Horse-by-horse guide: Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase

A competitive field of 13 are declared for what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Grimthorpe Chase at 2.30 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing. 

Moroder returns for trainer Seamus Mullins at the age of 12, bidding to emulate Damers Cavalry by landing the race for a third time. Up against him are several progressive staying chasers, and with conditions unlikely to inconvenience many, it looks an open and intriguing contest. Let’s take a closer look at the field.

1. KING’S THRESHOLD

Jockey: James Bowen | Trainer: Emma Lavelle 

He returned to winning ways at Newbury last time out, enhancing an already strong chase record. Ridden more positively than on his previous start, when a trip shy of three miles looked on the sharp side, he produced a career-best on the figures. The form has substance too, with River Corner (back in third) bolting up since and Only The Bold following up with a good second in a competitive race. The combination of wind surgery and a tongue-tie appears to have done him the world of good, with four wins from seven starts since reflecting that improvement. He relished decent ground at Newbury, and similar conditions should again play to his strengths. His jumping wasn’t always foot-perfect, occasionally to his right, which could be a concern in a bigger field, but he still put the race to bed in the manner of a horse capable of defying a 6lb rise if things fall his way once more. 

2. DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE

Tom Bellamy | Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls 

Last won in October 2024 when defeating Gold Cup-bound Haiti Couleurs, though he hasn’t followed in the same upward trajectory as his rival that day. A first-time visor was applied last time but he again found a couple too strong. It’s possible that heavy ground didn’t play to his strengths on that occasion and a return to better conditions here could prompt some improvement, though he does appear to be firmly in the assessor’s grip at present. That said, Kim Bailey knows what it takes to win this race, being the joint-most successful trainer in its history with three victories.

3. KING TURGEON 

Jack Tudor | David Pipe 

He’s followed the same path this season as when completing the second and third legs of his early-season hat-trick last term, but higher marks have left him coming up short. There were at least signs of a return to form on his latest start, where he fared best of those who raced prominently in a contest run at a good clip. A 3lb drop for that effort takes him back to his last winning mark and conditions should suit here, but he likely needs to find a little more to be seriously competitive on his first visit to Doncaster. He may be one to note when returning to Aintree or Cheltenham where he has proven form. 

4. DARTMOOR PIRATE

Rex Dingle | Anthony Honeyball 

Quickly on the upgrade since sent chasing, he landed a the Great Yorkshire Chase here on his latest start. Accounting for New Order, he shaped as though a further step up in trip would suit, rallying strongly late on after struggling to go with a fierce early gallop. That said, the form is open to question. The favourite failed to fire, and Dartmoor Pirate appeared to benefit from a complete pace collapse, reflected in a finishing speed percentage of 96.88%. A 5lb rise looks workable on the face of it, provided that gruelling effort hasn’t left its mark just 35 days on, but a degree of caution is advised when assessing that performance.

5. LORD ACCORD

Robert Dunne | Neil Mulholland

A grand servant to connections over the years, with five wins and a further five runner-up efforts over fences to his name. He returned to winning ways in a Class 3 at Fontwell in October before following up with a creditable second behind an easy winner at Ascot. Good ground would suit perfectly, but it’s over three years since he last scored in Class 2 company and, returning from a 98-day break, he may find a few of these too strong.

6. JASMIN DE GRUGY

Richie McLernon | Anthony Honeyball 

He made a promising start to his chasing career, winning with ease on his first two attempts. A below-par reappearance at Newcastle was followed by renewed market confidence at Cheltenham, where he went off joint-favourite but again failed to deliver. Settled towards the rear, his jumping lacked fluency at times and he came down heavily at the fifteenth fence. The authority of his earlier wins suggests a mark of 126 could be workable, but this represents a tough race in which to bounce back, and his confidence over fences has to be taken on trust. First-time cheekpieces are applied, perhaps in a bid to iron out those jumping errors.

7. NEW ORDER

Sam Twiston-Davies | Charlie Longsdon  

His latest effort behind Dartmoor Pirate in the Great Yorkshire Chasecould be worth marking up, as he was left in front some way from home and may have been a sitting duck given the pace collapse. He meets that rival on 5lb better terms here, which could be enough to narrow the gap if the race unfolds more favourably. While it’s difficult to argue he has much in hand of the assessor, he is another dependable type who should sit handy and be competitive once more, provided that tough effort hasn’t left its mark. 

8. KELCE

Conor O’Farrell | Neil Mulholland  

Admirably consistent over fences, he has finished out of the places only twice - once when falling and once on heavy ground. Better ground suits his prominent style of racing, and he appeared to take another step forward when posting a career-best at Musselburgh last time. A 7lb rise asks a stiffer question and this marks his first venture into Class 2 company, but he is a solid staying chaser who can be relied upon to give his running. Conor O’Farrell retains the ride and boasts three wins from four efforts in the saddle.

9. JUBILANT

Ciaran Gethings | James Owen 

Given his size, he did well to score at Plumpton last time, such is the sharp nature of that track. It was a gutsy performance, but this represents a marked rise in grade. He has won three times over fences and is two from two over today’s trip, though all those successes have come in small-field contests at a lower level. With only seven chase starts under his belt, there may still be further improvement to come, but it will be necessary if he is to cope with this significant step up in class.

10. SOME SCOPE

Charlie Maggs | Richard Hobson 

A familiar face in this race, as he lines up for a third attempt. He finished second in this in 2024 when sent off favourite, albeit in a contest where only two completed, and he was pulled up in last year’s renewal after making a significant error. He returns this time 5lb lower in the weights, which makes him of interest. His most recent outing is easy enough to forgive, finishing last of the finishers on his first attempt in a cross-country chase, a very different test to what he faces here. Conditions are likely to be more suitable this time and he has since undergone a second wind surgery. The return of the visor is another positive, having won on his penultimate start when wearing the headgear for the first time. Off a mark of 122, further reduced by Charlie Maggs’s 3lb claim, he is weighted to be competitive. 

11. BROOMFIELDS CAVE

Bradley Harris | Neil Mulholland  

After 533 days off the track, he shaped with promise on his return here on ground softer than ideal. Presented with better ground at Wincanton next time, he duly built on that effort to win by a couple of lengths. The form has since received a boost, with Jupiter Allen, back in third, scoring readily on his subsequent start. While further improvement will be required to make an impact at this level, that seems entirely feasible after just four chase outings. His trainer saddles three, but Broomfields Cave may represent the strongest of the trio.

12. MORODER

James Best | Seamus Mullins  

The rank outsider of the field bids to make it three from three in this race at the veteran age of 12. Successful off marks of 131 in 2023 and 125 last year, he now lines up from 120, a reflection of a gradual decline. Even so, it would be unwise to dismiss him lightly given this contest has clearly been the target once more. His latest run here, when 12 lengths behind Some Scope, at least suggested the fire still burns, and he benefits from an 11lb swing in the weights with that rival. It’s a tall order, as his price suggests, but this is a race in which he habitually comes alive.

13. THEFORMISMIGHTY

Tristan Durrell | Dan Skelton

He arrives on the back of a battling success at Newcastle in heavy ground, where he was all out to cling on at the line. That came after three largely underwhelming efforts since returning from his summer break, and his inconsistency makes him difficult to side with confidently. However, he has been raised only 3lb for that win and was competitive from higher marks last season, notably when narrowly denied by New Order. If that latest effort can be backed up on markedly different ground, he would have a chance, though on the balance of this season’s evidence, he’s not one to place maximum faith in.