Grands Crus routed Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth in last year’s Feltham

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) 

Scu hoping to Crus to King George success

DESPITE disappointing in two starts since emphatically landing last year’s Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase from subsequent Grade 1 winners Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth, Tom Scudamore is confident Grands Crus will be hard to beat in the King George, if returning to his best.

Second to Big Buck’s at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals as a hurdler, Grands Crus made an impressive start to his chasing career racking up three impressive victories, including the Feltham in a time 2.8sec quicker than Kauto Star clocked in the King George last year.

However it has been far from plain sailing since for David Pipe’s seven-year-old who found little after travelling into contention down the hill in the RSA Chase, eventually trailing in 18 lengths down despite turning for home in contention.

Then, back at Prestbury Park, he produced his most disappointing performance to date in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with Scudamore forced to pull up the 7-4 favourite before the second last.

“After the Feltham last year I thought he would be very tough to beat in the King George,” Scudamore told the Racing Post on Sunday. “He’s got to bounce back but when he’s good he’s very, very good.

“He’s got a couple of disappointing runs to put behind him. Things haven’t quite worked out since [the Feltham] but he seems back to his best at home.

“It’s hard to say if that will translate to the track because he seemed in great form before the Paddy Power. He’s had a breathing op since then and hopefully that’ll do the trick. If the real Grands Crus turns up, he’ll make them all go.”

Kempton, WED 26 DEC 2012, WILLIAM HILL KING GEORGE VI CHASE GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £113,900CH4 

NO.  FORM		HORSE	AGE	WGT  OR	JOCKEY  TRAINER RTF%	TS	RPR	BEST ODDS
1U3P4-1		CAPTAIN CHRIS t 32	8	11-10 162	Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs50	159	169	14
23122-2		CHAMPION COURT 32	7	11-10 155	Alain Cawley Martin Keighley57	160	165	33
3U212-1		CUE CARD 50	6	11-10 165	Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard18	160	174	11/2
4213-12		FOR NON STOP 32	7	11-10 162	Noel Fehily Nick Williams60	142	171	33
51114-P		GRANDS CRUS t 39	7	11-10 157	Tom Scudamore David Pipe59	163	172	9
682FP-1		JUNIOR b 25	9	11-10 158	Conor O’Farrell David Pipe59	136	167	25
727F7-1		KAUTO STONE 53	6	11-10 162	R Walsh Paul Nicholls65	133	170	8
82213-2		LONG RUN 32	7	11-10 172	Mr S Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson35	166	185	2
91/11P-		RIVERSIDE THEATRE 258	8	11-10 170	Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson35	166	176	5
102142-3		THE GIANT BOLSTER 32	7	11-10 164	A P McCoy David Bridgwater100	166	176	10