Doncaster’s season over Jumps comes to a quality climax with a two-day meeting this Friday and Saturday (February 28 & March 1), with the feature race on Saturday, The William Hill Grimthorpe Chase having an excellent record of attracting the very best stayers in the business, including possible Grand National contenders.
After racing on Saturday, racegoers will also have the opportunity of attending a special Cheltenham Festival preview in the Lazarus Stand (Conduit Suite) straight after racing, when At The Races presenter, Simon Mapletoft will host a panel of experts including Jump jockey, Brian Hughes and Sean Quinn, assistant to his father, Malton trainer, john Quinn, who is set to have runners at the Festival – including possibly last week’s winner at Doncaster, Pearl Castle – who could be a contender in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Other panellists include form expert, Roger Hart and Andy Holding of William Hill Radio.This preview is free of charge to all racegoers attending on Saturday.
A Handicap contest over three and a quarter miles, The William Hill Grimthorpe Chase offers prize money of £50,000 and last year’s winner was Quentin Collonges, who went on to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park on the final day of the Jumps season in April. Other recent notable winners include Run For Paddy in 2005, who went on the following year to win the Scottish Grand National, while Amberleigh House, who finished in seventh place nine years ago, had won the previous season’s Grand National at Aintree. Also, the 2004 winner, Grey Abbey, went on to land the Scottish Grand National.
The ‘Grimthorpe’ heads a strong seven-race programme on Saturday, starting at 1-45 p.m. with a contest for Novice Chasers supported by Park Hill Hospital. Also featured is the second running of a Listed race at this meeting – a Novices’ Hurdle contest for fillies and mares over the extended three miles – one of four races sponsored by William Hill. The Saint Gobain Weber Handicap Chase and a Novices’ Hurdle are further highlights. Total prize money on offer on Saturday is £124,500.
There are also seven races on Friday beginning at 2-10 p.m. with every race supported by sports betting exchange company, Betdaq.
Also, after racing on Saturday, there’s live music in the main betting hall from Midlands four-piece band, ‘Mellow Rebellion’.
The giant screen, situated opposite the main stands will enable racegoers to see all of the action. A shuttle bus service will be in operation from the railway station.