Kim Bailey keen on Sky Bet Chase run for 'mad' novice Does He Know

Kim Bailey has a big-race runner in First Flow this Saturday and could also be represented in one of next week's top events, with Doncaster's Listed Sky Bet Chase on the agenda for the talented but quirky Does He Know.

A smart novice hurdler last term, Does He Know won twice over fences in October before finishing second to the Paul Nicholls-trained Threeunderthrufive at Cheltenham a month later.

That horse has won twice since and Bailey, whose stable star First Flow is on duty in Ascot's SBK Clarence House Chase, said: "Does He Know could go for the Sky Bet Chase. I'm quite keen to try him in a handicap because I need to know where we go from here.

"He's not good enough to win a novice chase around Cheltenham, so there's this or the Towton at Wetherby the following week.

"We've got a choice of those two. His form's worked out well and he was beaten by Paul's horse, who has won twice since. We beat him at Chepstow, although he probably wasn't fit."

Big-race entries

Does He Know was a respectable fifth to the brilliant Bob Olinger in the Ballymore at Cheltenham last season and is three from five at the track.

He is entered in the National Hunt Chase in March and Bailey added: "He's a lovely horse, but I'm quite keen to avoid going to Cheltenham for the moment. He gets very wound up in the parade ring and pre-parade. We had permission last year to ride him in the pre-parade ring and rode him straight to the start.

"He nearly killed me at Newbury last season and there's something quite odd about the way he behaves with a crowd. He's fine at home but goes mad in the parade ring – he nearly demolished the rails at Cheltenham once.

"You can imagine the atmosphere at the festival might be quite difficult for him to handle, but there shouldn't be that many people at Doncaster so hopefully he's fine."

Imperial Aura was a festival winner for the trainer two years ago and could appear in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on February 12.

Imperial Aura: chaser is in the Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

He fell when going okay in the Betfair Chase at Haydock before being pulled up in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last month.

Bailey, also considering the Newbury race for the well-regarded Espoir De Romay, said: "Imperial Aura had a very bad scope last time, which was surprising as he was as clean as a whistle when he ran two weeks before in the Betfair Chase, and was running very well until he fell.

"He's in the Gold Cup as the owners were keen to put him in if it falls apart. If he'd finished second in the Betfair Chase, which he probably would have done, he'd be worth that entry. Last time was disappointing and we debated whether to run on that ground at Aintree and rather wish we hadn't – it was awful.

"Newbury could be an option for Espoir De Romay as well. He had a hard race at Carlisle in the Colin Parker and is a big frame of a horse who is physically and mentally quite immature. He'll be a spring horse and I think we'll go back to Aintree and do the Bowl in April."

More immediately, the useful Two For Gold is set to swerve an engagement at Ascot on Saturday in favour of Lingfield's £150,000 Fleur De Lys Chase 24 hours later.

"He's entered at Ascot but the long-term plan was always to go to Lingfield and I made the entry for Ascot just in case the weather plays havoc, but I think he'll end up going to Lingfield," said Bailey. "It will be tiring conditions but he'll love the ground there."

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