THOMAS Crapper does not have the profile of a typical winner of this afternoon’s feature event at Newbury, the William Hill Greatwood Gold Cup. The last 10 renewals of the race have been won by horses aged six, seven and eight, so a 10-year-old who has run 19 times over fences really should be well down your list.

But Robin Dickin’s horse could be a well-handicapped horse now, and, back at a track at which he is one for one, he could out-run odds of 9/1 today by a fair way.

Previously thought of as a good ground horse, Thomas Crapper ran a big race on ground that was softer than the official description of good to soft in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s open meeting last November. He made nice ground to get up in behind the leaders on the run down the hill that day, but he faded on the run back up it.

He stepped forward from that next time back at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Again he made good progress down the hill and around the home turn but, again, the run back up the hill on the tiring ground seemed stretch him.

Returned to Cheltenham last time for in the Grade 3 handicap chase that Foxtail Hill won, he didn’t wear his customary cheekpieces that day, and again he ran well up to a point before weakening on the run up the hill.

All the while, he has been dropping down the handicap. He started the season on a mark of 136 and he gets to race off a mark of 128 today, 8lb lower, and that gives him a chance. Also, significantly, he is back over the course and distance over which he put up one of the best performances of his career in winning a Class 2 handicap chase last April, when he had Fox Appeal and Art Of Logistics and Shantou Magic behind him.

His cheekpieces return today, and Robin Dickin had a winner at Taunton on Thursday.

Oldgrangewood is one of the most exciting horses in the line-up. Dan Skelton’s horse was impressive in winning at Wetherby four weeks ago, and a 9lb hike for that brought him up to a mark of 143, which could still under-rate him. However, best odds of 11/4 about him are no better than fair, and the 9/1 that is on offer about Thomas Crapper is more attractive.

DONCASTER NAP

At Doncaster, it looks like conditions are going to be fairly testing for the BetBright Grimthorpe Chase and that should suit Yala Enki well.

Venetia Williams’ horse was well beaten by Definitly Red in the Rowland Meyrick Chase the last time we saw him, but that run came just nine days after he had had a tough race in winning the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.

He has had a nice break since Wetherby so he should go to Doncaster today a fresh horse.

The handicapper dropped him 2lb for his Rowland Meyrick run, which brings him back down to a mark of 147, just 5lb higher than his hurdles mark. Still only seven, that was just his second run over fences for Venetia Williams, and he has the potential to go beyond that mark for his trainer now as a staying chaser.

Definitly Red is a worthy favourite, he was an impressive winner of the Rowland Meyrick and he would have finished either second or third behind Bristol De Mai in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last time had he not been hampered and unseated his rider at the third last fence. However, he is short, and he meets Yala Enki on 10lb worse terms compared to their Wetherby running.

Wakanda would be interesting at a big price on his Rowland Meyrick run, when he finished second behind Definitly Red, but he was very disappointing in the Haydock Grand National Trial two weeks ago, and it looks like Danny Cook prefers Definitly Red. He would be a leap of faith. Yala Enki is more solid.

Alan King is trying Sego Success in a first-time visor, which is interesting, given how successful Alan King is with headgear, but they are going to have to elicit significant improvement. He just hasn’t been as good this season as he was last season.

Last year’s winner The Last Samuri is almost certainly gearing up for the Grand National and Looking Well would surely prefer better ground than the ground that he is going to encounter. All things considered, the 4/1 that is generally available about Yala Enki looks more than fair.

RECOMMENDED

THOMAS CRAPPER, 1 point win, 9/1 (generally)

YALA ENKI, 1 point win, 4/1 (generally)