Sumkindofking looks decent value at 7/1 with Unibet to land the feature race at Catterick on Thursday, the 3m 6f North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase (14:40).
This Tom George trained nine-year-old has a 50 per cent win and place rate over fences, having won three times and hit the frame on five occasions in 16 starts.
He scored twice last season with the last of those successes coming in a class 3 at Southwell, where he only had to be driven out to beat Mahlermade by four lengths off a mark of 133 – after which he got put up to 137.
Sumkindofking has had three starts this season. He shaped well on the second of those when sixth of 13 to Give Me A Copper in the Listed Badger Ales Trophy over 3m 1f at Wincanton.
After being held-up at the rear, the son of King’s Theatre made good headway four from home and held every chance until weakening approaching the second last to be beaten 16 lengths off a rating of 135.
He finished just six lengths behind the fourth home Just A Sting, and that one has since landed a competitive class 2 contest at Kempton.
That gives the form a solid look in relation to the class 3 North Yorkshire Grand National.
Sumkindofking comes into it having shaped a bit better than the bare result last time out when fourth of nine to Roll Again at Hereford.
Sumkindofking down to last winning mark
His cause that day wasn’t helped by getting badly bumped four out and making a crucial mistake at the second last, so he was far from disgraced in being beaten 15 lengths by a thoroughly unexposed sort who won in the style of a real handicap blot.
Regal Flow, who finished 2 1/2 lengths behind him in fifth, has also given the form a boost by running a blinder next time up at Sandown when beaten just a short-head by Jepeck in a class 2 Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final.
Sumkindofking has since been dropped a further pound in the weights. That means he is now able to race off the same mark as when last victorious (133).
It gives him leading claims from a handicapping perspective in this as he has a 50 per cent win and place rate from 12 starts. The step up in trip also promises to suit.
Sumkindofking is a rare runner at Catterick for George. He has saddled just 24 runners at the track during his career and that has resulted in three wins and nine of his inmates hitting the frame.
So, taking everything into account, Sumkindofking looks to have lots going for him in this and well worth a wager at the odds on offer.
Bet of the Day: 7/1 with Unibet, Sumkindofking in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.
