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The 2026 Great Yorkshire (Handicap) Chase

One really shouldn't wish one's life away, but I just want it to be Thursday, the entire "baker's dozen" declared for this, and the opening show unchanged from what it is now ante-post.
 
Walking On Air was running a mighty race and looked to have it won last year when coming down.

And we all know what Faye Bramley can do in a hot handicap. Note Walking is with the same owners.

But I was expecting double figures. 17/2 best with Hills.
 
chaumi said:
Walking On Air was running a mighty race and looked to have it won last year when coming down.
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Tell me about it - I had 33s and so did "Leafy" (he'd followed me in) who nearly got asked to leave the Spanish bar he was in at the time, such was his language when the beast jumped into the lead at the last only to slither to the ground.

I've got the Exacta for this at huge prices, but I may keep it to myself as I'm still sulking because I wanted an actual firework display here after my 5,566/1 Trifecta - and didn't get one!

Oh, and balloons - I wanted balloons!:
 
I've had a banner made up which simply says " Davies - because Veitch is enemy number 2"
#we❤️Ian. Which will be ready to be flown over Doncaster racecourse by private plane at the moment your victory is assured.

We shall not fail you this time captain.
 
Wasn't there somebody on this forum who had picked Walking On Air for last year's race? ( Looks like I have been beaten to the buzzer again.)

The horse has had the same prep race over two and a half miles at Newbury in December again, and finished even further behind than in 2024 which was his third run of the season.
Before that he tried the Scottish National ( too far and went lame ) and the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir ( probably too far again ). Handicap mark is only two pounds higher than in the 2025 GYC and twelve pounds lower than his highest hurdles rating.
 
The one I'm interested in this is Josh the Boss as I think the horse will relish this test.
I always look for horses with previous course form in this race that are up with the pace from the off.
The horse made all when winning here over 2 mile 3 furlongs and it's jumping was sound.
Will wait until it hopefully reaches double figures before committing.
 
It's a smashing race with every one of the runners in with some sort of a chance of beating the RPR norm so it could end up fiercely competitive, especially when you factor in how many are still novices.

Docpickedme was the first to catch my eye given how well he runs here and is still well handicapped in the general scheme of things and might even still be improving.

Joyeux Machin is 4lbs better off with Docpickedme compared with their meeting over CD last month but I would fancy the winner to confirm the form.

This is Deep Cave’s first season chasing in this country but he ran over fences in France two seasons ago. It’s possible the trainer has felt the need to allow the horse time to develop and he could be very dangerous; he’s second-favourite.

Grand Geste, who did me a very nice turn last time in the Tommy Whittle, deservedly heads the betting. He looks on the steepest curve and the most likely winner but I expect Docpickedme to give him a race and I couldn't put anyone off whatever takes their fancy.
 
That was a proper race right enough. Maybe went a tad fast and no way of knowing if JM would have stayed all the way home. DPM appears to me to have run his race and Walking On Air is another job beat. GG very disappointing. I wonder if something will emerge. Maybe had a harder race than it looked at Haydock?
 
Desert Orchid said:
That was a proper race right enough. Maybe went a tad fast and no way of knowing if JM would have stayed all the way home. DPM appears to me to have run his race and Walking On Air is another job beat. GG very disappointing. I wonder if something will emerge. Maybe had a harder race than it looked at Haydock?
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Yeah.

"Never travelled"
 
Last year me and "Leafy" bet Walking On Air at 25/1.

This year we bet Joyeux Machin at 16/1.

"Leafy's" post-race comment today: "Next year I'm driving up there on the Friday night and burning all the f*****g fences to the ground."

I have not ruled out assisting him in this endeavour.
 
Says a lot about state of chasing in this country - the race is worth almost exactly the same as the Thyestes but look at the fields in comparison .
 
I remember fields of similar size in the 1970s tbh.

When I saw Autumn Rain beat Lucius in 1978, there couldn't have been more than ten runners.

I love The Great Yorkshire Chase, but it always was a pale imitation of the old Hennessy most years.
 

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