Feltham trial for Grands Crus
The three-mile Grade One is a frequent breeding ground for future champions, with Jair du Cochet and the ill-fated Gloria Victis winning over the last decade or so, while the most recent graduate was the King George hero Long Run back in 2009.
Grands Crus beat all bar the legendary Big Buck’s over three miles and hurdles last season, but has always been viewed as a future chaser and nothing he has shown in two races to date over fences has changed that opinion.
Slick jumping saw the six-year-old collect at Cheltenham and Newbury with consummate ease but he will face a stern test in the Feltham as Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth also looks set for big things.
“Grands Crus is in very good form and this race has been the plan for a while,” said Pipe. “Everything looks right for him, I don’t think going right-handed will be a problem although I would prefer softer ground for him.”
While Grands Crus is without a win at the Cheltenham Festival to date, Bobs Worth scored in March in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
He is a horse close to jockey Barry Geraghty’s heart as he bought him as a yearling and made a perfect start over fences when reeling in the speedy Cue Card over a shorter trip. His only defeat so far came in a bumper on his debut at Kempton in early 2010.
“He schooled this morning for Barry, everything is great and he seems in good form,” said Henderson.
Adding further strength in depth is Paul Nicholls’ representative Silviniaco Conti, a smart hurdler himself.
Beaten by Cue Card at Chepstow on his chasing debut, he looked much more the finished article at Wincanton on his next start.
“He’s going there in good form and I think he’ll run well as the race has been the plan all season,” Nicholls said.
