Does He Know on his way to a victory in the Grimthorpe Chase (JTW Equine Images)
By JTW Equine Images
Does He Know when to give up?
On this viewing, probably not.
And whether it is in relation to the jockey or his aptly named partner, it was clear to see that only one horse was going to win the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on a day of contrasts, when rain blanketed the track or it was basked in sunshine.
That was the charge of Kim Bailey as Does He Know simply would not give any quarter and put his rivals to the sword under a fantastic front running ride from David Bass.
All the way through the three-mile, two-furlong test Does He Know was prominently ridden, maintaining the cleanest silks the crowd at Town Moor were witnessing as the field slowly began to wither as the gruelling conditions began to take their toll, having gone from soft to heavy following a downpour 40 minutes earlier.
Does He Know jumped relentlessly, remorselessly keeping up the gallop as mistakes became more common than goals at the nearby Keepmoat Stadium, or a student discount card as 6,000 of them enjoyed a day watching the Yorkshire equivalent of the Grand National.
Flash Collonges was an early competitor to fall by the wayside, pulling up just after a circuit, whilst plenty of others were already sending out distress signals a long way from home as the rain-softened ground took its toll.
Going around the long, sweeping turn away from Rose Hill and back towards the home straight, recent course winner and favourite Some Scope was slowly picking off rivals one after the other, travelling powerfully under Gavin Sheehan.
Turning for home, Does He Know went away from Charlie Uberalles and Docpickedme, with Some Scope going with him, and over 3 out it was clear that exertions were telling as only Docpickedme managed to clamber over the fence after the front two, however he swiftly pulled up afterwards.
Some Scope challenged at 2 out, but it became clear that the leader was simply not stopping despite the welter burden of 12 stone compared to his rival’s 10 stone 6 pounds, a remarkable difference of 24 pounds.
A perfect jump at the last was all Does He Know required to seal the win, and he kept up the speed to keep Some Scope at bay, running home in fine style. Some Scope was the only other horse to finish the race, the rest having pulled up as conditions took their toll.
The victory was trainer Kim Bailey’s third in the race after Shraden Leader in 1994 and The Last Samurai prevailed in 2016, and speaking afterward he was thrilled about the performance from his charge.
“He was the best horse in the race”, he told the assembled media.
“We very much hoped he would do that… the rain helped us and we were very hopeful he would run a smashing race”.
“He’s a very hard horse to place, we’ve run him in two races that he had no chance in, but there simply weren’t any other alternatives, but putting cheekpieces on him came off!”
“It’s always been our plan to run in this race, and with 12 stone on his back in that ground, it’s simply extraordinary!”
There is no doubt that the winner has always been held in high regard by the master of Thorndale Farm House, nestled over the wolds from another stalwart of jumping in Fergal O’Brien, and one with another formidable team of horses any yard would be envious of.
Kim has always maintained modesty despite his successes, and he then went on to pay homage to the owners and everyone at home, after having had a “shocking old winter” where things haven’t played ball for the team just outside Cheltenham.
“We haven’t had many horses that go in this ground”, he noted afterward. “He was helped by the ground as he likes it a bit sloppy”.
The yard is in fine fettle ahead of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, with Chianti Classico an early favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase over 3 miles, so it remains if the yard can keep the momentum going into the big Spring targets.
On future plans for the winner, the trainer stated that whilst he has an entry for the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in a fortnight, he will not be making the journey to Staffordshire in a couple of weeks.
“He won’t go there, no, definitely not”.
“Whilst he doesn’t have to run again this season, he may do in either the Whitbread ( now the Bet365 ) Gold Cup, or the Scottish National, but he had a hard race so he will need time to get over it”.
On a day when the weather gods played their trade in spells of sunshine and rain intermixed, it needed a horse who could rise to the occasion to provide a memorable performance.
Never rule out Kim Bailey to provide one for such an occasion.
