Grands Crus Cheltenham Preview

The most impressive staying novice chaser seen out this season is undoubtedly David Pipe’s Grands Crus. Following the grey’s two victories over fences this season, the horse has been installed as favourite for both the RSA Chase and the Jewson Novices Chase. Perhaps more significantly, he has also been quoted as low as 16-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The grey endeared himself to the public last season when working his way out of handicap company in some style to challenge Big Buck’s for his World Hurdle crown. Despite a gallant effort at Cheltenham he could not pass the champion stayer and again went down with all guns blazing at Aintree. There was naturally great excitement at the prospect of the horse switching to the bigger obstacles this season and, despite some sloppy jumping on his return, he has recorded two victories and provided Pipe with the right sort of headache.

The usual route for a staying novice would be to aim for the RSA Chase, although this has now got something of a reputation for being a gruelling test for young horses. In recent seasons there has been a developing trend to save your star novice for Aintree in the hope of a smaller field and better going. The third option is the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the reasoning is simple. If you are going to take your horse to the Cheltenham Festival and give it a hard race, why not aim for the very best? Particularly if there is a perceived weakness in the Gold Cup line up.

Nobody is doubting the merit of Long Run as the defending champion and he will be out to advertise his claims on Boxing day when he attempts a repeat victory in the King George VI Chase. His biggest rival there is expected to be Kauto Star, already a legend with four King George wins and two Cheltenham Gold Cups under his belt. The recent retirement of stable companion Denman leaves room for some new pretenders to the Gold Cup crown so you can understand why Pipe would consider it. Novices do not traditionally win Gold Cups but Pipe, like his father before him, will not be afraid to buck the trend. The likelihood is that Grands Crus will contest one of the Novice events at the Cheltenham Festival but his progress in the new year will be the deciding factor.