The 3m2f Grimthorpe Handicap Chase has long been a staying handicap of pedigree, traditionally being a trial for the Grand National. A field of 14 has been attracted even this close to Cheltenham, and Joe Napier previews this year’s renewal.
Top-weight Does He Know won this off 12st a year ago, as only he and Some Scope completed in a field of ten.
SOME SCOPE
(Richard Hobson/Gavin Sheehan)
Last year’s runner-up is a good place to start as a horse who has also won over 3m at Doncaster. Richard Hobson’s seven-year-old has been slightly inconsistent this term, but is clearly highly capable on his day, as shown when gamely winning the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day.
He has pulled up twice at Cheltenham this season in four starts though, while his fourth in between in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase was uncompetitive. He remains on a mark he can win off and form of 12 at this venue ensures he enters considerations, but there are plenty of rivals here who are equally attractively handicapped, if not more so.
WHITE RHINO
(Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero/Henry Brooke)
The late-blooming White Rhino only made his National Hunt debut a month before he turned seven and is a novice chaser now at the age of nine. However, he continues to improve at the game, winning his first two chase starts at Ayr and Haydock, rising a further 13lb in the handicap as a result.
He unseated early when given a chance in Grade 1 company in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, but that is a rare blip on his record overall. The trip of 3m2f may stretch him slightly, but he continues to move in the right direction, so while his mark means he concedes weight to all bar one of his rivals, he is firmly in the mix.
HYMAC
(Harry Fry/Bryan Carver)
Since pulling up on his chase debut, Hymac has not finished outside of the top three over fences. His career so far peaked with a handicap success at Cheltenham in April and has finished third and second back at Cheltenham and Newbury in two chases this season.
His jumping has sometimes let him down from even greater success, but he was a clear second to a runaway winner in that Newbury contest. His mark remains unchanged and he is a surefire stayer who goes on any ground, so it will only take a slightly improved jumping performance for him to break through again soon.
WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT
(Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies)
Having spent some time in the care of Christian Williams, Weveallbeencaught is back with Nigel Twiston-Davies and rejoined the yard with a power-packed display over 3m at Doncaster in January. The eight-year-old promised much as a novice hurdler, but may finally be filling out his enormous frame.
His success may have only come in a five-runner field, but he won it comfortably. Despite his size though, he might not be the most thorough stayer at this distance, though good ground will likely suit him and we now know that he likes this track. He is one of numerous contenders who could be ahead of the handicapper.
THE FIELD
The extra-consistent Surrey Quest is due a victory in a big race having been chinned in the Scottish National last year and placing twice since. His mark has suffered as a result of his near misses, and his jumping is enough of a worry that he may well fall short here too.
King Turgeon threw a strop at Musselburgh in the Edinburgh National last time out which would have to concern backers, but his form stacks up extremely well before that. If David Pipe has nursed him back to his best, then he is bang in contention, while top-weight Twig is no forlorn hope to emulate Does He Know from last year, although he would want more rain than is forecast.
Weveallbeencaught’s stablemate The Kniphand is very interesting too. He looks a more confirmed stayer than his nextdoor neighbour and soft ground may not have suited as ideally at Uttoxeter last time out. Back on this surface over 3m2f, he could still have a bit in hand from the foot of the weights with Finn Lambert taking off a further 3lb.
Erne River and Moroder have won here before, but both they and fellow veteran Fidelio Vallis have been broadly regressive of late. Another ten-year-old in Lord Baddesley boasts more of a likeable profile with a decent fourth last time out and may well be worth chancing over this trip.
Undersupervision will decide if he wants to give this a go and looks the least likely of the Twiston-Davies team to contend, though outsider Monte Igueldo, while a summer jumper mostly, is on a mark to potentially contend over 3m2f in these conditions.
VERDICT
At least half of this field look to have a good chance if at their best. Preference is for THE KNIPHAND as an unexposed novice who stays this far and could easily have more to offer on good-to-soft ground or quicker. Stablemate Weveallbeencaught is another to whom that applies, albeit with slightly more doubts about his stamina, which do not apply to either Hymac or King Turgeon, who are the pair that are feared most. All of Monte Igueldo, Surrey Quest, Twig and White Rhino are bang in the mix as well.
- The Kniphand
- Hymac
- King Turgeon
