March 04 / 15.15 Doncaster

15.15

Good

Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £36421
  • 3m 2f 1y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

33/1 (Won)

  • Win: £19.00
  • Place: £5.80

Form: 111-P0 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with four wins at 3m-3m6f and the first of those was on good (softer ground afterwards); right out of form in his two runs this term and a return to peak form is needed in this warm race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Moroder

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Seamus Mullins

Six-time chase winner who returned to form with a rallying second at Taunton (3m4f, good) last month; only 1lb higher here and has claims if he can build on that back in trip.

13/2

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

Moroder

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Seamus Mullins

Six-time chase winner but now appears to be on the downgrade; pulled up when bidding to win the Grimthorpe at Doncaster for the third time in February and was tailed off at Ascot (2m5f, good) 11 days ago; can only be watched at present.

12/1

4th

1

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 13y

Class 4

14:30 Ascot

Moroder

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Seamus Mullins

Ran no race in Doncaster's Grimthorpe last month (3m2f, soft; blinkers returned) and he had a good record in that race; did run quite well there the time before; unwise to focus too much on his reduced mark when clearly not the force of old, but he has returned to winning ways from out of the blue in the past, and he'll enjoy getting back on forecast good ground; earns respect.

12/1

Form: 1P-3PU CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Can make mistakes but it wasn't his fault when he unseated two out (hampered) last time in the major C&D handicap won by Cooper's Cross; had a chance for minor honours at that stage and he's edged back to the same mark as when winning this race last year; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Undersupervision

12st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very well handicapped on old form but has been pulled up on six of his eight starts over the last two years, most recently in last month's Grimthorpe at Doncaster (a race he won in 2022); sports first-time tongue-tie and swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces here; revival needed.

33/1

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Undersupervision

12st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very well handicapped on old form but has been pulled up on six of his eight starts over the last two years, most recently in last month's Grimthorpe at Doncaster (a race he won in 2022); sports first-time tongue-tie and swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces here; revival needed.

33/1

10

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Undersupervision

10st 9lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Failed to complete far too often for comfort and soundly beaten when he did get round in a first-time visor (replacing usual cheekpieces) at Ludlow in December when last seen; the big positives are that he won this race in 2022 and was beaten a neck in it in 2023, but last year's performance in the Grimthorpe was poor; down to his lowest mark as a chaser.

16/1

Form: P-P4P4 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Won major C&D handicap (good; now 4lb lower) in January 2022 but about 15l behind the winner Cooper's Cross when fourth in the same race five weeks ago, albeit helping to set a strong early pace; while Newcastle fourth in November was creditable, he's been pulled up in five of his last eight starts and is hard to trust.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

29th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:50 Cartmel

Windsor Avenue

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Teal

T: Jack Teal

Smart chaser for Brian Ellison and second in two hunter chases for new yard in recent months; no match for Gaboriot at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in March, though, and has been very inconsistent in recent years.

6/1

2nd

4

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:25 Kelso

Windsor Avenue

12st 6lb

J: Mr Jack Teal

T: Jack Teal

Smart chaser at his best and he still retains quite a bit of ability; has mixed record this year and was pulled up in Foxhunters' at Aintree last time but he's been in much calmer waters now and was runner-up at Catterick (3m1f, soft) on his penultimate run; dangerous if in the mood.

7/2

2nd

4

8th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:25 Kelso

Windsor Avenue

12st 6lb

J: Mr Jack Teal

T: Jack Teal

Smart chaser at his best and he still retains quite a bit of ability; has mixed record this year and was pulled up in Foxhunters' at Aintree last time but he's been in much calmer waters now and was runner-up at Catterick (3m1f, soft) on his penultimate run; dangerous if in the mood.

7/2

Form: 11-4P1 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
3-5 (all at 3m+, one over C&D) last term during first campaign over fences, the wins gained from the front, and he surged back to his best when always prominent for a win in second-time cheekpieces at Sandown (3m, good to soft; more to prove on good) four weeks ago; up 4lb today but that was a competitive race last time and he's unlikely to go down without a good fight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Castle Robin

11st 5lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Strike-rate of 4-14 over fences but has seen very little action during the past three years and now returns from an even lengthier absence at the age of 11; potentially very well handicapped should market vibes bode well.

8/1

5th

2

24th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

15:30 Warwick

Castle Robin

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

led, headed before 14th, soon prominent, lost ground after 3 out, weakened from 2 out

11/2

7th

5

9th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Castle Robin

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

Front-runner; 4-12 over fences, the latest win gained off 2lb higher over C&D (good to soft) in February 2023; shaped as if retaining all his ability at Doncaster on reappearance, and less positive tactics seemed to backfire over a longer trip at Musselburgh next time; should have optimum conditions here and he's high on the list.

11/2

Form: 41-4P0

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 1 novice chase at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) in February 2021 and two handicap hurdles (3m/3m1f, one on good) last season; below form in a Grade 2 hurdle race on reappearance this term and he did little in two Grade 3 handicap chases since; had a resurgence after his 2021 wind operation but the same did not happen following the further wind operation before latest start; well handicapped but five of his six chase displays are very discouraging and blinkers are now enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

20th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:05 Uttoxeter

Sporting John

11st 13lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

in touch with leaders, headway after 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out

12/1

8th

4

1st May 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Kempton

Sporting John

11st 9lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Grade 1 novices' chase winner in his prime; no trip/ground issues, but 21lb descent since pulling up in the Rowland Meyrick says plenty about a pretty poor 2022-23 season, including dropped to Class 3 latest.

14/1

4th

2

10th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

14:35 Chepstow

Sporting John

11st 10lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Smart in his prime but has become disappointing this season; will find this much easier than Cheltenham Festival handicap hurdle he contested last month but he was never competitive there and now switches back to chasing with some questions to answer.

12/1

Form: -21321 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Steady progress this term has brought two wins from four starts, the latest in major C&D handicap (good; acts on soft) five weeks ago when he was upped in trip and travelled and jumped very well in the first-time cheekpieces, leading three out; 5lb higher today but makes plenty of appeal on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1P8P5P D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Won over 3m on good last May and July; out of form in his five starts this autumn/winter but last three were over 2m4f-2m5f and he was badly hampered early on when back on good ground last time, so excuses can be made; off 3lb lower than his last winning mark, he's not entirely dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

5th Jul 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:23 Worcester

Nevilles Cross

11st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Bangor chase winner a year ago but it's been all downhill since; tailed off at Ffos Las last month, after a short break; hopes pinned on reverting to hurdles (for first time since April 2021) and fitting of a visor.

12/1

2nd

1

8th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

13:50 Ffos Las

Nevilles Cross

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Twice defied higher marks early last season, both times over 3m on good ground; mostly out of sorts since last success but could well revive in this weak contest on return from a break; not at all dismissed.

5/2

7th

5

4th Mar 2023

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Nevilles Cross

10st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Lacey

Won over 3m on good last May and July; out of form in his five starts this autumn/winter but last three were over 2m4f-2m5f and he was badly hampered early on when back on good ground last time, so excuses can be made; off 3lb lower than his last winning mark, he's not entirely dismissed.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 10-F13

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 novice winner on soft last season; better than ever this term, winning at Cheltenham (extended 3m3f, good) in November and very good third of seven in Grade 2 at Newbury (2m7f, good) when next seen three weeks ago; those point to another bold show today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Very useful staying chaser when on song and has pretty good record at Cheltenham; pulled up at Exeter two starts ago and didn't find much at the business end when third of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month but it won't be a surprise if he runs a big race here.

11/2

3rd

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

16:30 Carlisle

Does He Know

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

taken down early, raced in second, pressed leader 13th, led narrowly 3 out, headed when hit last, weakened and lost second run-in

9/4

Non-runners

Does He Know

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £69.00
Straight Forecast £71.36
Tricast £476.81
Trifecta £393.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cooper's Cross

WEST COUNTRY:

Does He Know

Daily Record:

Castle Robin

D Express:

Sporting John

RP Ratings:

Cooper's Cross

TOPSPEED:

Cooper's Cross

POSTDATA:

Cooper's Cross

The Times:

Cooper's Cross

The Guardian:

Cooper's Cross

Daily Mail:

Cooper's Cross

The Sun:

Cooper's Cross

Telegraph:

Does He Know

Daily Mirror:

Does He Know

The Star:

Does He Know