Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase
Handicap, Doncaster 15:40
£70,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 2f 1y, Class 2   
Saturday 2nd March 2024

Trainers Quotes

1 Does He Know 20/1
2 Some Scope 3/1F
10 ran NR: Erne River, Java Point, Kinondo Kwetu
Distances: 3¼l Time: 7m 9.55s (slow by 43.55s)

In a remarkable display of strength, Does He Know secured trainer Kim Bailey’s third victory in the prestigious Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster. Despite facing stiff competition, this four-time winner over fences proved his mettle once again.

Previously triumphant in Grade Two and Grade Three races at Ascot and Cheltenham, Does He Know entered the Grimthorpe Chase as a 20-1 outsider. His lackluster performance in three previous starts this season raised doubts, but he defied the odds under the bold and daring ride of jockey David Bass.

Carrying a hefty 12 stone on his back, Does He Know faced a weight disadvantage against each of his nine rivals, conceding more than 11 pounds to some. However, he rallied and showcased his best form over the challenging three-mile-two-furlong course.

The race was no walk in the park, with eight out of the 10 runners failing to complete the grueling contest. Among the contenders was Some Scope, the 3-1 favorite aiming for a hat-trick after recent wins at Catterick and this very track. Gavin Sheehan timed his challenge perfectly, but despite his efforts, Does He Know held firm, crossing the finish line with just over three lengths to spare.

Bailey, who has previously won the Grimthorpe with Shraden Leader in 1994 and The Last Samuri in 2016, said: “We very much hoped he would do that. He was the best horse in the race, the rain definitely helped us and we were very hopeful he would run a smashing race.

“He’s got some very good form. He’s a very hard horse to place and we’ve run him in two races this season we knew he had no chance in but there weren’t any alternatives.

“It has always been the plan to run in this race and it was unbelievably good performance with 12st on his back in that ground, it was extraordinary.

“I’m really pleased for the owners and everybody involved because we’ve had a shocking old winter really. The horses haven’t been wrong, but we’ve got very few horses that go in this ground.”

Does He Know holds an entry in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in a fortnight’s time, but will not take up that engagement.

“He won’t go there, definitely not. He doesn’t have to run again this season, but if he does it will either be the Whitbread (bet365 Gold Cup) or the Scottish National, I would think,” Bailey added.

“He’s had a hard race today, so he’ll want a bit of time to get over that.”

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Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase (Handicap)
£70,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 2f 1y, Class 2
10 ran
Going: Soft

POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1     Does He Know 9 12-0 Kim Bailey David Bass 20/1
2  3¼ Some Scope 6 10-4 Richard Hobson Gavin Sheehan 3/1F
PU Half Shot 10 10-5 Iain Jardine Henry Brooke 9/1
PU Ashtown Lad 10 11-3 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 12/1
PU Certainly Red 10 11-0 Lydia Richards Marc Goldstein 6/1
PU Flash Collonges 9 10-11 Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost 25/1
PU Docpickedme 8 10-10 Richard Hobson Lee Edwards 10/1
PU Undersupervision 8 10-13 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 11/2
PU Charlie Uberalles 8 10-2 Dianne Sayer Sean Quinlan 9/2
PU Hidden Heroics 7 10-7 Dan Skelton Miss Heidi Palin 14/1
NR 2 Kinondo Kwetu 8 11-9 Sam England NON RUNNER
NR 4 Erne River 9 11-2 Nick Kent NON RUNNER
NR 9 Java Point 9 10-9 Henry Oliver NON RUNNER

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