There are three Grade 2 races and a Grade 3 on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham this weekend. In addition, the rearranged Grade 1 Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Clarence House Chase has been switched to Prestbury Park following the abandonment of Ascot last Saturday. No doubt punters will be hoping for pointers for March but a few of the races are likely to cut up and are more for watching than betting on.
That’s not the case at Doncaster, where the Listed Sky Bet Chase headlines a seven-race card which also features three Grade 2 races.
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 seven renewals have been abandoned due to frost but the track is confident that this Saturday’s meeting will go ahead, with good ground forecast.
Only one of the last 11 winners has been aged 10 or older and there have been only five winners in that age bracket since the race was first run. The last three winners have carried under 11st and last year’s winner Ziga Boy falls into that category again. Repeat winners of this are unheard of, however, and Alan King’s eight-year-old is on a 4lb higher mark than 12 months ago.
Coologue (a general 12/1) was second to Ziga Boy last year but is 2lb worse off. It’s difficult to fancy either of Paul Nicholls’ pair, Vicente (a best 14/1) or Caid Du Berlais (16/1 with Boylesports) while I don’t know if we can take Bigbadjohn’s second to Thistlecrack at face value, though the general 9/2 will tempt a few as he’s potentially well handicapped and meets the criteria of being largely unexposed over fences.
Another Hero (10/1 in places) ran better than expected at Ascot last month but had earlier finished behind Potters Cross (a best 20/1) at Newbury. It’s difficult what to know of Ballyboker Breeze (a general 12/1) but he has been raised a further 10lb since winning a Class 3 at Bangor, which probably isn’t in his favour.
Long Lunch (a best 25/1) was headed right on the line over the course and distance last time but the pick of the weights this weekend may be OUT SAM. Warren Greatrex’s eight-year-old ticks a lot of boxes and the fences on Town Moor may be his more to his liking as he’s struggled to cope at places like Cheltenham and Aintree in recent times. He stayed on strongly into third last time at Kempton, where his tendency to jump left cost him plenty of ground. Reverting to a left-handed, more galloping track has to be a plus and the 8/1 with several bookmakers, including sponsors Skybet, is tempting.
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Sky Bet Chase Current Best Odds
Bigbadjohn (9/2), Out Sam and Southfield Royale (8/1), Another Hero (10/1), Ballyboker Breeze, Coologue and Ziga Boy (12/1), Vicente (14/1), Caid Du Berlais (16/1), Holywell and Potters Cross and Tenor Nivernais (20/1), Looking Well, Long Lunch and Third Intention (25/1), Katachenko (40/1)
