Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase
Handicap, Doncaster 14:30
£70,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 2f 1y, Class 2   
Saturday 28th February 2026

1 Jasmin De Grugy 5/1
2 Some Scope 13/2
3 New Order 7/2J
8 ran NR: Jubilant, Kelce, King Turgeon, King's Thresho, Lord Accord
Distances: 33l, 15l Time: 6m 49.87s (slow by 28.87s)

Attrition was the order of the afternoon at Town Moor, where this became less a test of speed and more a trial of resilience.

Thirteen were declared, yet by post time the field had thinned to eight, the ground turning decidedly softer than many had bargained for. By the line, only three remained standing. It was that kind of race.

Some Scope ensured there would be no hiding place. Setting off with intent bordering on audacity, he stretched the field to breaking point, carving out a relentless gallop that left rivals scattered in his wake. The long Doncaster straight can feel unforgiving at the best of times; in these conditions, it was an ordeal.

Only Anthony Honeyball’s Jasmin De Grugy, sent off at 5-1, proved equal to the task. With Richie McLernon biding his time, content to keep the leader within range without engaging in a war too soon, the pursuit was measured rather than panicked. When the moment came, it was decisive. Jasmin De Grugy swept past and forged 33 lengths clear, the margin widening with every weary stride.

Honeyball, increasingly adept at plundering prizes at this venue, reflected on a race that unfolded in unusual fashion.

“It was a funny race in the end because the horse out in front really set it alight,” he said.

“You can’t let them get too far ahead, but equally you don’t want to go off and do something silly.

“Richie timed it perfectly, people might say he got there too soon, but on that ground you’ve got to keep the leader in sight as is it hard to make up the ground.

“He’s been a little bit of an enigma since he won his five races in a row, he was second at Punchestown but he made hard work of it and we’ve never been quite sure what his best work might be.

“I thought the ground had gone, but we were always going to run and give him a chance. I really fancied Dartmoor Pirate (Great Yorkshire Chase winner), but he was unlucky to unseat at the last (when challenging for second place).

“I didn’t expect those conditions to suit, but now we’ve found that they do we’ll have a good look at the programme.”

In the end, this was less about elegance and more about endurance. Jasmin De Grugy answered the questions posed, and in a race that took plenty out of its participants, he emerged with both stamina and reputation enhanced.

BoyleSports

Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase (Handicap)
£70,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 2f 1y, Class 2
8 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Jasmin De Grugy 7 11-3 Anthony Honeyball Richie McLernon 5/1
2 33 Some Scope 8 10-13 Richard Hobson Charlie Maggs 13/2
3 15 New Order 8 11-2 Charlie Longsdon Sam Twiston-Davies 7/2J
PU Moroder 12 10-11 Seamus Mullins James Best 12/1
PU Theformismighty 9 10-9 Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 8/1
PU Broomfields Cave 9 10-11 Neil Mulholland Bradley Harris 15/2
PU Destroytheevidence 8 11-11 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Tom Bellamy 8/1
UR Dartmoor Pirate 7 11-7 Anthony Honeyball Rex Dingle 7/2J
NR 1 King's Threshold 9 12-0 Emma Lavelle NON RUNNER
NR 3 King Turgeon 8 11-10 David Pipe NON RUNNER
NR 5 v Lord Accord 11 11-4 Neil Mulholland NON RUNNER
NR 8 Kelce 8 11-2 Neil Mulholland NON RUNNER
NR 9 Jubilant 7 11-1 James Owen NON RUNNER

horse racing