Grimthorpe Chase Big Race Verdict: Mulholland can deliver a Doncaster triumph

• Dartmoor Pirate looking to complete a famous Donny double

• A 15/28.50 tip appeals for Saturday's Doncaster feature

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Mulholland in attack mode with three in the Grimthorpe

Saturday's big prize at Doncaster is the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase over 3m2f at 14:30, and while a dry day on Saturday is forecast, the rain predicted for Friday might keep the ground moist enough for the good to soft terrain.

Trainer Neil Mulholland has three of the 13 runners in the Doncaster field and from his 47 winners this term - 15 have come from chasers at 14% for the season.

Kelce 15/28.50 is shortest of the trio in terms of price and a big run here could put him in with an outside shot of the Kim Muir - a race he holds an entry in for Cheltenham. His win at Musselburgh last time was all quite comfortable with a 2L success, a rise of 7lb soon followed.

I thought he had a bit in hand, and the way he committed for home into the turn and then the straight was impressive and bold. And while Rexem closed fast, Kelce jumped well throughout and looked a stayer. Indeed, the race finishing speed at a fast track of 111% leads me to believe he might be a little better than the performance.

He also jumped left on occasions and I can see Doncaster suiting him quite well.

Mulholland's Lord Accord 16/117.00 is the grizzled old-timer of the trio and perhaps is one who wants the going quite sound as he has plenty of form on officially good.

His last six runs have been on good x 4, good to firm and good to soft and might require a little more slack from the assessor.

Broomfields Cave 17/29.50 moved out from 15/28.50 in the betting on the Sportsbook on Thursday night as another of the Mulholland troika, and is a nine-year-old with a lightly-raced profile with a 2-4 record over fences and a low weight here.

His win at Wincanton from a mark of 115 will need to be improved upon, and he has been a summer jumper for the yard. So does he need it good? 

Dartmoor Pirate going for the hat-trick and another Donny win

Anthony Honeyball's Dartmoor Pirate comes into the race with two wins and he bolted up in the Great Yorkshire Chase last time by nearly 10 lengths. The famous Donny Chase double could be on? 

The pace was sound so there was no fluke, as the time finish percentage of 98% testifies; as Joyeux Machin and Josh The Boss took each other on. Dartmoor Pirate still had a lot of ground to make up three from home and traded at a massive 450.0449/1 in-running. To go on score by the distance he did took some doing.

Grand Geste was pulled up in the race and has subsequently won the Grand National Trial at Haydock. But how hard a race did he have?

Honeyball, like Mulholland, is not happy with just the one entry, and his Jasmin De Grugy in the green and gold JP livery was the summit leader on the Betfair Sportsbook on Thursday night at 5/16.00.

A faller last time out at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, he never had much fluency, and that has hindered him before as he makes mistakes and the cheekpieces with the tongue-tie will be utilised for the first time.

He needs to sharpen up.

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Pace map with tactics

FRONT RUNNERS: King Turgeon, Dartmooor Pirate? New Order, Jubilant, Some Scope.

PROMINENT: Destroytheevidence, King Turgeon, Lord Accord, Kelce, Broomfields Cave, Moroder, Theformismighty.

MID_DIVISION: King's Threshold, Jasmin De Grugy.

HELD-UP: King's Threshold, Dartmoor Pirate.

Trainer form

Emma Lavelle: Last 14 days 1-14 at 7%, Doncaster this term 3-8 at 38%.

Kim Bailey and Mat Nichols: Last 14 days: 0-8, Doncaster this term 2-8 at 25%.

David Pipe: Last 14 days 2-16 at 13%, Doncaster this term 1-3 at 33%

Anthony Honeyball: Last 14 days 1-19 at 5%, Doncaster this term 2-6 at 33%

Neil Mulholland: Last 14 days 2-17 at 14%, Doncaster this term 4-10 at 40%

Charlie Longsdon: Last 14 days 2-8 at 25%, Doncaster this term 1-12 8%

James Owen: Last 14 days 8-38 at 21%.

Richard Hobson: Last 14 days 2-3 at 67%, Doncaster this term 2-5 at 40%.

Dan Skelton: Last 14 days 11 at 15%, Doncaster this term 4-17 at 25%.

Big Race Verdict

The trainer form stats are interesting with Emma Lavelle, trainer of King's Threshold quiet, but Richard Hobson is hot and a good record at Donny thus far.

Moroder, a former winner, is impossible to fancy while the price on Hobson's Some Scope has evaporated, as the 9/110.00 was snapped up on the Betfair Sportsbook on Thursday night with a 13/27.50 offering destroying the each-way angle.

Kelce looks the likeliest winner for me as 125 might not stop him judged on Musselburgh and I think he will stay way and enjoy going left-handed.

Dartmoor Pirate's stamina is clearly an asset, as he won at Lingfield over 2m6f with his jumping pressured while making the running, but off the pace, his Great Yorkshire Chase win was one for the in-running annals. The pace forecast is quite strong, and while it will suit, it will also play into the hands of Kelce. 

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