The Sky Bet Handicap Chase is the big betting race at Doncaster this weekend and, worth almost £57,000, also the most valuable contest on the card, even though there are three Grade 2 events preceding it.
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 and we’ve lost a few jumps meeting to the cold weather this week but the forecast for this Saturday’s meeting looks reasonable, though the course had had to be watered to maintain good going.
- Only one of the last 12 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 five winners have carried 11st or less but only four of this year’s field fit into that category and the trend could be misleading.
- Only one of the last 13 winners had won more than three times over fences previously.
- Winning form over at least 3m seems to be an advantage but is not a pre-requisite.
- Ten of the last 13 winners were officially rated 130 or higher but that applies to all 11 runners this year.
Sky Bet Chase Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Wakanda | 8/1 | Sue Smith | Henry Brooke |
| 2017 | Ziga Boy | 10/1 | Alan King | Tom Bellamy |
| 2016 | Ziga Boy | 8/1 | Alan King | Brendan Powell |
| 2015 | If In Doubt | 4/1 | Philip Hobbs | Tony McCoy |
| 2014 | The Rainbow Hunter | 25/1 | Kim Bailey | Nick Schofield |
Warriors Tale was second last year and won the Grand Sefton at Aintree on his latest start. But Federici wasn’t far behind in fifth 12 months ago and is better off at the weights. Donald McCain’s bottom weight ran a nice race in the Becher Chase at Aintree, his first run since March, so there is disparity on their respective odds (a best 6/1 and 14/1 respectively).
Unlike in previous years, the 11 runners in this year’s race look so closely matched that it’s almost impossible to take a definitive view. Dingo Dollar is probably that unexposed type previously discussed and finished third in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury having raced prominently throughout. A previous course and distance winner, he’ll be aiming to give trainer Alan King a third Sky Bet Chase victory in four years but is a terribly short price (a best 11/4 with William Hill).
O O SEVEN has possibly promised more than he’s delivered so far but it’s possible that wind surgery has had the desired effect as he stayed on strongly to catch the race-fit Go Conquer (8/1 with Boylesports) at Doncaster six weeks ago on his first start since April. He will need a career-best to defy a 5lb rise in the ratings but there is a good chance that latent potential is about to be revealed and an each-way bet at the 6/1 with William Hill looks a no-brainer with regard to value.
Calipto (20/1 with Ladbrokes) beat a decent field at Wincanton last time but, like Wetherby winner Willie Boy (12/1 with Boylesports), there are legitimate stamina concerns over 3m. Art Mauresque has also done his winning over shorter distance but he was fourth in last year’s Betdaq Chase at Kempton and second recently at Ascot and he may well offer more value than stablemate Warriors Tale at a best 10/1.
Sky Bet Chase Current Best Odds
Dingo Dollar 11/4, O O Seven and Warriors Tale 6/1, Go Conquer 8/1, Art Mauresque 10/1, Willie Boy 12/1, Federici and On Tour 14/1, Calipto and Brian Boranha 20/1, Monbeg River 25/1
(Odds correct at 2.00pm January 25)
