DOUBLE HANDFUL

TODAY’S Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster has long been regarded as a trial for the Grand National — even though I can’t think of a horse who has won this race and went on to win the big one.

Kim Bailey’s Last Samurai, winner in 2016, came closest. He finished second to Rule The World just five weeks after winning the Grimthorpe.

Bailey’s charge

ROCKY’S TREASURE

is favourite this afternoon and rightfully so given the eightyear-old has won on both occasions he’s been round the track — breaking the three-mile course record at Town Moor in his last run here in December.

Rocky’s Treasure would be much shorter in the betting today if he hadn’t failed so miserably and so inexplicably at Warwick in January when 6-5 favourite.

I’m prepared to overlook that run. It’s possible he’s not keen on the course as he failed on his only other run there.

He prefers decent ground and a flat track, and that’s what he’ll get again at Doncaster.

On paper Rocky’s Treasure is easily the best horse in the race with no less than four wins this season. Interestingly he’s similarly weighted and rated to Last Samurai when he won here in 2016.

Alan King’s Dingo Dollar also has a win to his name at Doncaster in February last year, albeit in a low-standard threerunner race. His third in the Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup) can’t be questioned though. He did flop badly in his last run, also here at Doncaster, in January. He generally prefers softer ground than he’s likely to get today.

Nicky Richard’s Looking Well has also won at Doncaster, just 10 days ago in fact.

The 10-year-old hadn’t won in eight previous races before that, back in May 2016.

I’m more than happy to back Rocky’s Treasure for the Donny hat-trick.