Run at Doncaster the Sky Bet Chase (formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase) is a Listed Handicap run over 3m.
The 2018 Sky Bet Chase produced a superb finish with no less than five horses contesting the final few strides, with the Sue Smith-trained Wakanda coming out on top.
The Alan King and Paul Nicholls stables have dominated the race with two winners each since 2003, and King has won two of the last three runnings of the race with Ziga Boy.
This year Alan King is represented by Dingo Dollars, while Paul Nicholls saddles Warriors Tale and Art Mauresque.
Horse Racing Betting Trends & Statistics
Age - 9 of the last 10 winners were aged between 7 & 9.
Weight - 9 of the last 10 winners carried 11-02 or less.
Official Rating - 9 of the last 10 winners were rated 145 or less.
Recent Runs - 8 of the last 10 winners finished in the first 3 in 1 of their last 2 starts.
Last Time Out - All of the last 10 winners came here with a break of at least 25 days.
Season Runs (Since November 1st) - All of the last 10 winners had between 1 & 3 runs.
Distance - 9 of the last 10 winners had previously won over 3 miles or further.
Price - The average winning SP in the last 10 renewals is 9/1.
Favourites - Only two favourites have won in the last 10 renewals.
Irish Bred – 6 of the last 10 winners were bred in Ireland.
Eleven runners go to post on Saturday and here is our runner-by-runner guide:
Warriors Tale (P. Nicholls)
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the 10-year-old was beaten just a head by Wakanda in an exciting bunched finish last year. Warriors Tale returns to Doncaster at the top of his game following a hard fought win at Aintree in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.
There is no reason why the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding won’t be in the thick of things again.
Art Mauresque (P. Nicholls)
Art Mauresque came on for his first run of the season when running a half-length second to Traffic Fluide in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot. He was then tailed off next time in the Peterborough Chase but this race represents a marked drop down in class.
However, he has failed to trouble the judge since October 2016 and he appears to prefer a shorter trip.
O O Seven (N. Henderson)
Won a five-runner event here last time by ½ length from Go Conquer, staying on the better of the pair. He has however struggled off this mark in the past and there are doubts as to whether he will be licensed to thrill in a field such as this.
Go Conquer (N. Twiston-Davies)
Obviously Go Conquer is closely matched with O O Seven on their last encounter here on Town Moor but there are no obvious signs as to why the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned ten-year-old should reverse that form.
He is highly likely to lead for much of the race and then get run down in the closing stages.
Dingo Dollar (A. King)
Although he is well fancied in the horse racing odds for this race, Dingo Dollar also holds an entry at Cheltenham this weekend so you may want to hold your horses until plans become a little clearer.
Dingo Dollar went for home early in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury last time which was probably his undoing, but he did stay on stoically for a none too shabby third place.
Already a winner a Doncaster, there are lots of positives going for him but you will need to keep an eye out for the weather.
Willie Boy (C. Longsdon)
Formerly trained by Venetia Williams, the eight-year-old ran a cracking race at Wetherby on Boxing Day and won with consummate ease.
Obviously this race is a step up in class and distance, but he is clearly in good heart and his trainer Charlie Longsdon upset the odds last Saturday with Castafiore at Haydock so will not come here undeterred.
Calipto (V. Williams)
Calipto came back to form at Wincanton last time after running a trio of poor races and is the mount of Charlie Deutsch, who is getting no end of winners when he pairs up with Ms Williams.
The nine-year-old does have a tendency to throw in the odd mistake however which can put a horse on the back foot in this race, which is usually run at a pretty decent clip.
Brian Boranha (P. Niven)
A somewhat fortunate winner of the Durham National last time out after the leader ran out but he did what he did given the circumstances.
He is definitely a strong stayer and he will be hoping that the race can fall into his lap again as the leaders cry enough up front.
On Tour (E. Williams)
The eleven-year-old has been plying his trade in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase series in recent times and ran a fairly solid third behind Houblon Des Obeaux at Sandown last time.
The suspicion is that this race will all happen a little bit too quick for him and a deluge of rain would be his only saving grace.
Monbeg River (M. Todhunter)
The ten-year-old is a very consistent sort and is also a course and distance winner. He is probably likely to get overlooked in the betting too as punters focus on the big name stables.
His third to Virgilio at Aintree in May reads well and he is definitely a lively outsider.
Federici (D. McCain)
Federici ran a barnstormer in this race last year when he was involved in that five-way go behind Wakanda. He also ran well again in the latest renewal of the Becher Chase after doing the same thing the year before.
His form figures do not appear too sexy to the casual reader, but the ten-year-old really is in great shape. A lovely low weight and a decent jockey on board make him another decent each-way prospect.
Conclusion
The top-rated Warriors Tale is sure to be in the mix again after last year’s agonising defeat, but the speculative each-way selection goes to FEDERICI for all the reasons outlined above.
888sport suggests: Federici (e/w).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
