PartialLogo
Previews14 December 2024

'He's extremely well handicapped' - Chasing Fire among a host of intriguing runners in ultra-competitive chase

Forward Plan (left) and Does He Know: key Doncaster players
Forward Plan (left) and Does He Know: key Doncaster players

Today's Offers

10

Exclusive new customer sign up offers

Coral logoBetfair logoSkybet logoWilliamhill logoLadbrokes logoBet365 logoTote logoPaddypower logoBetfred logoMatchbook logo

FREE BETS

Coral logoBetfair logoSkybet logoWilliamhill logoLadbrokes logoBet365 logoTote logoPaddypower logoBetfred logoMatchbook logo

FREE BETS

Chevron down

This race got a big prize-money boost in 2023, which changed its nature, and it is well placed to be the preeminent trial for the Great Yorkshire Chase in late January.

Forward Plan won this event 12 months ago and was beaten a nose in the Great Yorkshire next time. In all, five of the first six home in this made their next start in that race.

The contest has grown again this year. Forward Plan is back, now as a fixture in Premier handicaps on better ground. Does He Know – joint-topweight with Elvis Mail, who himself ran in a Premier handicap at Cheltenham on this weekend last year – won the Grimthorpe here in March.

A field of 15 is bigger than a lot of Premier handicaps over similar trips in recent weeks. Granted, the course helps on that score. Doncaster has a reputation for delivering less testing ground than most jumps tracks in midwinter.

The three improvers to watch are Chasing Fire, Gaboriot and Ballycoose. All three are unexposed at staying trips which promises to suit them.

Chasing Fire is the one with obvious potential to move into top handicaps, although that is partly down to the fact he is already rated almost 140. Gaboriot and Ballycoose are not as talented but both have a lot more of the handicap to play with, being rated in the mid-to-high 120s.

Also consider Sail Away and Docpickedme. The former is likely on his way back to the Great Yorkshire, in which he finished fourth last year in the middle of what was a disappointing season for him. Three miles on a flat track away from the mud is his hitting zone.

Docpickedme ran in the Grimthorpe where he was the last to crack besides the only two finishers in what became an attritional race. He has been handled with care since. The booking of claimer of the moment Callum Pritchard suggests connections share the sense that he could outrun his big odds.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose


What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of Does He Know
It's an unbelievably competitive race, but he's in good form and likes Doncaster. He should run very well, but he's still got a lot of weight.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Chasing Fire
He infuriates me because he works loads better than his mark. I’ve put some cheekpieces on and I do think he’s better on a flat track and on good ground. He’ll have his optimum conditions and if he can show on the track what he can do at home then he’s a horse who is extremely well handicapped.

Christian Williams, trainer of Kitty's Light
He's struggled to show any spark at all this season so it's a bit of a headscratcher. The ground is good at Doncaster and it looks a good opportunity for his next run. He wants that nice ground, but I'd be slightly worried based on his three runs so far this year.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Sail Away
Sail Away has an each-way chance at a track he does well at. He wasn't beaten far in the Great Yorkshire last year, but he did fall last time which is a bit of a negative. That was uncharacteristic and he's done loads of jumping since.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Pull Again Green
He's in good form. He's been consistent for most of the year. He's been on the go a long time, but he'll like the nicer ground. We're looking forward to running him.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Docpickedme
I'm really happy with him. I think the handicapper has been a bit unfair so I'm taking 7lb off his back and I think he'll be well treated with that. He's got a great chance off 9st 13lb and is in very good form.
Reporting by Maddy Playle


Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

11.30 Fairyhouse: 'He looks the pick of ours' - Triumph Hurdle hero Majborough makes chasing debut for Willie Mullins  

1.50 Cheltenham: 'This has been the plan for some time' - top trainers on their big December Gold Cup hopes  

2.25 Cheltenham: Master Chewy up against familiar foes as he bids to bounce back from Tingle Creek fall  

3.00 Cheltenham: 'I'm not sure where his ceiling level is' - can mega improver Skyjack Hijack make it seven wins in a row?  

3.35 Cheltenham: can Joyeuse live up to her pedigree and prove a class apart for Nicky Henderson off a basement BHA rating?  


Subscribe to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate Monthly now and get access to award-winning racing journalism with 50% off your first three months. Patrick Mullins led the way when winning the Racing Writer of the Year award at the Horse Race Writers and Photography Derby Awards in London in December and you can read more exclusive content from the best journalists in racing by signing up to Members' Club today.