It was an attritional renewal of the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday, with Kim Bailey’s Does He Know coming home the first of two finishers.
Eight of the ten runners were pulled up during the three mile two furlong contest but Does He Know appeared to relish the testing conditions under a confident ride from jockey David Bass. The nine-year-old, in first-time cheekpieces, was always prominent despite making a mistake at the first fence. His jumping improved through the course of the race and a good leap at the last secured a three-and-a-quarter length victory over favourite Some Scope from the Richard Hobson yard.
Paddy Power shortened Does He Know from 20/1 to 14/1 for the Midlands Grand National.
