Can Dingo Dollar recoup losses in Sky Bet Handicap Chase 25 January?

Dollar on track to make amends

Horse Racing Betting

There are four Grade 2 races and a Grade 3 handicap on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham this weekend. No doubt punters will be hoping for pointers for March but the big betting race is arguably at Doncaster.

The Listed Sky Bet Chase headlines a seven-race card which also features three Grade 2 races and could be just as informative.

Sky Bet Chase History and Trends

The Sky Bet Chase, formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase, is Doncaster’s biggest race of the National Hunt season. First staged in 1948 and run over 3m, there has been a modern trend for stables to target this Listed handicap with up-and-coming young chasers.

Three of the last nine renewals have been abandoned due to frost but the weather forecast suggests there will be no such problem this weekend with soft going expected, though that could dry out a little by ‘off’ time.

Recent Sky Bet Chase Winners

2019 – GO CONQUER (8/1)
2018 – WAKANDA (8/1)
2017 – ZIGA BOY (10/1)
2016 – ZIGA BOY (8/1)
2015 – IF IN DOUBT (4/1)
2014 – RAINBOW HUNTER (25/1)
2013 – Meeting Abandoned
2012 – CALGARY BAY (12/1)
2011 – Meeting Abandoned
2010 – Meeting Abandoned
2009 – BIG FELLA THANKS (9/2)
2008 – AN ACCORDION (11/2)
2007 – SIMON (7/1)
2006 – A GLASS IN THYNE (16/1)
2005 – COLOURFUL LIFE (9/1)
2004 – TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN (7/1)
2003 – BARRYSCOURT LAD (9/2)
Sky Bet Chase Betting at BetVictor

Recent Trends

  • Only one winner in 14 years had won more than three times over fences previously.
  • Only two of the last 14 winners carried more than 11st 2lb.
  • Only two of the last 14 winners were aged older than nine.
  • All but three of the last 14 winners had an official rating of 130 or higher.
  • All but three of the last 14 winners had won over at least 3m over fences previously.

It is absolutely no surprise that punters have come again for DINGO DOLLAR in this year’s Sky Bet Chase.

Dingo Dollar in Sky Bet Chase
11/2

Bet365

The eight-year-old was only sixth when favourite 12 months ago but didn’t just with his customary fluency.

He made partial amends when second over 3m2f at Doncaster a few weeks later and ran a cracker back over fences in last month’s Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Now 2lb lower in the weights than last year, Alan King’s stable won the Sky Bet Chase in 2016 and 2017 with Ziga Boy so the trainer knows what it takes to win the Listed handicap.

The claims of stablemates Azzerti and Good Man Pat look less obvious but the former has also come in for some market supports and is now only a best 8/1.

Road hoping to stay on track over longer distance

Sue Smith’s stable has struck form with a vengeance and there is every chance that Haydock winner Ravenill Road will handle the step up to 3m. The 10/1 with William Hill should attract plenty of interest.

Quarenta is reliable and can be backed at 16/1 with Betvictor, though his current handicap mark offers little room for error. Fingerontheswitch finally got his head back in front at Kempton but is a 10lb rise in the weights justified? Neil Mulholland’s 10-year-old is a best 12/1.

Nicky Henderson’s pair, Burbank and Ok Corral, are a best 9/1 (Betvictor) and 10/1 respectively but others may be better handicapped.

Sky Bet Handicap Chase Current Best Odds*

Dingo Dollar 11/2
Azzerti and Cobra De Mai 8/1
Burbank 9/1
Ok Corral and Ravenhill Road 10/1
Chidswell 11/1
Fingerontheswitch 12/1
Good Man Pat and Quarenta 16/1
Calipton, Monbeg River and Solomon Grey 20/1
Looksnowtlikebrian 33/1
(*Odds correct at 1500 GMT 23 January)
If your horse comes Second on any ITV race with six or more runners

Money back as a Free Bet with Betway.

1. Min stake: £/€5. 2. Max Free Bet: £/€20. 3. Single, Race Winner bets only. 4. One Free Bet per race. 5. Eligible on ITV broadcast races which have 6 or more runners.