Ten have been declared for the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (2.05 Doncaster); the going on Town Moor is now described as soft, heavy in places - there were several non-runners at the track today on account of the ground.
Grand Geste is priced up favourite.
Rated 108 over hurdles, Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's charge has certainly improved for a switch to fences, last time out beating My Silver Lining with something to spare in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock. The handicapper subsequently raised him ten pounds to a mark of 129.
Back in the autumn Deep Cave was given a favourable mention in a blog post, holding an entry in the Dragonbet / Native River Handicap Chase at Chepstow at the time. Christian Williams' inmate missed that appointment on account of quick ground but has since won at Bangor (11/1) and Ascot (10/1), on both occasions carrying none of my money.
Last time he looked a tad fortunate to sneak up the inside and pip Rex Dingle and Leave Of Absence a head on the line; carrying top weight here, he bids for a fourth consecutive win and looks to face a stiff task on the ground but it should be noted he has only gone up two pounds for Ascot.
Docpickedme beat The Changing Man two and a quarter lengths off a mark of 129 in last year's renewal of this race but that's only half the story - Walking On Air (125) looked all over the winner approaching the final flight before taking a crashing fall.
In November Docpickedme finished a creditable third behind Konfusion in the Rehearsal at Newcastle and was as tough as teak when seeing off allcomers - including Joyeux Machin in fourth, beaten just under five lengths - in the Pennine Handicap Chase over course and distance six weeks ago.
Walking On Air was pulled up lame in the Scottish Grand National on his first outing for current connections and was well beaten over an inadequate trip at Newbury just before Christmas. Rated 137 over hurdles, he is potentially well treated on 127, although his profile overall appears inconsistent; the booking of Brian Hughes and the fitting of first-time cheekpieces both catch the eye.
Josh The Boss tries this trip for the first time.
A quick look through New Order's recent form shows the gelding jumped right on occasions at Bangor in November and then left at Sandown in December. Nonetheless Charlie Longsdon's charge was only beaten a neck by Welcom To Cartries at Sandown and his subsequent third behind Herakles Westwood and Katate Dori at Cheltenham reads very well; stable form is a concern, without a winner for 54 days.
Sporting a first-time tongue-tie Dartmoor Pirate won his first chase at the third attempt, scooting clear of No Tackle to win nine lengths at Lingfield just before Christmas. Relatively unexposed, Anthony Honeyball's charge held two other five-day entries - the 12.05 Cheltenham (a hot novice contested by stablemates Jordans Cross and Kdeux Saint Fray) and the 2.38 Doncaster (a novice chase run over the same trip as the Great Yorkshire). I'm assuming the handler feels Dartmoor Pirate can be competitive here.
King's Threshold won the Mandarin at Newbury with something to spare last time, although his jumping took a while to warm up. Writing in the RP Weekender handler Emma Lavelle has said:
"I hope the ground isn't too soft for King's Threshold...as he's a better horse on a decent surface."
Along with a number in this field Kelce likes to front run. On Boxing Day 2024 he was in the process of giving O'Connell a run for his money in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen when he came to grief at the last.
Joyeux Machin was just under five lengths behind Docpickedme last time, yet there was a hint he didn't see out the trip that day, losing third after the last. Underfoot conditions tomorrow will be of no help in that regard.
Trainers with charges who prefer better ground often target Doncaster in the winter months for some respite from testing conditions but the weather hasn't obliged on this occasion. Five of the ten runners - Grand Geste, Docpickedme, Josh The Boss, Kelce and New Order - like to race from the front while Walking On Air tends to race up with the pace as well.
In what could turn out to be a slog in the mud I'm going to chance bottom weight Kelce, placed in six of his nine chase starts to date. Bradley Harris reduces the burden to be carried by a further three pounds and the yard has sent out seven winners from 32 runners in the past fortnight.
Kelce is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 12/1 generally, with the vast majority of layers paying three places.
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