest at Kelso before heading on next to Aintree for the Grand National.
Boldmere (Caroline Bailey)
Boldmere had the Towton Novices’ Chase at his mercy a month ago before an uncharacteristic error at the last fence had him down on the deck.
It’s easy to see why the seven-year-old has been well backed this week and is fancied to gain compensation.
Now McGinty (Stuart Edmunds)
Now McGinty disappointed in the Welsh National last time but looks well treated in the weights now based upon his form line with Mister Malarky in last year’s Reynoldstown.
Le Breuil (Ben Pauling)
Grand National hope and leading Kim Muir fancy Le Breuil has entries in both the Premier Chase at Kelso and the Grimthorpe.
Whichever Ben Pauling opts for, he must be in with a live chance.
Yalltari (Venetia Williams)
Sent off the favourite in the Ascot Silver Cup, the grey gelding never figured but could easily bounce back here. He had an unbeaten season over hurdles before winning over fences and placing in a Grade 2 at Ascot last term.
Some Chaos (Michael Scudamore)
Some Chaos was in cracking form around this time last year, but the ground was good back then and ever since the nine-year-old has struggled in any ground resembling soft or worse.
Le Rocher (Nick Williams)
In two runs this season, Le Rocher has finished runner-up at Wincanton and third at Sandown and his trainer is keen to run him on the expected soft ground at Doncaster. The veteran looks like a solid each-way player.
Clondaw Anchor (Dan Skelton)
The progressive seven-year-old was unlucky to run into Dominateur at Chepstow over Christmas and should relish the trip and the going on Saturday afternoon. Another bold show is expected.
Worthy Farm (Paul Nicholls)
The Paul Nicholls-trained Worthy Farm is in search of a hat-trick of wins after two gutsy victories at Wincanton this term. However, how he deals with a left-handed track is the million dollar question?
Aaron Lad (Dr Richard Newland)
Aaron Lad has shown that he is pretty versatile when it comes to ground conditions and his last outing resulted in a victory at Exeter in heavy conditions. His double figure odds look extremely generous at the moment.
Captain Chaos (Dan Skelton)
Warwick's Classic Chase runner-up Captain Chaos has to come into calculation based upon that run alone. Frustratingly for connections though, the nine-year-old has not won now since February 2018.
Chidswell (Nicky Richards)
The veteran performer sprung an 18/1 surprise in this last year and is certainly no back number this season either, finishing a decent third to Ok Corral in the Sky Bet Chase at this venue last time out.
Fortified Bay (Jennie Candlish)
Jennie Candlish-trained runners traditionally come to the fore every season in the month of February and the eight-year-old comes here after the cancellation of the Eider Chase, sporting two previous wins.
Eceparti (Venetia Williams)
The French import has been a revelation this season for Venetia Williams but this is quite a step up in trip for the likeable six-year-old.
Very First Time (Dan Skelton)
Very First Time finished fourth behind Hugo 'n Taz in December, but bounced right back next time with a four lengths success here at Doncaster. He has gone up 7lbs for that win however which may be his undoing this time.
Ascot De Bruyere (James Ewart)
The ten-year-old is somewhat of a course specialist at Newcastle, but he was well beaten on his last two starts there and has it all to do in any rematch with Fortified Bay.
Horatio Hornblower (Nick Williams)
The elder statesman of the field at the age of twelve and was a winner here back in December. He could find things happening all a bit quickly for him on this occasion.
Glittering Love (Nicky Richards)
The Eider had been the eight-year-old’s target for some time so connections must have been really disappointed when that was cancelled last week. Whether he can pick up this afterthought of a race is an entirely different matter.
Dark Flame (Richard Rowe)
The eleven-year-old was off the track for two years before returning this season and putting up a couple of decent performances in Veteran Chases. He could come up short in a race of this nature.
Cesar Et Rosalie (N. Mulholland)
Unseated in the race won by Worthy Farm at Wincanton and has been struggling for form this season.
Grimthorpe Chase: Who Wins?
I’m keen to try and recoup my Wetherby losses by backing Boldmere (nap) again, but I also really liked the credentials of Fortified Bay (nb) for the Eider last week, so I will have to give him some sort of a chance once again at this venue.
888sport suggests: Boldmere & Fortified Bay (e/w).
*Article based upon the available entries on Thursday 27th February.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo*
