16 entries for the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster
Monbeg Dude and Triolo D'Alene are among 16 entries for the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.
Last Updated: 24/02/14 2:37pm
Trained by Michael Scudamore, Monbeg Dude won the Welsh National last season and was an impressive scorer at Cheltenham in December.
He holds various other options this weekend, but Scudamore has stated that Town Moor is his first choice.
Scudamore said: "He'll get lots of entries on Saturday, but Doncaster is the first choice. He'll also be in at Kelso and over hurdles at Newbury, but that is very much the back-up plan.
"Unless something strange happens up there with the weather, you'd hope the ground at Doncaster would be fine for him."
Owned by a syndicate that features former England rugby union star Mike Tindall, the nine-year-old had been expected to line-up in the Grand National Trial at Haydock earlier this month but missed the race when not totally satisfying with his scope.
Scudamore went on: "He's in very good form and we are looking forward to getting him back out again.
"He enjoyed himself in a bit of work on Saturday and everyone was very positive afterwards. He's in good form, he has scoped well and his blood is fine."
Nicky Henderson's Triolo D'Alene, winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup back in November, still remains in the Gold Cup picture but Henderson has always had the Grand National in mind for him ever since he won the Topham over the famous Aintree fences last season.
Paul Nicholls has a couple of entries in Mon Parrain and Harry The Viking, while course winner Night In Milan is set to represent Keith Reveley.
In-form Venetia Williams has entered Niceonefrankie, sixth in the BetBright Chase on Saturday, and Nicky Richards could run Tutchec, who is on a five-timer.
Golden Call excelled at Doncaster on his latest start but has been put up 8lb while Emma Lavelle's Court By Surprise has threatened to win a race of this nature all season.
Alvarado, Storm Survivor, Renard and Godsmejudge are also in the mix.