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 for a few years.
This provided a tie-in with the famous Czech Republic race whose course is based on the original 1880’s Grand National course.
Runner-By-Runner Guide:
Rocky's Treasure (Kim Bailey)
Such as been the success shown by the eight-year-old novice already this season that the handicapper has shouldered him with the top weight here.
Rocky’s Treasure has won four of his six starts over fences thus far but it was one of his defeats that stood out the most when he went down by just four lengths at the hands of Santini in a Grade 2 chase at Newbury.
Dingo Dollar (Alan King)
Dingo Dollar went off the hot 3/1 favourite for the Sky Bet Chase at this venue at the end of January but could only muster sixth place that day.
Alan King's charge is a previous winner at the track and if he can replicate his third in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in early December, then he must go close in this feature race.
A tilt at the Scottish National is on the cards should he put up a good performance on Saturday afternoon.
Abolitionist (Dr Richard Newland)
Abolitionist will have his prep race for the Grand National by taking in this race.
The eleven-year-old, who was third in the 2017 Irish Grand National, has yet to run over fences for Dr Newland since arriving from Ellmarie Holden's stable in Ireland - but he did win first time out over hurdles at Aintree back in November.
Expect a bold showing from this eight-time winner as he puts his Aintree credentials to the test.
Barney Dwan (Fergal O'Brien)
Barney Dwan was last seen when chasing home Glen Rocco at Kempton Park last month but that facile winner did very little to frank that form in his subsequent run.
The nine-year-old holds an entry in the Midlands Grand National and this could well be a warm up for that event.
Looking Well (Nicky Richards)
Winner of a Veterans’ Handicap Chase here over three miles last time out, the Nicky Richards-trained chaser should be able to cope with the extra two furlongs he will need to cover in this.
He holds an entry in the Grand National, but has no chance of getting in the race, so effectively this will be his own personal National.
Carole's Destrier (Neil Mulholland)
Ran very disappointingly in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last time out but he was hampered whilst at the rear of the field and that is a very plausible excuse.
Winner of the Mandarin Chase over Christmas and a decent fourth at Warwick the time after that, the eleven-year-old has the tendency to bounce right back when you least except it.
Brian Boranha (Peter Niven)
Brian Boranha is the sole representative from Yorkshire but he will do well to figure here after finishing unplaced in last month’s Sky Bet Chase.
The eight-year-old is more of a summer jumping type if the truth be known but it has been unseasonably warm this week so you should never say never.
Beau Du Brizais (Philip Hobbs)
Improving youngster Beau Du Brizais is on an upward curve and may have more to come this season.
His last two chase wins at Ludlow were impressive and if he can run up to that kind of standard again here then he must go close.
Acdc (Chris Grant)
Acdc was certainly pitched in on the highway to hell last time out when he unsuccessfully chased home Definitly Red and Double Shuffle at Aintree in the Many Clouds Chase.
This race looks somewhat easier on paper but Acdc appears to be at his best when there is some give underfoot and there doesn’t look like being much of that around at the weekend.
Lough Derg Jewel (Donald McCain)
Often sets the pace and sometimes gets one or two of the others off their feet in the early stages of a race.
The eight-year-old put a year-long lean spell behind him when winning at Doncaster in December and followed that up by running second at Kelso.
He seems to be a versatile horse when it comes to the ground conditions too.
Doing Fine (Neil Mulholland)
The eleven-year-old has really gone off the boil over the last couple of seasons since he won a race at Cheltenham in 2017. Alas that wasn’t the Festival and you’re unlikely to see him in the Cheltenham betting this year but this is more his level, especially on a going day.
Some of his better performances have come on good going so Doncaster may just revitalise this veteran.
Childswell (Nicky Richards)
Nobody would begrudge Chidswell winning this race after the connections of this horse unfortunately lost Baywing in the Eider Chase last Saturday.
Chidswell was the winner of a four-runner chase at Kelso last time out beating one of today’s rivals Lough Derg Jewel.
5 wins from 23 runs represent a 22% strike rate for this ten-year-old and he has followed up on a win before which is encouraging.
CONCLUSION:
Big things are expected from Abolitionist this weekend on his eagerly awaited return to chasing and his build up to Aintree.
Dr Newland will have left no stone unturned and he should be bang in contention come the business end of proceedings.
888sport suggests: Abolitionist (e/w).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
