Newbury run for Grands Crus will offer more clues

Though the four-runner field is small and select, the horse’s performance in the three-mile Grade Two GPG Novices’ Chase should provide trainer David Pipe and jockey Tom Scudamore with a clearer idea of the six-year-old’s future scope.

After winning his debut chase over two miles, five furlongs in the Cheltenham fog a fortnight ago in scintillating style, Grands Crus – runner-up to the mighty Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle – is high in the ante-post market for five chases at the 2012 National Hunt Festival.

They include all three novice divisions – the Arkle, Jewson and RSA which range in distance from two to three miles, as well as the Ryanair Chase and the blue riband Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Even connections are unsure about the horse’s ultimate distance; Scudamore’s challenge is making sure Grands Crus settles.

“He put up a good performance at Cheltenham, bar the one mistake, and we hope he can do the same again,” said Pipe.

“We are still learning about him, he’s only six. Hopefully he’s still improving. I would say, personally, at this stage the Arkle is unlikely.”

Although opposition is thin on the ground, it will be no walkover as Paul Nicholls saddles the promising chasing newcomer Sonofvic, Nigel Twiston-Davies runs Viking Blond and Nick Williams is represented by Alfie Spinner, who will be ridden by Saltburn jockey James Reveley.

Meanwhile, connections of the Williams-trained Diamond Harry believe last year’s Hennessy hero will be suited by going right-handed for the first time in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old was well-beaten when a distant fourth behind an electrifying Kauto Star, Long Run and Charlie Hall winner Weird Al in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

“He actually took Kauto Star on. He missed a couple but attacked his fences. At one stage I thought he was going to do it, and then we realised he had run out of petrol,” said co-owner Paul Duffy.

“The race was run at a real pace. Kauto Star went at it from the start and our boy kept with him. I think Kempton will suit him.”

The Cheltenham Festival is also on the horizon for the Charlie Longsdon-trained Hazy Tom, who retained his unbeaten record in some style at Wetherby yesterday, powering to a 12-length victory.

Jockey Richard Johnson was impressed and expects an inevitable rise in class soon for such a promising five-year-old horse.

“It’s nice that Charlie’s managed to find another stepping stone for him rather than taking on some of the big guys just yet. But I presume he’ll probably have to step up in grade next time,” he said.

Paddy Power inserted Hazy Tom at 33-1 for both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle.