Scudamore hoping for Grands Crus revival in Long Walk
Capable of giving Big Buck’s a fright in the staying division back in 2011, the great hope of David Pipe’s team made a smooth start to life over fences but since he was third in last year’s King George, his form has unravelled.
Disappointing in two more starts during the campaign, Grands Crus returned to hurdling for his first outing this season but dropped away when a hot favourite for a Pertemps Qualifier at Kempton.
“The other day I was trying to anchor him but he was in charge,” Scudamore told At The Races.
“Hopefully we’ll get more of a true run race on Saturday and just see how the race pans out but it’s not that long ago he was showing tip-top form and if he shows something like that he’s going to go very close.”
Meanwhile, Lucinda Russell's stayers Nuts N Bolts and Silver By Nature will be given other options over the Christmas period aside from the Coral Welsh National.
Silver By Nature was runner-up in the Chepstow marathon in 2009 and the grey returned to form with a second behind Sydney Paget at Haydock last month, while Nuts N Bolts was a six-length winner on the same card.
“Both hold entries in the Welsh National,” said the trainer. “Nuts N Bolts will also have entries at Wetherby in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, and at Haydock in The Last Fling Chase.
“Silver By Nature will also retain his entry at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase.”
Leading Welsh National player Sydney Paget could be in line to take up an alternative engagement back at Haydock on Saturday.
Sydney Paget, trained by Donald McCain, holds an entry in the One Stop Energy Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, a three-mile event staged just a week ahead of the Chepstow marathon which Coral has committed to sponsoring for another five years.
